Graduating college late is not necessarily bad as everyone has their own unique path and circumstances that can lead to delays in completing their degree.
And now, a closer look
The idea that college students must graduate on time is a common misconception. The truth is, not everyone has the same path and circumstances in life, and there can be various reasons why a college student has to graduate late. As the saying goes, “It’s not how fast you get there, it’s how you get there.” This sentiment is echoed by James Clear, an author and entrepreneur, who said, “Goals are good for setting a direction, but systems are best for making progress.”
Here are some interesting facts about graduating college late:
- According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, the six-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time undergraduate students who began their studies at a four-year degree-granting institution in fall 2013 was only 62.1 percent.
- The average time to complete a bachelor’s degree in the United States is actually around five years.
- Common reasons for delaying graduation include switching majors, taking time off for personal reasons, financial difficulties, and even participating in a co-op program or internship.
- Graduating college late might even have some benefits. For instance, a student might have more time to explore different majors or fields of study, and they could gain additional knowledge and experiences outside of the classroom.
To better understand the different paths to graduation and the reasons why some students might take longer than others, here is a table showcasing some of the factors that can impact a student’s journey:
Factor | Impact on Graduation |
---|---|
Major Changes | Additional coursework or missed prerequisites can add time to graduation |
Personal Issues and Obligations | Can force students to take time off or reduce course loads |
Financial Issues | May require students to work part-time or take time off to save money |
Co-op or Internship Programs | Will likely result in a longer time to graduation, but students will gain valuable work experience |
Course Availability | Limited course availability, especially for prerequisites, can slow down a student’s progress |
In conclusion, graduating college late is not necessarily a negative thing. Students who take longer to graduate can still succeed and achieve their goals. As long as they focus on making progress and building a system to reach their goals, they can thrive.
See a video about the subject.
The video discusses graduating from college late and emphasizes that there is no need to feel like a failure for doing so. Whether it’s due to changing majors or taking a gap year, delays in graduating college are common and accepting your own unique timeline is crucial. The speaker reminds viewers that the majority of college students take more than four years to graduate and taking time for yourself during this period is important. Ultimately, finding your own path and adjusting to life’s circumstances is key to achieving success.
I discovered more solutions online
Never too late to graduate or go back into education. Everyone has their own timeline of when and what they want to strive for in their life. So, don’t worry about needing to compare yourself of other people who may have graduated early. Don’t ever feel guilty or embarrassed about graduating at 28yrs old.
Yes, it is okay to graduate late from college. Although there is a stigma of graduating late, there are many reasons why a student may need to graduate late, such as having kids, family, funds, and more. Graduating later has many benefits, such as being overlooked and persistent students. However, it can be a personal finance issue if you need extra semesters of school and delay your entry into probably-higher-paying college graduate jobs.
Yes, it is ok to take longer than four years, although it can be a personal finance issue if you need extra semesters of school and delay your entry into probably-higher-paying college graduate jobs.
Itās okay to graduate late. There is a stigma of graduating late. Most people think you have something seriously wrong with you, they look at you like it is the worst news they could have heard when you tell them you arenāt graduating until the next semester instead of in May.
There are ample reasons for a student to graduate late, like having kids, family, funds, and more. Apart from the disadvantages, it is a fact to consider that graduating later has many benefits. There is a different picture of overlooked and persistent students.