<p>Hello all,
I'm looking for some advice on whether or not to enter a 5th year of undergrad.</p>
<p>I'm about to enter my third year at one of the UCs and in January I am planning on studying abroad in Europe for a semester. I'm really excited to go, and I think my parents are too. They're paying for the tuition and initial flight out there, but I've been working this summer (and hopefully during the first quarter of the school year) to pay for my own travel and expenses while I am abroad.</p>
<p>While I am very much looking forward to my time abroad, I am kind of sad that there are a lot of things at my home university I might miss out on if I graduate in 4 years. Specifically, I would really like to apply to the honors program in my major but it requires a 2 year commitment. So I would only be able to participate if I started in my fourth year and continued into a 5th. I would also really like to add on a minor, but it would be too many classes to finish up in the 4 quarters I have left at my own campus.</p>
<p>I guess my question is this: is it too much to ask my parents to help me out for a fifth year? I already feel guilty that they're paying for me to go to Europe with the dollar being what it is today. Are these programs that I want to add on really necessary? Or should I just graduate having completed my major, without any additional honors.</p>
<p>Any and all advice would really be appreciated. Thanks for your help!</p>
<p>Well, if I were you , I would calculate the cost of a fifth year, figure out how much you could pay and how much you would have to take out in loans, then bring the information to your parents and ask them if they think it would be a wise investment for you to make on your own. If they advise you to take the loans or finish up in four years, then they obviously don't wish to or are unable to contribute to your fifth year. If they offer to pay, then you have the answer you wanted. I do think you should try to contribute unless paying for the fifth year is relatively easy for your family. Present the choice to them in a such a way that they don't have to look you in the eye and tell you no due to finances, which our family would have no problem with, but some parents would be uncomfortable admitting that to their children. And, figuring out the actual cost of staying on may help you determine how important a fifth year is to you. Good luck.</p>
<p>Another option for the minor, not the honors program, is to just take extra classes in the summer or even online via a CA community college for GE & lower div requirements, freeing you up to take the fun & interesting courses at your main school </p>
<p>One of my Ds did a semester abroad and took all classes that fulfilled requirements, she could not stay the year as she could not get enough classes to meet her remaining requirements. She is set to graduate in 4 years at a UC and does not even need a full load senior year to meet requirements.</p>
<p>Another D went to summer school on several occasions and was able to finish on time with a double major</p>
<p>Do you think trying for the honors program is too much? I could probably finish up the minor with only one extra quarter plus summer school, which I think my parents would be more OK with. If it were your child would you tell them to only do the minor?</p>
<p>I really appreciate everyone's help. Its nice to hear what other parents think about this issue :)</p>
<p>As a CA parent, I have heard a lot of stories of students who go to UCs who can't get through in 4 years because of impacted programs, classes needed for graduation that are taught infrequently, etc. How much of these stories are true, I can't say. I know of two of D's friends who are taking 5 years to get through. The son of a friend took SEVEN years to get through UC Berkeley (unusual). </p>
<p>I suspect that if you told your parents that you needed a 5th year to get through all that you wanted, they would not be surprised.</p>
<p>
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is it too much to ask my parents to help me out for a fifth year?
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This is a question only your parents can answer. You just need to sit down with them and discuss it.</p>
<p>There are plenty of people at the UCs going beyond the 4th year - mostly due to changing majors multiple times, taking minimal course loads, or because they're taking rigorous majors that require lots of difficult courses (i.e. engineering) and a minor along with it. That doesn't mean it's right for you - just that there are all kinds of situations. </p>
<p>Personally, I don't mind a 5th year as long as the student isn't slacking and has a good reason to do a 5th year but my situation may be different than some others. If the student wanted to take a 5th year just to more or less have fun and was taking a minimal courseload up until then to do so, I'd tell them to use their own bank account to fund it.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I have heard a lot of stories of students who go to UCs who can't get through in 4 years because of impacted programs,
[/quote]
Neither of my Ds experienced this but both are engineering majors. However, I haven't heard of any of their roommates, who were in different majors, having any issues either.</p>
<p>My daughter is a science major (not at a UC) and we have already figured out that if she does a semester studying abroad (which she hopes to do) it will be almost impossible for her to graduate in 4 years - it is quite hard to get all the requirements in in 4 years without the study abroad. I have already told her that that is ok though I was thinking about just an extra semester in her case. But in her case her scholarship and financial aid will cover part of a fifth year and most of her study abroad so I am not sure how I would feel if this were not the case. I'd like to think I would still be ok with it.</p>
<p>You really need to talk with your parents about this.</p>
<p>Both the minor and the honors program aren't REALLY necessary. They're more like things that I think would be really cool to do, because when else am I going to get the chance? They might help with jobs or grad school but its a bit iffy. Does this change your opinion?</p>
<p>Frankly nothing is really necessary other than food, water and air...</p>
<p>For me - and hopefully for my kids as well - going to college was about a series of experiences that, when added together, form the basis of who I am and what I believe both professionally and personally. </p>
<p>Professionally, I work in computers and I can assure you that after 20+ years of working nothing that I learned in college is directly relevant - but all of it is still a part of my professional training and background. It was about learning how to learn and how to think. I cannot remember the last time I used COBOL or Fortran let alone things like JCL - but all of it helps me as I think about how to solve problems in more modern languages. </p>
<p>I had a double major in economics - which has remained a little more directly relevant in my personal life - but still far from core knowledge. </p>
<p>The point I am trying to make - in a very long winded manner - is that you hit it right on the head - when else are you going to get the chance. I elected not to do a semester abroad - in too much of a hurry to graduate - I regret that decision to this day. I elected not to apply for a Rhodes scholarship despite the urging of several professors - again a decision I REALLY regret. </p>
<p>Jobs will wait - enjoy the college years to the fullest. Of course you have to take into account the financial aspect of this - and that is where your discussion with your parents comes in. But if my DS or DD - and they came to me with a proposition that I could afford - I would be all in favor going for it and postponing graduation.</p>
<p>I cannot answer about the 5th year, that is up to you and your parents, but definitely take the time to go abroad. MY D1 did not and I really wish she had and hope she finds an opportunity to go soon.</p>
<p>If your parents would no be able to afford year five, would you feel it was worthwhile to take loans to do it?</p>
<p>Could you accomplish the same personal growth after 4th year graduation without going to school by taking your own gap year before seeking a real job- maybe work all summer, save money, then travel or take a post grad internship?</p>
<p>My son is at an OOS school on a 4 year scholarship. IF he takes more than 4 years to graduate then that 5th year is going to be very very expensive. If you have any scholarships I would sure look at that.</p>
<p>I guess there's no harm in telling them your desire to extend you education beyond a degree, then ask if they wish/can chip in. Is it fair? Well, I guess it's fair to discuss then ask, but how about if You want extra classes beyond Your degree requirements, that You think will benefit You by making You a more rounded, and more thoroughly educated You, then how about You pay the bill? Personally, I'm a bit surprised you would see it from the angle you are considering-"here's what I want to do over and above my degree, will you help pay?" When you reach adulthood you look into what actions best serve you, decide if you can pay for those actions, and then go with the best actions you can afford. Then after, parents may wish to help you with bills. (different though for a married adult) Your perspective will become- "heres what I think best, here's what I'm going to do, if you'd like to chip in thank you."
My son (I did too at his age) want to be "treated like adult" make adult decisions" [son's wording] but still wanted 'ol Dad to pay. When they really reach adulthood then they realize making a choice someone else has to pay for isn't making an adult choice. I was slow to catch on but I have it now.</p>