<p>Hello everyone.
As a junior-standing transfer student to a private LAC (liberal arts college) with significantly superior academics compared to my prior institution,** I am pondering whether it would be a good choice (or possible) to stay an extra year at my new LAC**. It may seem foolish on paper to attend college for five versus the standard four years, especially when one is majoring in the humanities. However, the quality of my education was very poor in my prior institution, coupled with freshman/sophomores receiving the worst registration dates ; essentially, I "wasted" many credits on inconsequential classes, such as Sociology, American, and Gender Studies courses since they were the only ones available. My new university has honored these credits, citing that I can finish my degree in two years.
Is it terribly immature to pick up an extra major or minor in order to try to receive a better education? I am forever indebted to my grandparents who have footed my college bill and they have no qualms with my choice. However, I do not want to come across as immature, selfish or afraid of the "real world". In all actuality, there are so many opportunities for internships, research, and career placement counseling that I feel it *would be dumb *not to go for an extra year.</p>
<p>*But am I just kidding myself? Is this a naive undergraduate speaking? How do address this with my counselor? *</p>
<p>I’ve pondered this exact same thing. My main concerns are using money my parents set aside for grad school on the 5th year (full tuition at a private national university) and being a year older than peers at graduation. </p>
<p>Do you think implicit value will be higher than the dollar costs in your case?</p>
<p>I can’t really comment on the issue at hand, as I will be transferring to a school that practically forbids taking an extra year, but I would like to say to cestmattieu not to worry at all about being a year older. I know plenty of people who have tacked on an extra year (myself included from transferring twice) and it ain’t no thing. I’ve met people from 17-26 in undergrad, and no one has felt ostracized or too old. I’ll be graduating a year after most of my high school class, but I’m enjoying the extra time to know my new school (I’ll still only have two years there) and prolonging the real world ;)</p>
<p>Yea I was wondering about that too because I kind of want to take my time enjoying college now that I’ve transfered out of my miserable community college. I feel that two years is too short and I’m thinking about staying a third year but I’m going to grad school as well, which is another thing to think about.</p>
<p>Take the extra time if you think it will benefit you in the long run! 
It’s one year, no one is going to ask how old you were when you graduated.</p>
<p>“I can’t really comment on the issue at hand, as I will be transferring to a school that practically forbids taking an extra year”</p>
<p>May I ask where you are attending that forbids this?</p>
<p>I really wouldn’t worry about being older than your classmates. I repeated a year in high school (not from bad grades, but because I’d switched schools and wanted two years there for continuity) and while it initially stung not being able to graduate on time, by the time graduation rolled around, it didn’t even matter anymore. Do what feels best.</p>
<p>I agree; Do what you feel is right. Better to “grow” a little bit at the place where you are now rather than jump into a new place unprepared. I, too, am admittedly “afraid of the real world” and will actually be staying one more year to get a second Associate’s at the CC where I just graduated from on Sunday ^_^</p>
<p>@ caligulashorse: “I really wouldn’t worry about being older than your classmates”</p>
<p>Me too; things are different now with the economy being what it is and older workers going back to school after being laid off. Then some people are going for the first time (stay-at-home parents, factory workers, etc.), seeing the need to acquire new skills and an education to hopefully find re-entry (or initial entry) into the workforce.</p>
<p>Not sure when it gets released, but there’s a new movie out soon (“Larry Crowne”) with Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts, in which Hanks plays a first-time college student well into middle age. Roberts, of course, plays the attractive professor; looks like a predictable fish-out-of-water RomCom, but maybe worth seeing for a lighthearted approach to the “it’s never too late” concept.</p>
<p>[Larry</a> Crowne - Starring Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts - In Theaters July 1, 2011](<a href=“http://www.larrycrowne.com/]Larry”>http://www.larrycrowne.com/)
[Larry</a> Crowne (2011) - IMDb](<a href=“http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1583420/]Larry”>Larry Crowne (2011) - IMDb)
[Larry</a> Crowne - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Crowne]Larry”>Larry Crowne - Wikipedia)</p>
<p>Thank you to everyone who has responded thus far. This is very beneficial.</p>