How long did it take you finish college?

Chad H

So I'm the stereotypical late graduating college student. Theoretically, I should be graduating this year, but the fact that I took no science classes freshman year, then switched majors twice into a science major, along with failing a class or two, and along with having to move back home this year where I could only take 14 hours for the whole year has absolutely killed me. I just did the math and due to the scheduling of the classes needed, I will graduate Spring 2014. 2 years later from when I was supposed to. The kicker here... I'll be taking 7 credits Fall 2013, and only one class Spring 2014.

It blows. Yeah I'm bitching, but this is mighty frustrating, i'm just ready to be done.

ontrider · Ladies Man Joined: 30 Jul 2003 Posts: 16491 City: Russia

If you're ready to be done now, just wait until you have a job...

And to answer the ??? it took me 3 years, not that I really use my special paper for anything anyway. Laughing

Just enjoy it, soon you'll likely be slaving away 9-5 every day and wishing you had the same amount of free time as in college.

DRAGON88 · Posted: Jan 17, 2012 11:17 pm Post subject:

4 years. In retrospect, I think I could have done it in 3 if I took AP classes in high school.

If scheduling was going to keep me from graduating, I'd probably be looking into other options (IE: any needed credits available at the local CC?). If it deals with some classes having prerequisites, I'd go and talk to the professors to see if they would be willing to make an exception.

Just my two cents.

jryoung · Ladies Man Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 7664 City: Man Jose

Took me 5.5 to finish undergrad. I took 10 credits during the winter to snowboard and neglected my language credits that can't be taken concurrently......then I decided to get a real degree and went back for two more.

goofyboy · Posted: Jan 18, 2012 4:26 am Post subject:

Took me 5 years to finish. Changed majors from Mechanical Engineering to Communication studies. I could have finished in 4.5 years, but I wanted to finish out my entire last year as the mascot. Plus, i knew the real world was going to suck. Very Happy

STPHNSN23 · Guest

i finished on time in 4 years, but my undergrad degree is useless. that's part of the reason i ended up in law school, which was another 3 years.

b_girl · Posted: Jan 18, 2012 5:39 am Post subject:

also on time in 4 years, and I do use my degree for my job today... but like ont said, just wait until you have a job and are slaving away from 9-5... you'll miss those college days!

Broccoli B · Posted: Jan 18, 2012 5:47 am Post subject:

From my first class to undergrad graduation was 9 years. I took about 3 years off in the middle.

Now i'm 13 weeks away from graduating with an MBA.

brew · Posted: Jan 18, 2012 6:15 am Post subject:

3.5 years for undergrad and 1.5 years for graduate degree. However, both colleges I attended sucked, so I was ready to get out. Plus the fact I got married my second year meant college was basically a job.

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

5 years. Switched majors, then ended up with two majors.

But, as some others have said... DO NOT BE IN A HURRY TO LEAVE SCHOOL.

Hell, if someone died and left me enough money to live well, I would just spend the rest of my life in school....

GnarShredd · Posted: Jan 18, 2012 6:23 am Post subject:

Chad H, Just be stoked that you're staying longer. I finished in 3 years (took classes every summer) and went right in to the working world a month after I graduated. While I've got a solid job and good work experience for being so young, I regret it completely that I graduated so quickly. All downhill from here...

ohsix · Posted: Jan 18, 2012 6:23 am Post subject:

5 years. Started in Mechanical Engineering, switched after 1.5 years to Construction Science. I can proudly say I never failed a class. I've never had a job that pertains directly to Construction Science. In hindsight, I often wish I had majored in Biology or Biomedical Science and gone to med school. I'm happy where I'm at now, but I never realized how good I had it in college until I moved to the real world.

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

I ended up being about 4 years, but I started with a typical college and ended up finishing up doing a Technical School program. I would agree with everyone's comments about not being in a hurry. My wife started college in the early 90's...she still doesn't have a degree...LOL!

Also, what is all this talk about the grind of 9-5? Do y'all actually only work 9-5?

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

4.5 years which isn't bad for engineering, although I took a couple summer semesters. MBA will take me 3. 1 semester left to go after this.

Unless you're racking up major student loans I wouldn't worry about it. Enjoy it while you can.

Faust · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 20 May 2005 Posts: 1496

4 years... 2 years of school, 1 year of co-op, 1 year of school. Mechanical Engineering. And plus my career is related to the major...

I guess I'm one of the only people here that likes the 'real world' a TON better than college....

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

Hmm... I'm 35 so carry the 2 divide by the square root of 11... ahh fck it. I'm reasonably sure it's been 17 years and counting.

