<p>I've heard that at many schools, students can take as long as 6 years to graduate because of unavailability of major courses, etc. How often is this problem and under what conditions, especially at schools like U Chicago?</p>
<p>I’m not exactly sure about the University of Chicago but I do know that most school depending on your major will have you there on a 5-6 year plan (Majors like Education @ Prairie View A&M University has a minimum of 5 years). As well as Florida A&M … I’m sure there not the only one’s.</p>
<p>I believe all schools measure graduation rates to a six year scale. This is partly due to some problems with scheduling classes but a more prevalent reason is students switching majors. When that is combined with a set series of classes it can quickly back the student up.</p>
<p>College will be what you make it - if you’re determined to graduate in 4 years (heck, 3!), you’ll do it. That said, it can be challenging at a big university just because the curriculum and the course offerings aren’t designed around you and you have very little influence or recourse. I went to and work at a small liberal arts college, and that was one of the huge advantages we had. I had one semester where two courses required by my major were scheduled at the exact same time. It was no big deal to work out an arrangement with the two profs where I could take both so I wouldn’t be delayed.</p>
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<p>This does not happen at the University of Chicago at all. Pretty sure it doesn’t happen too often at peer universities either.</p>
<p>One college guide I’ve been reading lists statistics for each school to the effect of:
Graduation Rate: 83% in 4 years, 89% in 6 years</p>
<p>It’s more common with kids who are paying their own way through college(often at public U’s). They need to work quite a bit and often take a light load to do so.</p>
<p>I want to do co-op, internships and study abroad as well, those “extras” are probably going to throw off my graduation by 1-2 years</p>
<p>OK, that’s helpful.</p>
<p>Basically, graduation in 4 years is doable so long as one sticks to one’s major and avoids other long-term projects?</p>
<p>“College will be what you make it - if you’re determined to graduate in 4 years (heck, 3!), you’ll do it.”</p>
<p>D*mn straight! DD finished her requirements in three, aided by a couple AP courses and a desire to not waste time (or parents’ money). There are reasons some students take longer: Change of major (sometimes more than once!), major illness, work obligations, family crises, and yes sometimes it’s simply not possible to schedule the courses you need ESPECIALLY if you are a sciences/engineering student who wants to do study abroad.</p>
<p>Graduation rates are reported as graduating withing 150% of normal time because of the prevalence of taking leave for internships or co-ops, study abroad delaying graduation, illness, etc.</p>
<p>Most top schools have 6-year graduation rates in the mid-90s.</p>
<p>If you keep the same major and stay on top of the requirements for your major, you should be able to graduate in four years from the top private universities. If you goof off or switch majors several times, you’re gonna take longer (provided your family pays for your situation.)<br>
My sister went to Dartmouth, which is on the quarter system. She did a quarter of study abroad, studied one term at Colgate, and still finished her requirements for graduation one quarter early. She saved my parents some serious money because she didn’t change her major (mathematics) or take useless courses. It IS entirely possible to finish in four years or sooner.</p>