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College students: Feel like you have to meet a deadline to graduate?

M

MemoryInAGarden

Senior member
I'm a junior this year at a regional university majoring in political science. I almost have this degree completed, but I can't really decide on a minor. I declared history as a minor, and while this may complement political science well in theory, it just doesn't seem like it would be very useful. I've given thought to a legal studies or international relations minor, and also have thought about a minor in some business-related discipline. I had even given some thought to declaring an additional major in a business-related discipline, and possibly going for an MBA instead of an MA in political science. I need to retake two courses and get some D's off my transcript, and without a coherent minor or double major so far, I don't see myself being done in Spring 2008.

My family is giving me hell about this. They seem to have the idea that being an undergraduate for more than four years makes you a colossal failure in a personal life. They want to know what I'm taking, when I'm taking it, when I'm retaking the courses I didn't do well in, etc. Considering that they are not paying for any of my college education, I believe that it is a courtesy for me to inform them about what is going on in my academic life, not their right. They aren't financially successful, and it seems bizarre for them to try to steer me on a path to success, when they couldn't get on that path for themselves.

Do I seem like I'm being unreasonable for feeling hassled by what the family thinks? Is staying longer than four years all that abnormal? I'd prefer to get my degree done right the first time, instead of rushing it and having to come back later.
 
Originally posted by: MemoryInAGarden
I'm a junior this year at a regional university majoring in political science. I almost have this degree completed, but I can't really decide on a minor. I declared history as a minor, and while this may complement political science well in theory, it just doesn't seem like it would be very useful. I've given thought to a legal studies or international relations minor, and also have thought about a minor in some business-related discipline. I had even given some thought to declaring an additional major in a business-related discipline, and possibly going for an MBA instead of an MA in political science. I need to retake two courses and get some D's off my transcript, and without a coherent minor or double major so far, I don't see myself being done in Spring 2008.

My family is giving me hell about this. They seem to have the idea that being an undergraduate for more than four years makes you a colossal failure in a personal life. They want to know what I'm taking, when I'm taking it, when I'm retaking the courses I didn't do well in, etc. Considering that they are not paying for any of my college education, I believe that it is a courtesy for me to inform them about what is going on in my academic life, not their right. They aren't financially successful, and it seems bizarre for them to try to steer me on a path to success, when they couldn't get on that path for themselves.

Do I seem like I'm being unreasonable for feeling hassled by what the family thinks? Is staying longer than four years all that abnormal? I'd prefer to get my degree done right the first time, instead of rushing it and having to come back later.
Click to expand...

No. It's quite the opposite actually. They don't want you to have to suffer through the hardships that they had to go through. They're only looking out for your best interests.
 
No, I don't see anything wrong with having to stay more then four years. Your parents are probably hassling you because they want for you to succeed where they didn't.
 
These days, if your one of the great unwashed like myself meaning you pay for your own education and have other obligations outside of school, there is almost no way you can graduate in four years. Particularly, if you choose to follow a path that results in an actual education rather than just a piece of paper.

 
Originally posted by: sandmanwake
Maybe they're in a hurry for you to graduate and earn the big bux so they can have a piece of the action.
Click to expand...

from political science? even after he graduates its a long, slow, lowly paid process to the (admittedly rewarding/highly paid) top.
 
I took five years myself. Of course, I'm a bit of a dumbass so the first thing my parents said to me at commencement was, "We didn't think you'd make it." 😛
 
The avg time for an undergraduate degree is creeping to 6 years. As for a minor to go with Political Science. Economics complements it the best.

I'm shooting for 5, and even then Im going to have to load up on classes + summer school to graduate by May 2008.

My schedule looks like this

Spring 2007 18 credit hours
Summer 2007 10 credit hours
Fall 2007 18 credit hours
Spring 2008 18 credit hours

I also plan to CLEP 6 hours of literature, because I dont want to sit through those damn classes. Plus I don't want to have to plead my case to the Dean in order to take 21 hours in a semester. Not that I want to take 21 hours in one semester, 18 is already pushing it.

My alternative is to stay around a sixth year. Although it would be 3 years at a junior college and 3 years at a university. I'd take ~15 hrs a semester, and intern during the two remaining summers. Id also switch to a double major, Poli Sci and Econ, and take arabic instead of spanish.

