The four-year college graduate is not impossible to find, but studies show that you are more likely to bump into a five- or six-year college graduate than someone who completed his or her education in four years. The National Center for Education Statistics website posted a 2011 study by the Digest of Education Statistics stating that only 37.9 percent of graduates completed their degree in four years. The same study also showed that 20.4 percent more college graduates completed their degree in a six-year span. Whether by choice or due to unavoidable circumstances, prolonging one’s educational goals has both perks and disadvantages; in my opinion, the disadvantages outweigh the perks.
Before cataloging a few reasons why a four-year degree is more agreeable than a five- or six-year degree, I think that it is important to take a moment for a side-note and address the obvious statement that not all students have the option of graduating in four years. I know there are external factors that can inhibit some students from completing their course work in a timely manner—transfer complications, scheduling conflicts, personal issues, academic probation and the list goes on. For these students, a five- or six-year college education is unavoidable. However, if there are not any unavoidable circumstances forcing you to divert your attention away from obtaining a degree in four years, then do not t take your eyes off the prize and make the four-year commitment.
Arguably, one of the most encouraging motivators to finish your college degree in four years is the financial advantage. Who does not want to avoid having to pay tuition or the heinously inevitable fee increases for an additional year or two? I’m sure you are all aware that the price of college has been inflating every year for the past decade. According to the University System of Georgia website, for the second year in a row, there will be “a tuition increase of just 2.5 percent for in-state, undergraduate students at 27 University System of Georgia colleges and universities.” So, the longer you stay, the more you will be paying. As Jeanne Sahadi of CNNMoney explains, “for every semester you stay beyond four years, the money out of your pocket (or the increase in your loan balance) can be considerable.” Be smart, save your money, and graduate on time.
Another perk of finishing your degree on time is the old sticky band-aide adage: it is less painful when done quickly. Let’s face the truth, college can be very painful at times. The ambitions you have now and the goals you have set for yourself later will not have to wait or be prioritized if you get college out of the way. Using my experience as an example,
I am presently juggling work, a full-time school schedule, a household, a new born, and not to mention, writing this column every week. On an hourly basis, I have to prioritize my time, make difficult choices and suffer the consequences while reaping the rewards. My story is not unique, in fact, it is quite common. Yet, if I had completed my degree earlier, I would not be making the difficult choices I am now such as choosing to write this article versus helping to teach my child how to walk.
To those who contest that taking an extra year or two is beneficial because you can take the classes you really want, have more free time to dedicate to your other classes or a job or enjoy the college life more, I only have this to say: the sooner you finish, the fewer sacrifices and compromises you will have to make later in life.
Mark Leszczynski, Senior English Major.
