Should I stay an extra year?? -- Please Respond, Advice Needed

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I am a current junior in college and I am heavily debating whether to stay an additional year at school (5 years). I still have to fufill several core requirements (Spanish, Lab Sciences, Calc, etc.) and I got bumped out of the ones I signed up for this semester. If I wanted I could still graduate in 4-years but it would require me to take 18-hours and a difficult schedule. If I take this route, I am afraid that my GPA (I have around a 3.0) would suffer and I wouldn't be able to take other classes that interest me. I am questioning whether I should stay an additional year, to space out the classes to make my workload more manageable. Financially, I recieve a large financial aid package that I was told is gaurenteed for 10 semesters (5 years) and it wouldn't bother me to have to have to take out loans for one year as I am in no debt. I am a political science major with a minor in economics, and am interested in either going to law school or working for a few years and getting my MBA. I am worried that staying an extra year may have a negative stigma. Would staying an additional year have a significant adverse effect on my application for law schools or employment for banking firms? What should I do -- stay four years or five years? </p>

<p>I would greatly appreciate any feedback. Thanks.</p>

2

<p>There's no stigma in staying an extra year in college. Since the financial aspects are no problem, and since you have good reasons for staying an extra year, my advice is to go for it. College is not a race.</p>

3

<p>When you apply for jobs, there's no reason to advertise that it took you five years to graduate. </p>

<p>If you apply to law school, if you explain it the way you have explained it here, I can't imagine an admissions committee holding it against you.</p>

<p>I say take a fifth year, and keep your GPA above 3.0.</p>

4

<p>18 credit hours should not be a problem. Taking fewer hours will not necessarily mean your gpa will be better.</p>

5

<p>thank you for the responses so far</p>

6

<p>Graduating midyear leaves you in limbo as most jobs and grad schools are on an annual cycle. Take the year and enjoy it.</p>