The main motive for me to try this is my scholarship runs out after May 2008. I dont want to take out any more loans than I have to considering I plan on grad school and law school. I am also not to sure how grad school or law school would view 6 years as an undergrad. Granted I did work full time, and then some during my first three years while at a JuCo, and Ill be working ~25 starting next semester.


 
I personally took six years to finish my degree (which includes a one-year break spent working after I transferred colleges, and a one-year period of half-time enrollment also spent working), and saw nothing wrong with it.

Besides, if you do end up in graduate school, depending on the program, you'll have plenty of time to be hassled to graduate within a specific time frame.
 
Originally posted by: Whisper
I personally took six years to finish my degree (which includes a one-year break spent working after I transferred colleges, and a one-year period of half-time enrollment also spent working), and saw nothing wrong with it.

Besides, if you do end up in graduate school, depending on the program, you'll have plenty of time to be hassled to graduate within a specific time frame.
Click to expand...

How do grad schools look upon 6 years?
 
If you don't have to worry about money and work, it's very doable. School will take a lot longer if you got a job.
 
Originally posted by: Wreckem
The avg time for an undergraduate degree is creeping to 6 years. As for a minor to go with Political Science. Economics complements it the best.

I'm shooting for 5, and even then Im going to have to load up on classes + summer school to graduate by May 2008.

My schedule looks like this

Spring 2007 18 credit hours
Summer 2007 10 credit hours
Fall 2007 18 credit hours
Spring 2008 18 credit hours

I also plan to CLEP 6 hours of literature, because I dont want to sit through those damn classes. Plus I don't want to have to plead my case to the Dean in order to take 21 hours in a semester. Not that I want to take 21 hours in one semester, 18 is already pushing it.

My alternative is to stay around a sixth year. Although it would be 3 years at a junior college and 3 years at a university. I'd take ~15 hrs a semester, and intern during the two remaining summers. Id also switch to a double major, Poli Sci and Econ, and take arabic instead of spanish.

The main motive for me to try this is my scholarship runs out after May 2008. I dont want to take out any more loans than I have to considering I plan on grad school and law school. I am also not to sure how grad school or law school would view 6 years as an undergrad. Granted I did work full time, and then some during my first three years while at a JuCo, and Ill be working ~25 starting next semester.
Click to expand...

Uhh my friend who graduated with poli sci took 4.5 years and she was taking language courses left and right (classes she didn't need).

If anything, engineers have a LOT MORE requirements than liberal arts and science students.

I'm from Cal, and looking at our College of Engineering requirements (pick any major, be it EECS, ME, CE, MSE, etc) you can easily tell that there are a lot more required classes than say economics, poli sci, MCB (molecular cell bio, which is where all wannabe doctors go), IB (integrated bio), etc...

To say you need 6 years is a joke. If I'm at the top public school that is considered FVCKING HARD because all other UCs have easy@$$ classes compared to us, I don't see how one needs 6 years.

I'm at the point where I think I need 4.5 years, but had I planned my courses better from my first year, I swear I could be out by 3.5.

If you're taking 6 years, you should honestly consider graduating with 3 majors. 5 years is already pushing it, and if you don't have 2 degrees by then people will wonder wtf.
 
I guess it depends on the parents. I spent 2 years at a community college and got 60 credits for a major that didn't go anywhere - Cisco networking. Now I'm at a university for mechanical engineering technology, and I could have completed the degree in as little as 3 years, maybe 3.5. I've worked with my advisor to actually lengthen my stay here to 4 years, with fewer credits per semester. I'm down to about 14 credits, which is about what I can handle. This does also give me some time for a work-study job to help recoup my losses, partly in case I wind up with another useless degree in something I don't like - if that happens, I don't want to be facing a low-paying job with loads of student loans.
4 years + lighter courseload = higher potential of maintaining sanity, with lower potential of dropping out due to frustration from an overload of boringly tedious schoolwork.
 
Originally posted by: DLeRium
Originally posted by: Wreckem
The avg time for an undergraduate degree is creeping to 6 years. As for a minor to go with Political Science. Economics complements it the best.

I'm shooting for 5, and even then Im going to have to load up on classes + summer school to graduate by May 2008.

