<p>I just wanted a few opinions on my situation. I'll be graduating soon, but I was debating over whether to suck it up and take all my courses, finishing my degree in exactly 4 years? Or whether to take one extra quarter next summer to make this last year less stressful. </p>
<p>My main concern is whether taking an extra quarter will affect my chances of being hired by employers, since I assume that they're seeking students for immediate employment after graduation? Or do you think this shouldn't be a problem if I take the extra quarter during the summer? </p>
<p>Hmmm, apply to the jobs that you want and if you get an offer then suck it up and take the classes. If not, delay graduation until next year by taking fewer classes or more electives second semester so that you will still have recruiting options available to you from your school.</p>
<p>I don't think it matters a whole lot. If it keeps your sanity and gpa in check then it's probably better to wait.</p>
<p>Taking another quarter next year will end you at Christmas which would be nice to have off any way. Also, if a company is having a financial difficulties this their favorite time to lay people off (sad, but it makes the books look good). Despite not all fiscal years ending with the calendar year in my years working I have noticed that many companies still prepare yearly budgets around this time and that job openings seem to increase after the first of the year as they do at the end of summer.</p>
<p>You won't have oncampus recruiting at this time. However, career fairs aren't seasonal, nor is your ability to approach the company yourself; which in some cases makes you look better than someone who stumbled into the gym one weekend.</p>
<p>First suggestion .... go to your placement office and ask this question; they are the experts</p>
<p>My experience (many many moons ago) is that delaying your graduation could make a pretty big difference in your getting hired unless you are a big time academic star. Entry level jobs at big firms are typically part of hiring programs that run on a schedule that assumes applicants are graduating in May/June (the orientation process occurs X week, the new jobs start Y week, the firt rotation occurs Z week, etc) . There are tens of thousands of grads every year who fit this timing cycle ... starting off asking to be an exception is not a great start in a hiring process.</p>