[dropcap]I [/dropcap]spent six years completing my undergraduate degree, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. The idea of a traditional degree only taking four years to complete is becoming an old-fashioned ideal, and to rush through it just to be able to say you finished it ‘on time’ misses the point of the university experience.
University is the best time of your life to explore new subject areas, take up new hobbies, try on a career you think you might like through a co-op placement, or go on an exchange. Passing up these types of experiences by focusing solely on the courses you need to graduate will earn you a degree sooner, but it will be much less valuable than a degree that comes with some extra work and life experience behind it.
If you can’t decide what to major in, don’t worry — think about doing a joint major, double major, or a major and minor; perhaps even two minors. Don’t let the fear of taking longer stop you from getting the most out of your time here. Having that extra minor might lead to an amazing job opportunity once you graduate, or might set you apart from someone who is not as well-rounded.
Also, consider doing co-op. This is just another experience that you should not avoid just because of the time commitment. If you graduate with no work experience, your chances of finding a decent job will be much lower than someone who has already worked in a variety of relevant positions. Plus, co-op jobs tend to pay very well, and I personally found them to be a great way to save up money for those semesters when five classes really didn’t allow for much part-time work.
And if you’ve been thinking, ‘oh, this is all well and good but I can’t afford a few extra semesters,’ then co-op may be a solution for you — you can spend a bit more time completing your degree while making some money along the way.
The simple fact is that graduating from university and suddenly being in the ‘real world’ with no more student perks or discounts can be daunting. Why not soften that transition and plan your next move from the comfort of student life. Most day jobs are really not all they’re cracked up to be — especially your first one.
If you’ve been turning down opportunities like writing for your student paper, going on an exchange, joining your student union, or taking on that cool volunteer job you heard about just because you want to focus on school and get out of here as soon as possible, I would urge you to consider what you’re missing.
University is not just about your classes — of course, it’s important to devote time to them and maintain your GPA — but think about how much more valuable your time here will be if you take one less course per semester and spend that time on an extracurricular activity that you’re passionate about.
Enjoy being a student for as long as you can.