My schedule looks like this

Spring 2007 18 credit hours
Summer 2007 10 credit hours
Fall 2007 18 credit hours
Spring 2008 18 credit hours

I also plan to CLEP 6 hours of literature, because I dont want to sit through those damn classes. Plus I don't want to have to plead my case to the Dean in order to take 21 hours in a semester. Not that I want to take 21 hours in one semester, 18 is already pushing it.

My alternative is to stay around a sixth year. Although it would be 3 years at a junior college and 3 years at a university. I'd take ~15 hrs a semester, and intern during the two remaining summers. Id also switch to a double major, Poli Sci and Econ, and take arabic instead of spanish.

The main motive for me to try this is my scholarship runs out after May 2008. I dont want to take out any more loans than I have to considering I plan on grad school and law school. I am also not to sure how grad school or law school would view 6 years as an undergrad. Granted I did work full time, and then some during my first three years while at a JuCo, and Ill be working ~25 starting next semester.
Click to expand...

Uhh my friend who graduated with poli sci took 4.5 years and she was taking language courses left and right (classes she didn't need).

If anything, engineers have a LOT MORE requirements than liberal arts and science students.

I'm from Cal, and looking at our College of Engineering requirements (pick any major, be it EECS, ME, CE, MSE, etc) you can easily tell that there are a lot more required classes than say economics, poli sci, MCB (molecular cell bio, which is where all wannabe doctors go), IB (integrated bio), etc...

To say you need 6 years is a joke. If I'm at the top public school that is considered FVCKING HARD because all other UCs have easy@$$ classes compared to us, I don't see how one needs 6 years.

I'm at the point where I think I need 4.5 years, but had I planned my courses better from my first year, I swear I could be out by 3.5.

If you're taking 6 years, you should honestly consider graduating with 3 majors. 5 years is already pushing it, and if you don't have 2 degrees by then people will wonder wtf.
Click to expand...

I never said I needed 6 years. I'll probably graduate in 5, I'll just have to load up on classes, and forgo taking arabic and just go with spanish.

Honestly you don't know my situation. I dont have mommy or daddy helping me like the vast majority of students. And I wasnt eligble for financial aid until this year(I turned 24 in May). The last two years Ive worked an avg of 55 hrs a week. One semester I was up to 80. I went full time my first three semesters, and part time the other three semesters. I did well enough to get a full tuition scholarship.
 
Originally posted by: Wreckem
Originally posted by: Whisper
I personally took six years to finish my degree (which includes a one-year break spent working after I transferred colleges, and a one-year period of half-time enrollment also spent working), and saw nothing wrong with it.

Besides, if you do end up in graduate school, depending on the program, you'll have plenty of time to be hassled to graduate within a specific time frame.
Click to expand...

How do grad schools look upon 6 years?
Click to expand...

When I applied, they didn't ask me anything about it. I explained the situation in my essay(s) and that was that.

I'm currently in a doctoral program, and when it comes time to interview candidates, I haven't yet heard a professor or any of the other graduate students mention anything about time to graduation. As long as you're showing a consistent effort with good performance, you'll be fine.
 
Originally posted by: DLeRium
Originally posted by: Wreckem
The avg time for an undergraduate degree is creeping to 6 years. As for a minor to go with Political Science. Economics complements it the best.

I'm shooting for 5, and even then Im going to have to load up on classes + summer school to graduate by May 2008.

My schedule looks like this

Spring 2007 18 credit hours
Summer 2007 10 credit hours
Fall 2007 18 credit hours
Spring 2008 18 credit hours

I also plan to CLEP 6 hours of literature, because I dont want to sit through those damn classes. Plus I don't want to have to plead my case to the Dean in order to take 21 hours in a semester. Not that I want to take 21 hours in one semester, 18 is already pushing it.

My alternative is to stay around a sixth year. Although it would be 3 years at a junior college and 3 years at a university. I'd take ~15 hrs a semester, and intern during the two remaining summers. Id also switch to a double major, Poli Sci and Econ, and take arabic instead of spanish.

The main motive for me to try this is my scholarship runs out after May 2008. I dont want to take out any more loans than I have to considering I plan on grad school and law school. I am also not to sure how grad school or law school would view 6 years as an undergrad. Granted I did work full time, and then some during my first three years while at a JuCo, and Ill be working ~25 starting next semester.
Click to expand...

Uhh my friend who graduated with poli sci took 4.5 years and she was taking language courses left and right (classes she didn't need).

If anything, engineers have a LOT MORE requirements than liberal arts and science students.

