Thursday, October 1, 2009
Like Jayplay writer Patrick de Oliveira, I came into college fully expecting to graduate in four years. I brought in a handful of college credits from high school and enrolled in the standard 15-hour courseload. I was all set.
But at the beginning of my fourth semester, I found myself in a stressful situation. After spending my entire Sunday at the library working on an assignment, I trudged into my apartment late at night, eager to get to sleep. But when I checked my planner to review the next day’s schedule, I saw something that made my stomach turn: I had a quiz at 9 a.m. that I hadn’t studied (or read) for at all.
As I often do when I’m overwhelmed with school, I called my older sister for advice. I told her it seemed impossible for me to take a full courseload while working 20 hours per week, especially if I had any hope for a good GPA, and I needed to take 15 hours every semester to graduate on time. She suggested something I hadn’t even considered: “Why don’t you just take an extra semester?”
I had never considered spending more than four years in college but, as I continued to talk to my sister, the idea began to make more and more sense. So, like Patrick, I made the decision to postpone my graduation date.
Now in my last semester, I am nothing but happy with my decision. The extra semester of breathing room allowed me to take a lighter courseload each semester, so I was able to maintain a part-time job and still have time to enjoy college. I was able to devote my summers to internships and I even had the chance to spend a semester abroad.
Check out Patrick’s story on about students who have taken more than four years to graduate. You’ll find that even though four years is the expected graduation schedule, it isn’t always the best one.
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