Is it normal to graduate in 5 years these days instead of 4?

Question

I used to be a music major (singing) but now, as a junior, I am changing to music education so that I'll actually be able to, you know, get a job! :)

Anyway, I am transferring to another college. I saw my counselor this morning and he said that's fine because I already have a lot of the required classes, but because now I am dealing with education it will take me an extra year. Is graduating at 23 instead of 22 really okay?

Answer 1

of course it is! silly! the average grad time is actually 6 years. continue your studies, be proud that you are being proactive and preparing for your future in such a remarkable way. the time will fly by and you will never ever regret the education you are getting. i am so proud of you. !!

ps, i know dozens of kids who are 22,23,24,25 who are still in school and no one thinks a thing of it. i was a PTA mom and know all the kids around here and all of them study and sorta just take it for granted that it takes as long as it takes. i cant tell you how many of them after getting their bachelors now are going back for masters, at, 24 25 26 and more. my son did not grad until he was 24.

go for it!!! all the best to you!!

Answer 2

It is completely common now a days to graduate in 5 years. A lot of programs are so jam packed with classes that there is no way short of killing yourself with class work overload to even get done in 4 years. I graduated from an accredited interior design and architecture program where the common time to graduate was 5 years. There was no way around it. It took me 6 because I also switched my major and college my junior year! Don't sweat it and do what makes you happy and feel secure! I'm glad I decided to do what I did!

Answer 3

Honey, I'm 21 years old and I won't be graduating college for another 4 years!

I've been going to my college part-time since 2005. Why have I been going part-time you ask? Because it's pretty difficult to go to school full-time when you also have a full-time job!

I go to a local community college that didn't offer anything I wanted at first. I was only taking 2 classes a semester and started of with my core classes with an undeclared major.

This past summer, when my college revealed it will be offering Bachelor's Degrees in teaching high school History and English, I literally jumped out of my seat! I'd always wanted to be a high school teacher, and my favorite subject has always been history.

When I decided to add up just how much longer I'd be in school if I continued taking 2 classes a semester, the grand total came to 6 or 7 years. I was totally fine with that until my boyfriend brought up the fact that I'd be in my 30s by the time I was ready to settle down with a family and a career (we want to wait until I'm out of school to get married). When I calculated how much longer I'd be there if I went full-time, the grand total was, at most, 3 1/2 years. However, as I said before, I'd have to quit my full-time job. Finally, I calculated how much longer I'd be there if I only took 3 classes a semester: 4 years. And really..... what's 6 more months of school? I have to keep reminding myself that I need to stay buckled down, but it'll all be worth it in about 4 years.

Where in the world did you get that it WOULDN'T be OK if it took longer to graduate than you'd hoped? If that's the case, I really feel sorry for all of the people at my college who already have families and full-time jobs and can't take a full load of classes! I'll be 25 at my graduation and there is NOTHING wrong with it!

Answer 4

Yes, especially where you're a music major, switching from performance to education. You're going to have to take several education related courses, plus do a semester of student teaching. Since you're already a junior, some of those tracks are 2 year tracks, and there's no way around it.

I was a music ed major, and it took me 5 years without transferring! So don't worry about it, ok?

Answer 5

Most people don't ususally graduate in 4 years anymore. Many colleges even make their programs more involved with 5 or 6 years just for and undergrad degree.

Unless you stick with your first major, and take all your classes on time, then it's really hard to graduate in 4 years. Most people I know took at least 4.5-6 years to get their undergrad degrees.

Answer 6

Aside from this being very normal, there are some programs which, upon entering, are 5-years long.
I studied Accounting and took the 5-year CPA Prep curriculum so as soon as I graduated I had the required classroom hours - - and that was 10 years ago.

Answer 7

It's not unsual to graduate if 5 years. I graduated in 7 years after changing my major twice (history, then chemistry, then finally Political Science.) Keep in mind, though, that what you are studying may not be what you end up with. It's not unusual for a person to go through 4-5 different careers before they end up with what he/she is going to settle down with for a career & retire from. But you are definitely doing the right thing in preparing yourself for future employment while you are still in school.

Answer 8

Only 20% of university students graduate in 4 years anymore. Most are doing it in 5.

Answer 9

It took me almost 6 because I couldn't get my curriculum courses until I was a 2nd semester junior :( My guidance councilor actually told me they're under orders to try to keep students there for as long as possible.

So no, I'd say it's actually unusual to get out in 4 anymore.

Answer 10

It took me 22 years to actually earn my Bachelor's Degree so, yeah, 5 years is okay. The important thing is that you figured out what you want to do and are taking steps to do it.

Congrats!