<p>i'm 23 and still have another 3 years in college. i basically had a terrible start to school and just never really found my way. i ended up transferring twice and taking a few semesters off. i feel like a failure because all of my friends have graduated and alot from really well ranked schools. its embarrassing having to tell people from my hometown that i'm just now getting started in school. is this something i should feel bad about? has anyone else had experience with this?</p>
<p>I’m 23 starting UCSB this Fall. I also have 2-3 years left. Don’t sweat it man.</p>
<p>I’m graduating late too. A lot of people do it. You’re graduating, and that’s more than many!</p>
<p>Don’t worry about it. You’re getting a degree and that’s what matters.</p>
<p>Of course not. I’m 23 and turning 24 next year. I took a gap year and then stayed on an extra year at community college. Most of the people my age are still getting their degree! Only my best friend managed to get out in 4 years, but I don’t think it’s hard to get out in four years if you’re doing Sociology.</p>
<p>It’s a lot more common to graduate later than people think. I’m the only person I know who is graduating in 4 years, but the rest of my friends and even acquaintences are adding on 1-4 semesters.</p>
<p>I’m also graduating late because I had to take 4 years of for medical leave. Stuff happens, no one cares in the end.</p>
<p>I’m 31 and I graduate in two semesters, when I’ll be nearly 32. Feel better?</p>
<p>No. I’m a 42 year old freshman, and 100percent of the feedback I get from people is positive, even from people I went to high school with who graduated from college over 20 years ago! It takes a lot of motivation and guts to go back to school, and the consensus I am hearing from other people is that I should be proud of myself.</p>
<p>It does not matter if you graduate late. What matters is for you to finish your studies and get a degree. That’s already an achievement that you can be proud of.</p>
<p>The point is to graduate. That’s it.</p>
<p>When I took off a year between undergrad and graduate school, my friends were horrified and one actually said something like “But then you’ll be a year behind!” I had to laugh - behind what? What mythical timeline were these people following?</p>
<p>People take different paths through life. There is no line/group/cohort you have to follow - actually life is less stressful if you just drop this idea of being “late” versus “on time” versus “early”.</p>
<p>Dude I have a classmate who is 33 and has like 2-3years left and no one cares are treats him different. The point of college is to get a degree so you can get a job (and something about education), no one cares how old you are as long as you don’t try to use it to prove why you are “better” than others.</p>