I am a student here at SUNY Geneseo and am wrapping up my fall term.For the past few weeks I have been greatly considering staying an extra semester and just finishing out in may. This would not only help to save me a trip for coming up to attended commencement but also I could use that time to add a a few class to add a second major or minor. I also feel like this could help me stay in contact with other professor helping me with letters or even take some classes to make me more marketable to grad schools. I also really enjoy the therapist I see here and if I stayed I could keep getting some fantastic help. But staying would mean me taking on debt, which if I graduated now I would have none. If I stayed it would be a gov loan of 5k. I have tried to contact my advisor but I have gotten no response. So I’m a tad lost on the problem, my parents don’t mind but want me to make the choice. I would love to stay and be with my friends, but if I did stay it would be my 6 years in college instead of 51/2. Plus I feel like a big driver for me to stay is the social aspect, but I am also fearful that there is nothing for me back home. I have been applying to internships and jobs since June and I have nothing to do when I go home. Would staying in college and keep looking for a job be better? Or should I just be done and head up in May?
Day Dreamer- you need to graduate.
I don’t know how long and expensive the trip to campus to attend commencement is- but thousands of adults have long and productive lives never having gone to their own commencements.
6 years in college to hang with your friends?
I must be missing something.
There is indeed nothing for you back home, which is why you need to focus on launching into adulthood, not sticking around your college with your friends. Do not go into debt to avoid having to find a job.
Find a job. That’s your A priority right now. No debt.
Got it?
So would you say using that extra term to get a duel major would not be a good idea? I know my family is dead set on coming up in the spring to see me walk. If I stayed here I know there is a job but I would have to be a student. Also I keep getting told that if I stay and take certain class it will look good for grad school.
I agree. College is traditionally a 4 year experience. After 5 1/2 years it is time to move on. And staying debt free is a huge bonus.
can you graduate and return as an informal student to take the class? that might be a lot cheaper, paying by the credit. Geneseo is a small small town, I hear you on the lack of jobs for non-students, but you might be able to find something. I think that is your best approach…job (of any kind-- dominos pizza?) and maybe an informal class, but as a graduate. kind of like a gap semester after college. good luck to you…it’s hard to leave. i remember
Thingamajig, I’m not sure I could I mean I think I would have to find a place to leave be since I’m far from home and if I stayed here I could work with a professor and maybe get a dual major but I’m really torn on the topic.
What is your major? what is the second major you are thinking of adding? And what kind of grad school?
What exactly looks good for grad school??? vs. getting an actual job? I am mystified by your post.
It would be history and pol sci if I stayed, I also would work under a professor . I keep getting told by staff that if I stayed and took a set class list it would look good for grad school.
What kind of grad school? What do you want to do with your life? Are you already a history major and are thinking of adding poli sci?
Working under a professor doing what?
And what is it about your 5 years in college where you wouldn’t be competitive for grad school right now (if that’s where you want to go)???
Yes I am done with my history major and I would need 3 classes to get the pol sci major. I would be worked under a professor translating old documents. For grad school I am after my masters in history
Not sure why you need a second major in poli sci for a Master’s degree in history… do you plan to teach? What’s the career goal?
Taking on debt for a second major is usually a bad idea. In your case, it’s not just the debt- it’s adding time, delaying your working life, etc.
I don’t want to be a Debbie Downer, just trying to understand your plan. If you were adding a second major in statistics (where you could get a good job with just a BA) I’d understand the logic. But I don’t know what the major in poli sci does for you apart from you having already taken a lot of poli sci classes since you only need three more classes for the second major.
Have you already applied to grad programs??? If not, why not???
I did not around the time I had to send in my stuff I got pretty sick and missed the deadline. My plan is to work in foreign affairs,but I have been applying all over to everywhere and I still get nothing.I spouse my fear of failure is clouding my judgement
Are you looking in DC? There are several online publications that come out every week and list all the entry level jobs in Washington. Get a job as a staffer in the Congressional office for your own representative. You will start at the bottom-- but all you need for those jobs is a BA and some energy/ability to work hard. Every single Congressperson has some issues in the office relating to foreign affairs- and the entire government is changing over in the next 6 weeks to this is a great time for a young person to head to DC.
I assume you are a NY resident? The governor of NY has an office in DC which deals with federal/state issues. Many of these relate to foreign affairs- millions of dollars spent in NY on defense, Homeland Security funding, the UN is in NY which has some peculiar wrinkles involving who pays for what, security for diplomats, etc.
Get a job in Albany for a state representative-- all of whom have some foreign affairs exposure even if it’s only dealing with security and customs issues on the Canadian border, or immigration issues in their district.
What have you been applying for? Staying in college an extra semester gives you debt, and makes you have to compete with all the June graduates for jobs once you get out. Get a job now- no debt, less competition in January with other new grads.
No?
Staying in school for 6 years does not make you look good to grad programs. You just look like someone who doesn’t want to work. Some grad schools will accept your money, of course. Congratulations on your graduation!
Is it worth getting the second major?
You are not listening. Everyone is telling you to move on with your life. Time to get a full time job, even if it is a low paying job.
You’ve posted nothing that suggests it’s worth getting a second major. If you are withholding facts from us- then please let us know.
But my read is that you’re scared/cautious/reluctant/lazy and don’t want to contemplate your life after college and leaving your friends. Which happens to everyone.
Getting a second major AND going into debt AND avoiding grad school applications AND avoiding finding a full time job… sounds like a perfect storm to me.
Time to launch. yes- it means leaving your friends. Yes- it means going back for commencement. But avoiding real life for another semester doesn’t keep you from having to launch- it just delays the inevitable. But with debt.
NO, it is not worth getting a second major.