Of course, I'm on a 15 year long "break" from it. I'll go back, someday. Laughing

LFADAM · Posted: Jan 18, 2012 7:45 am Post subject:

Im on track for 4.5 with a 2 majors and a minor. I did one summer (study abroad) and could cram to graduate in 4, but Id rather take a normal amount of credits and graduate in 4.5

jt09 · Ladies Man Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 22083 City: Austin

if someone else is paying for your school/living expenses, there's no excuse for not being out in 5 years max. took me 8.5 years, but i was 100% on my own so i took what hours i could, when i could. took a year and a half off to work and get off my mom's taxes so i could get my own student loans too.

JHerb42 · Outlaw Joined: 14 Jul 2003 Posts: 180 City: Columbus

From the time I finished high school till I got my degree was 11 years! Only the first three years were full time. In those first three years, not much was accomplished, except having a great time.

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac

Took me 5 years of attending classes over 6 years. I was a few units short of my degree after my last season but couldn't afford the tuition without my scholarship. So I worked for a year transferred my to a state school and attended classes on Tues and Thurs to finish my remaining units. Could have finished in 4 if I didn't have funding issues.

NKCrider · Posted: Jan 18, 2012 8:16 am Post subject:

well with my work schedule, and getting an A.A.S in business management (im taking over family business) from TNCC, its supposed to be a 2yr degree. i just started my 1st semmester this spring and i have only 2 classes 2 days a week. looks like itll be 4.5-5yrs to get a 2yr degree Shocked

Aubs · Motorboat Queen Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9167

4 years for Bachelors - double majored and minored.
2 years for Masters - couldn't do it any faster.

I'd be in grad school forever if I could. Looking to going back. Don't rush out.

fish6942 · Addict Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Posts: 603

I managed to squeeze a 4 year EE degree into 5.5 Rolling Eyes

Worked my way through the whole thing and ended up with zero loans though.

DCdave56 · Posted: Jan 18, 2012 9:30 am Post subject:

Finished my BA and teaching credential in 5 years flat and went straight to work and it was a mistake. I was basically stuck with all of the normal adult responsibilities and problems at age 23 that I now still have at age 38.

vette74 · Posted: Jan 18, 2012 9:53 am Post subject:

It took me 5 years for Civil Engineering degree. I was ready to get out all my friends were or have graduated and I was tired of being a broke college student.

STPHNSN23 · Guest

everyone keeps saying graduating quickly was a mistake. what would have changed if you had taken a year between high school and college or between college and grad school? do you think you would have chosen a different career path? or be in the same spot you're in now but a year behind?

Faust · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 20 May 2005 Posts: 1496

I am very glad I graduated quickly and would recommend it to everyone. Either that or don't even go. Confused

It's way too expensive to dink around

GnarShredd · Posted: Jan 18, 2012 10:31 am Post subject:

DCdave56, I'm in that boat right now.

Aubs · Motorboat Queen Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9167

Stphnsn23 - No. I just like continual learning. I'm teaching now, so I'm still getting some brain stimulation, but I felt so much brighter during grad school. I was constantly reading, writing, learning new avenues of research, etc. Now, its not the same. Maybe this just pertains to my field and me - but I would love being a student forever. I'd even be sober the entire time.

GnarShredd · Posted: Jan 18, 2012 10:45 am Post subject:

ontrider · Ladies Man Joined: 30 Jul 2003 Posts: 16491 City: Russia

Chad H · Posted: Jan 18, 2012 11:07 am Post subject:

STPHNSN23 · Guest

i posed the question because i often think my situation would be different if i had taken a year between hs and college and/or a year between college and law school. you know, taking some time to figure myself out or whatever. when i really think about it though, i would probably have just ended up hanging out for that year (like i did through 4 years of college). i'd be in the same spot just another year older.

and i hear ya, aubs. i would love to stay in the student world and just learn about things that interest me forever. now, i just have to do that in my time away from the office.

brew · Posted: Jan 18, 2012 12:59 pm Post subject:

LFADAM · Posted: Jan 18, 2012 1:59 pm Post subject:

I didnt take a year off between HS and college, but I plan on graduating in 4.5 and taking ~6 months off to take a trip around the world, putting me in the same place as people graduating in 5. Traveling is my biggest passion in life (along with wakeboarding) so this is something I really want to do. Ive started saving already and any extra money I can get will go to that until I graduate in Dec of 2013. Im not sure if it will be a "good idea" or not but I want to do it regardless. I can see it being a big plus in a job interview afterwards (volunteering, international experience, a broadened perspective, more foreign language practice) or as a negative (why did this guy take 6 months off the loaf around instead of getting a job when he could have?). Im pretty confident that itll be a good thing but we'll see.