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Is it socially acceptable to take 2 extra years to finish college?

M

mercanucaribe

Banned
Let's say I switch my major from geography to biology and transfer to a school with a more ecology oriented biology program.. Would I be a loser for takine 2 extra years to graduate? I'm considering this because it may take an extra year to graduate with the geography degree thanks to my school not offering Advanced Geographic Info Sci for a whole year.

Edit: What I'm really asking is, is "I changed my major" a good enough excuse for taking 6 years?
 
I dont think it will really hurt you in the long run as long as money isn't an issue. You can state that you transfered schools to pursure somethign you're interested in and that forced you to delay your graduation. As long as yo ushow you weren't a stoner that took 1 class every quarter and thats why you were late graudating you'll be fine.
 
Why does everyone think you have to graduate in four years flat? Have some fun, don't rush into a job you're most likely not going to like. I guess i'm the opposite, taking a while to get to a job I will like. 😛
 
It's not that money is not an issue, but if I keep going, there are some grants that I have with no time limit, like I think the Pell Grant. I'd also continue taking out loans, about $2000 a semester probably. I can also finish my geography degree in one semester, without advanced GIS of course. But I don't know what will happen to the grants and loans once I get a degree, and I don't know if I'd be able to get a job.
 
i have several friends who did a dual-degree program with columbia university and an affiliated religious institution. since the other institution requires extra coursework, it was normal for them to finish in 5 years -- they were often considered "second year seniors" during that 5th year.

i also did have a friend who did this at UMichigan. he thought he wanted to do biology and spent a summer researching in a lab, then decided that he hated the notion of pursuing bio. ultimately, he transferred to the UMichigan business school and had to take additional coursework that caused him to graduate in 5 instead of 4 years. it's not unheard of, and there's nothing wrong with it. if anything, it makes you sound more academic, diligent, and dedicated to learning. girls like that. 🙂
 
Well, I'm doing my 4 year degree in 7 years cause I changed subjects.

And like the above poster noted, it's better with the ladies, since you are a bit older and thus more emotionaly mature according to that wacked women psychology.
 
Originally posted by: BigPoppa
Why does everyone think you have to graduate in four years flat? Have some fun, don't rush into a job you're most likely not going to like. I guess i'm the opposite, taking a while to get to a job I will like. 😛
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well, for one thing, they still call it a "4 year school". I know there's nothing wrong with graduating after 5 or 6, but when you say "it took me 6 years to graduate from this 4 year university", it just sounds embarassing.

 

If you can finish it why not stick with it and then apply to graduate programs -- in the same amount of time you could have your MS 🙂
 
Originally posted by: Landroval

If you can finish it why not stick with it and then apply to graduate programs -- in the same amount of time you could have your MS 🙂
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I don't think I'd want to invest the time in geography, since it's not respected in the US like it is in Europe and Australia. Who knows, though.
 
I have a friend who's taking 5 years to earn his M.E. degree. He didn't really know what he wanted to do until our junior year, but he's probably one the best, most-intelligent students I've ever met. He wasn't just goofing off during our first two years, either; he was taking more-than-full loads with challenging and interesting courses.

IMO, there's no shame in him taking an extra year.
 
Originally posted by: mchammer
Hey mchammer187, whats the 187 in your name for?
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:Q 4 Posts! That's lurk-tastic!

BTW, 187, IIRC, is slang for murder (comes from some sort of police code?).
 
There's nothing wrong with taking long to graduate. Many have to work full time jobs and simply cannot be in school full time. I've never heard of anyone looking down on taking long to graduate.

 
Even if it was not socially acceptable, people just give you a pause for a few seconds then move on. I won't lie. When someone tells me they are 26 or something and still in school, I definitely think "strange..." for a second then I move on. Nobody really cares. The real reason I think most people take more than 4 years is that they are afraid of graduating and being in the "real" world.
 
Originally posted by: IAteYourMother
Originally posted by: pyonir
i didn't graduate until my 7th year. Of course, i took a two year break.
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😕
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Revised: It took my seven years to get my degree from when i started. I had a two year break in that seven years though.
 
Originally posted by: sygyzy
Even if it was not socially acceptable, people just give you a pause for a few seconds then move on. I won't lie. When someone tells me they are 26 or something and still in school, I definitely think "strange..." for a second then I move on. Nobody really cares. The real reason I think most people take more than 4 years is that they are afraid of graduating and being in the "real" world.
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See it doesn't make me think strange. There are people in their 40s that are just starting a bachelors degree.
 
Socially acceptable? How many of you guys plan your life around what would be the most "acceptable" action with your peers?

I sure as hell don't. Do what makes you happy.
 
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