I'm from Cal, and looking at our College of Engineering requirements (pick any major, be it EECS, ME, CE, MSE, etc) you can easily tell that there are a lot more required classes than say economics, poli sci, MCB (molecular cell bio, which is where all wannabe doctors go), IB (integrated bio), etc...

To say you need 6 years is a joke. If I'm at the top public school that is considered FVCKING HARD because all other UCs have easy@$$ classes compared to us, I don't see how one needs 6 years.

I'm at the point where I think I need 4.5 years, but had I planned my courses better from my first year, I swear I could be out by 3.5.

If you're taking 6 years, you should honestly consider graduating with 3 majors. 5 years is already pushing it, and if you don't have 2 degrees by then people will wonder wtf.
Click to expand...

Despite what your situation or that of your friends might be, the national average is, I believe, creeping up to around five years now. Not everyone needs more than four years, but many people elect to go that route so that 1) they can take a few extra classes in which they're interested that they likely won't ever have a chance to again pursue, and 2) so they can enjoy themselves a bit without having to cram in 18 hours for six straight semesters.
 
Originally posted by: Whisper
Originally posted by: DLeRium
Originally posted by: Wreckem
The avg time for an undergraduate degree is creeping to 6 years. As for a minor to go with Political Science. Economics complements it the best.

I'm shooting for 5, and even then Im going to have to load up on classes + summer school to graduate by May 2008.

My schedule looks like this

Spring 2007 18 credit hours
Summer 2007 10 credit hours
Fall 2007 18 credit hours
Spring 2008 18 credit hours

I also plan to CLEP 6 hours of literature, because I dont want to sit through those damn classes. Plus I don't want to have to plead my case to the Dean in order to take 21 hours in a semester. Not that I want to take 21 hours in one semester, 18 is already pushing it.

My alternative is to stay around a sixth year. Although it would be 3 years at a junior college and 3 years at a university. I'd take ~15 hrs a semester, and intern during the two remaining summers. Id also switch to a double major, Poli Sci and Econ, and take arabic instead of spanish.

The main motive for me to try this is my scholarship runs out after May 2008. I dont want to take out any more loans than I have to considering I plan on grad school and law school. I am also not to sure how grad school or law school would view 6 years as an undergrad. Granted I did work full time, and then some during my first three years while at a JuCo, and Ill be working ~25 starting next semester.
Click to expand...

Uhh my friend who graduated with poli sci took 4.5 years and she was taking language courses left and right (classes she didn't need).

If anything, engineers have a LOT MORE requirements than liberal arts and science students.

I'm from Cal, and looking at our College of Engineering requirements (pick any major, be it EECS, ME, CE, MSE, etc) you can easily tell that there are a lot more required classes than say economics, poli sci, MCB (molecular cell bio, which is where all wannabe doctors go), IB (integrated bio), etc...

To say you need 6 years is a joke. If I'm at the top public school that is considered FVCKING HARD because all other UCs have easy@$$ classes compared to us, I don't see how one needs 6 years.

I'm at the point where I think I need 4.5 years, but had I planned my courses better from my first year, I swear I could be out by 3.5.

If you're taking 6 years, you should honestly consider graduating with 3 majors. 5 years is already pushing it, and if you don't have 2 degrees by then people will wonder wtf.
Click to expand...

Despite what your situation or that of your friends might be, the national average is, I believe, creeping up to around five years now. Not everyone needs more than four years, but many people elect to go that route so that 1) they can take a few extra classes in which they're interested that they likely won't ever have a chance to again pursue, and 2) so they can enjoy themselves a bit without having to cram in 18 hours for six straight semesters.
Click to expand...

Actually the average in 1999 was five years. Its slightly above that now. The reason is two fold. Each year there are more and more first generation college students, and each year the precentage of students working more than 20 hrs a week grows.
 
Originally posted by: Whisper
Originally posted by: DLeRium
Originally posted by: Wreckem
The avg time for an undergraduate degree is creeping to 6 years. As for a minor to go with Political Science. Economics complements it the best.

I'm shooting for 5, and even then Im going to have to load up on classes + summer school to graduate by May 2008.

