Liberal Arts Colleges

Although you may think you should graduate from college in four years, it’s not the norm. Data pertaining to graduation rates compiled by The U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) indicates that just 36 percent of students who entered college in the 2000-01 school year graduated in four years. “Timely” graduations are less common due to a myriad of reasons – all of which make graduating in five years more appealing to the average college student.

1. The unquenchable thirst for knowledge
   Eager learners graduate in five years too. Many students opt to double major in order to gain additional skills and supplement the knowledge they’ve gained in a discipline. For example, a public relations major with aspirations to represent big businesses could also major in business. That way, they’ll know the inner-workings of the companies they’ll represent, enabling them to become more efficient PR practitioners.
2. Major decisions
   Most 18-year-olds can barely manage their current lives and yet they’re expected to make a decision that’ll possibly determine what they’ll do for their entire adult lives? Selecting a major isn’t supposed to be easy, and for many students, it takes time and experience to figure out which discipline is best for them. There’s no shame in changing your major as long as you find one that suits your strengths and interests.
3. Persistently pesky prerequisites
   Many upper-level classes can’t be taken before the appropriate prerequisite classes have already been completed. In some cases, a certain grade -higher than just passing – has to be achieved in the prerequisite class. If you failed to meet the requirement or you simply didn’t realize a prerequisite existed, feel fortunate that time is on your side.
4. Transferred to greener pastures
   As many transfer students have learned the hard way, not all credits are transferrable and not all prerequisites from different colleges are the same. So if you’ve transferred to greener pastures – perhaps from a community college to your typical big state school out in the boondocks – and you find yourself playing catch-up, don’t make the work more stressful by rushing to meet a four-year graduation date.
5. Dropped classes happen
   And there’s no shame in it. You should be more concerned about your GPA than the amount of dropped classes you accumulate. Don’t risk failing a class just so that you’ll graduate “on time.” If you find yourself struggling in a subject and you’re too busy to make up any ground, cut your losses and give it a shot next semester when you have more time.
6. Too many hours, too many worries
   In order to remain eligible for major scholarships, loans and health insurance, you must be enrolled full-time. Additionally, you might have a job and participate in extracurricular activities. With such a busy schedule, you aren’t exactly mimicking the “Animal House” lifestyle. Your time in college is your last chance to be a kid and live without real responsibility. If possible, don’t sign up for 15 hours, enjoy college and make it last. Attend a few more keggers. Linger around your favorite bars. Sleep in a few more times. The additional memories will last forever.
7. Summer isn’t fall or spring
   During grade school and high school, fun was the focus of your summers. In college, you’re almost expected to bridge the gap between spring and fall by taking a couple of classes. It’s not uncommon for students to take a full load, as opposed to just knocking down a credit or two while enjoying the best the season has to offer. On the other hand, you may have an internship or job for which you’re responsible and school just isn’t your number one priority.
8. Life outside of school
   Sometimes life gets in the way of your studies. Personal health problems, family health problems or financial problems arise, and it’s not always possible to deal with such issues while enrolled in school. Luckily, you can take a semester or two off during college and pick up where you left off when you’re ready.
9. Finding a job still isn’t easy
   The national unemployment rate is still hovering just below 10 percent. Not an encouraging sign for recent graduates who are looking to get their feet wet in the real world. Since the economic downturn began in 2008, it has been a common occurrence for the newly college educated to take – or keep – the same types of jobs they’ve had during college and high school. You went to college for that? Wait an extra year and perhaps the job market will improve. If it doesn’t, at least you’ve put off the job-hunting misery and frustration for another year.
10. The real world can wait
    Full-fledged responsibility isn’t appetizing. With a nine-to-five, sleeping in whenever you please is no longer an option. Partying is reduced to two nights per week. The margin for error in your work decreases – if you’re fired, you’ll be relying on mom and dad again. The real world is sink-or-swim, and if you’re not prepared, you’ll be sleeping with the fishes. The extra year enables you to get your mind right, mature and prepare for the next stage of your life.