Heyo, I've recently graduated high school and am hoping to thru hike NOBO in 2016 or 2017. My university's summer goes from early-mid May through the beginning of September, giving me about 3.5 months. I could probably sweet-talk my way into an extra week or two by taking finals early, but I can still only count on about 4 months of trail time.
My dad (a man of much experience and 0 bull****) is assuring me that I could do the whole trail without taking a spring semester off. However, everything I've read online is telling me that I'd need at least 5 months. I'm a fast hiker (varsity rower, and been hiking and backpacking regularly in the Whites since I was a wee one), but the time discrepancy between my dad's advice and the internet's advice seems a little worrisome, and I don't want to end up doing this halfway. Has anyone managed it between years of college? If so, any and all advice is welcome.