My schedule looks like this

Spring 2007 18 credit hours
Summer 2007 10 credit hours
Fall 2007 18 credit hours
Spring 2008 18 credit hours

I also plan to CLEP 6 hours of literature, because I dont want to sit through those damn classes. Plus I don't want to have to plead my case to the Dean in order to take 21 hours in a semester. Not that I want to take 21 hours in one semester, 18 is already pushing it.

My alternative is to stay around a sixth year. Although it would be 3 years at a junior college and 3 years at a university. I'd take ~15 hrs a semester, and intern during the two remaining summers. Id also switch to a double major, Poli Sci and Econ, and take arabic instead of spanish.

The main motive for me to try this is my scholarship runs out after May 2008. I dont want to take out any more loans than I have to considering I plan on grad school and law school. I am also not to sure how grad school or law school would view 6 years as an undergrad. Granted I did work full time, and then some during my first three years while at a JuCo, and Ill be working ~25 starting next semester.
Click to expand...

Uhh my friend who graduated with poli sci took 4.5 years and she was taking language courses left and right (classes she didn't need).

If anything, engineers have a LOT MORE requirements than liberal arts and science students.

I'm from Cal, and looking at our College of Engineering requirements (pick any major, be it EECS, ME, CE, MSE, etc) you can easily tell that there are a lot more required classes than say economics, poli sci, MCB (molecular cell bio, which is where all wannabe doctors go), IB (integrated bio), etc...

To say you need 6 years is a joke. If I'm at the top public school that is considered FVCKING HARD because all other UCs have easy@$$ classes compared to us, I don't see how one needs 6 years.

I'm at the point where I think I need 4.5 years, but had I planned my courses better from my first year, I swear I could be out by 3.5.

If you're taking 6 years, you should honestly consider graduating with 3 majors. 5 years is already pushing it, and if you don't have 2 degrees by then people will wonder wtf.
Click to expand...

Despite what your situation or that of your friends might be, the national average is, I believe, creeping up to around five years now. Not everyone needs more than four years, but many people elect to go that route so that 1) they can take a few extra classes in which they're interested that they likely won't ever have a chance to again pursue, and 2) so they can enjoy themselves a bit without having to cram in 18 hours for six straight semesters.
Click to expand...

I believe the average person has an IQ of 100
 
If its truly not feasable (i.e more the 17 credits per semester) then they need to back off and let you get things done at a reasonable pace. But if the problem is you not being decisive or not willing to commit to hard work then I could understand their frustration. Also graduating on time was considered during my graduate school application which was one of the reasons I was let in on my not so high GPA. My advice would be get your plans straight (they really should be once you become a junior)
 

No. It's quite the opposite actually. They don't want you to have to suffer through the hardships that they had to go through. They're only looking out for your best interests.[/quote]

i really agree with that, My dad (used to be a laborer and worked on the streets carrying heavy stuff. He used to sleep on the street during afternoons instead of returning home for lunch as he did not have enough money for even a cab. Long days and lots of hard work later, he opened up his own business and with good fortune became quite successful.

he is now paying for my education, a 5 year accounting undergrad program at IU bloomington, which costs about $30,000 a year all by himself. All he wants from me is a focus on studies and future, w/o having to worry about money untill ofcours i start earning myself.
I love my parents for pushing me a so much when i lost focus to study hard in high school, thats the only reason how i got an admission in the 7th best Business school in America.

You my friend are lucky,I do not know your personal situation with your parents so i cannot comment on that but; you will not like it right now ,maybe even to the point of hating your parents for it. but 10 years down the line, it will make all the difference in the world to you.
 
I have 6 credit hours to be retaken this spring, 3 hours in a requirement for political science, 3 hours of foreign language, and physical education. I can also take one of the requirements for an economics minor, which appears to be more streamlined and requires less credit hours than history. This leaves me with 15 hours of economics to be taken next year. Unless I'm missing something (and I probably am since I'm examining this quickly), I should be able to be done next spring. I'm not as far in the hole as I thought I was apparently, and I had 12 hours credit coming in from high school AP courses that gave me a bit of a cushion. Unless there is some unforeseen circumstance, I don't think I'll have to work. Uncle Sam can be milked very well if you know the proper channels to do so here in Tennessee.

I know my parents mean well, but if you aren't successful, then what do you KNOW about being successful? You can recite what you've heard from outside sources, but you couldn't find something that works for you. Frankly, I think this type of advice is foolish and ironic coming from people who weren't able to achieve success themselves
 
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