<p>To get started, I am a freshman at a large state school studying physics, languages, and also doing pre-med. I know that everyone always says that the faster you graduate the better, but I tend to disagree. I am planning on doing a yearlong exchange program in Mexico next year, then coming back to the states for another 2 years, then doing another yearlong exchange program in Russia. This would be followed by one last year of college, for a total of 6 years in undergrad. I would then hope to be accepted to a medical school.</p>
<p>My question is, is this such a bad idea for me to stretch out my undergrad years? I plan on becoming fluent in Spanish in Russian, and perhaps switching my major from physics to Russian, even though I got a 3.9 GPA my first semester in physics. To me, it seems worth it to go to school for 6 years if I'm learning skills that I desire. I don't see the rush to graduate soon and start working. My family is upper-middle class and is doing fine financially. In addition, I have a full tuition scholarship that pays for my exchange program next year. So money is not an issue.</p>
<p>Please share your opinion- is college meant to be completed quickly as to start working at a career sooner, or should it be stretched out as long as needed to learn desired skills before entering the workforce?</p>
<p>If I were that set financially, I would def try to stay in school a little longer. I personally don’t think I’m quite ready to go into the real world yet.</p>
<p>But sadly, money is quite an issue for me and I’m trying to graduate in 4 (hopefully less) years with a co-op and a semester abroad in Spain under my belt</p>
<p>I think college should definitely be a time for you to develop the skills necessary to survive on your own. Unfortunately, some don’t have the money to spend so much time in college and do all the things you can. You’re quite fortunate, my friend.</p>
<p>Undergrad programs are intended as a four year course of study. There are a few good reasons for taking longer that I can think of. They include:</p>
<ol>
<li>Engineering majors often take longer because of the rigor of their program.</li>
<li>Some students have to take time off (or less than a full load) to pay their bills.</li>
<li>Occasionally a student can’t get the classes they need to graduate on time (often at state schools with budget cuts)</li>
<li> Some students have health problems that keep them from graduating on time.</li>
</ol>
<p>That is about it as far as legitimate reasons to go more than 4 years, I think. I would consider anyone who sponged off their parents for extra years to be a spoiled slacker (well, you DID ask). And medical school is very expensive… are you expecting your parents to pick up that bill as well? If you graduate in four years (with that year paid by your scholarship), you will probably save them something in the neighborhood of $50,000. We are upper middle class, too, but I don’t think that is chump change.</p>
<p>My D1 studied off campus for a full year (one year abroad, one year in an internship program her school ran), and was able to transfer all of her credits and still graduate on time with a double major and honors. Odds are good that you could also do that if you set your mind to it.</p>
<p>I don’t think the OP would be a “spoiled slacker” as the previous poster stated. They just want to explore more study abroad options.</p>
<p>HOWEVER, </p>
<p>Since you’re a freshman you might be too excited about all the aspects of college. You should be able to fit in a study abroad year in your 4 years of college. Pick one country and study abroad there. If you really want to experience two programs you could do a summer program.</p>
<p>Don’t let people deter you from doing 2 years of programs abroad, because it will most certainly be an unforgettable experience that you won’t be able to have later (not impossible, but difficult should I say). I have traveled quite a bit, and I cannot emphasize enough the need to discover other cultures. It will not only be beneficial for your professional life, but also personally. Being able to speak multiple languages fluently is also a huge plus, especially in the United States. I would say that if your parents can afford to let you graduate in 6 years (and make sure they are ok with that of course), go for it. I don’t think it makes you a “spoiled slacker” AT ALL. Wish you the best :)</p>
<p>@ intparent - First of all, I am not “sponging off” of my parents, nor am I a “lazy slacker.” I worked hard enough in high school with 8 AP courses and many more college classes at a nearby university to graduate with 61 college credits and a 3.9 GPA, earning me a full-tuition scholarship + $1800/yr to pay for other expenses. I should add that my school’s tuition is only about $7K/year. Lazy slackers are the kids who took 2 or 3 AP classes (or none) because they were afraid of lowering their GPA in high school. I actually completed the Calculus sequence while still in high school. I guess I shouldn’t take offense to your comment, but I just had to clarify. I don’t see anything wrong with going to college for 2 additional years if I plan on learning 2 foreign languages and living in 2 different cultures. I would probably never get that chance again. Tell me this, would a “spoiled slacker” be willing to give up his social life for 2 years to live abroad to experience different cultures of the world? </p>
<p>sciencenerd - I have thought about doing a summer program, and I may just do that in Russia, although I would much prefer to stay there for an entire year. The summer program offered by my school in Krasnoyarsk only lasts about 6 weeks - not really enough time to really assimilate into the culture as I would like. But I’ll see how things go with my degree. </p>
<p>gaiou37 - Thanks for the kind words. I share your opinion exactly. There is no reason not to travel and learn as much as I can while I still can! I know that once I’m in medical school or working, I will never have this opportunity again, so I may as well do it now. I don’t feel like some crazy person anymore for wanting to spend 2 years abroad! :p</p>
