<p>I really want to do the Chinese flagship language program, but only SFSU and Hunter College offer it (at schools I applied to). I would love to go to either of these schools, but SFSU has a 12% 4-year graduation rate and Hunter has a 17% 4-year graduation rate. This worries me because I need to still go to Grad school. I am from CA, so SFSU is cheaper, but although it has a reputation it is not good. Most people see it for poor commuters that can not get in anywhere else or that did not get good aid anywhere. I was accepted to UCSB Pitt Temple also but these do not offer the Chinese program that makes you fluent in 3 years plus an internship plus scholarships plus summer and wonter programs and a year in Nanjing. I do not want to not graduate though. I love this program because even though you do not major in Chinese, you obtain greater fluency and have a 2nd major. Temple gave me full ride with the help of loans and grants and scholarships and they have a campus in Japan. UCSB is probably the best school but it doesnt have a special program or anything. Hunter has no meal plan and Pitt just doesnt seem worth OOS tution and SfSU is just plain risky. I am stuck with these schools though because I was literally rejected everywhere good...ucla boston university...mid tier schools and I am panicing because every schools has a flaw and I have no passion for any of them really. I jsut want to be a polyglot!!!!!</p>
<p>Why do you think that YOU wouldn’t graduate in four years? </p>
<p>If many of the students are commuters, usually that means that many are also studying part time, so even if they are progressing steadily toward a degree, they aren’t going to finish in only four years. However if YOU are attending full time, and you keep YOUR eyes on the prize (so to speak) YOU certainly should be able to finish in four years.</p>
<p>Grad school admission is heavily dependent on your GPA, your GRE score, letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, and any work/internship/research/publications in the projected field of study. People get into good grad schools every year from each one of the universities on your list. Again, what is important is YOUR drive and commitment.</p>
<p>Sit down with the various financial aid offers, and run your numbers through this nice calculator. It will allow you to include some non-financial factors as well. [FinAid</a> | Calculators | Advanced Award Letter Comparison Tool](<a href=“Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid”>Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid)</p>
<p>Also, any school other than those at the higher end of the selectivity scale (meaning Berkeley, UCLA, and schools more selective than those two – a small minority of colleges overall) tends to have a substantial percentage of students in remedial English and/or math courses. Having to take remedial courses in college is likely to delay graduation. If you do not need remedial courses in college, then you are more likely to graduate on schedule.</p>
<p>Happymom is right, the focus is on you. Schools have lower graduation rates because students commute, have a higher percentage of non-traditional students, lower economic status students, and so on. None of those necessarily apply to you. As long as you are focused and stay engaged with the program, graduation shouldn’t be a problem.</p>
<p>I don’t know about Hunter, but at SDSU it’s almost impossible to get the classes you need to graduate in 4 years. Kids there routinely also take classes at CCs. So plan on a 5th year if you go there. Aso take as many AP tests you can to go in with as many credits as possible.</p>