<p>If you’ve got the money then do it, it sounds like something you’ll never again have the chance to do. Make sure that scholarship will extend past 4 years though; many don’t.</p>
<p>You get plenty of years to work. If you’re doing enriching things and still supporting yourself then do them.</p>
<p>No, no rush. In the grand scheme of things, 2 years is nothing, especially if you are gaining skills you want and your family can afford to pay.</p>
<p>However, I don’t see a reason to do 2 exchange programs and drag it out to 6 years. 5 years is fine, and honestly there’s nothing wrong with staying 6 years if you need or want to. Doing two yearlong exchanges with the goal of becoming fluent in two languages (especially two languages that a lot of immigrants to the US speak, and two languages that can help you see that many more patients as a physician) is a good reason to take 6 years, I think.</p>
<p>Just make sure you check with your school’s rules. At many schools, your financial aid (federal and institutional) is limited by how many credit hours you attempt - once you reach that threshold, you’re unable to get more aid. At many schools it’s 150% of the hours necessary to graduate, so if you attempt more than 180 credits for a 120-credit degree, you lose FA eligibility. If your parents either rely on or expect you to use financial aid to finish your degree, you want to make sure you take this into account. Also, check with your parents to make sure they are really ok with supporting you as a college student for 6 years instead of the expected 4. Also:</p>
<p>I know that once I’m in medical school or working, I will never have this opportunity again, so I may as well do it now</p>
<p>This is not true. Although opportunities do become more limited and competitive once you are in medical school or working as a doctor, there are many opportunities especially for health professionals to go abroad. Medical school students can often apply for summer internships (research or clinical) in overseas sites; you could take time off in med school to do a Fulbright abroad; and there are organizations like Doctors Without Borders that allow doctors from Western countries to go to areas of great need and practice medicine. Especially if you become fluent in Spanish, there will be a myriad of opportunities in Latin America for you.</p>
<p>Apart from the whole ‘not having an income’ thing, I wouldn’t mind staying in school for a long time. At least in the undergrad world there’s not much expected of you. All that’s waiting for you outside the gates of your school is unemployment.</p>
<p>I would love to stay in school longer. However, I can’t afford it. So there is a huge pressure on me to graduate in four years with a degree that should take 5.</p>
<p>I wrote a really long reply to this and it didn’t post :(. Sadness of sadnesses. I’ll just rewrite my main points.</p>
<p>6 years of UG + Med school = a very long time to be in school (coming from someone who is planning on 9 or 10 years of university education). Fatigue is real. It’s a rare among PhD students to not ever look around at the friends who have finished school and are moving on with careers and families and feel somewhat left behind. Also, how will you feel when you’re in your 5th or 6th year of UG and all the friends you made as a freshman have graduated? How will you make strong friendships when you’re gone so frequently and for so long? </p>
<p>Secondly, I don’t fully understand why your study abroad programs are (seemingly) giving you no credit at your home school. In my experience, most students study abroad without it delaying their graduation. Are there no such programs at your school? Maybe look into other programs, or consider studying or working abroad during the summer. I’ve worked abroad during two, soon to be three of my summers and one of my winters. Or do it the other way around and study during the summer. Have you thought about what to do with your summers at this point?</p>
<p>I think reaction is negative because lots of people across the country take five years to do undergrad; it’s the 150% of normal time that makes it seem like you’re dawdling. So, therefore, why wouldn’t you graduate in five years—a reasonable amount of time—then take a year off before medical school and work or volunteer in either Russia or a Spanish-speaking country, whichever you didn’t study abroad in during undergrad? It would be much cheaper and could even be more helpful, if you’re not married to the idea of taking university coursework in that country.</p>
<p>PS If you can get transfer credit from another school’s longer study abroad program, especially for a summer, there is absolutely no need to confine yourself to summer programs actually run by your school.</p>
<p>hell yea you should try and hurry up and graduate you dont wanna be a super senior as my dad says. lol no but yes. each year tuition gets raised at least in my school.</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone for the replies. I greatly appreciate it. I am going through with the yearlong exchange program in Mexico next year, but I have reconsidered Russia. Many of you brought up good points about my summers. I currently have nothing planned for any summer. It makes more sense to me to spend a summer or two studying in Russia apart from my university, such as in a private language school. That would be a much cheaper option and it wouldn’t slow down my graduation time. Or perhaps I will go there after graduating and work or volunteer. Either way, I think that studying abroad for 2 years is probably not the best idea in today’s economy. In addition, I would rather not be a “super senior.” Thanks again to you all for replying and offering your advice. :)</p>
There is no reason not to travel and learn as much as I can while I still can! I know that once I’m in medical school or working, I will never have this opportunity again, so I may as well do it now. I don’t feel like some crazy person anymore for wanting to spend 2 years abroad! :p</p>
Thanks again to you all for replying and offering your advice. :)</p>