Hello everyone. I just completed my sophomore year in college, and I am very stressed out at this point. I have taken around 16-18 hours a semester thus far. The reason for this is because it is the recommended amount of coursework needed to graduate in 4 years’ time. I have been doing well each semester thus far (have a 3.2 GPA), but this next semester will be even more difficult with upper-level coursework and a lot less time on my hands. So I was thinking - would it look bad in the future if I took off a class or two this next semester and take an extra semester to graduate? So instead of graduating in 4 years, graduating in 4.5? I’m just concerned that my grades are going to dip lower with these more advanced courses. Just wanted some opinions. Thank you.
It is not “bad” to take 4.5 years or 5 years to graduate. It is your life and your decision. No one will care after you graduate from college how many years it took you especially future employers (they may not care much about your GPA either). However, as a sophomore in college, you probably still feel a lot of peer pressure to keep up with the “Jones”. So here are a few things you may want to consider.
Finances - this is probably the biggest question - can you afford an extra semester and how much is a point or two less in a GPA really worth? In other words, is the difference between a 3.0 and a 3.2 worth $10,000 or $20,000 or $30,000 more? I would say no. But if you will slip to a 2.8 or 2.5, well maybe. Others will probable have a different opinion that they can post. If money is not a problem, you might want to take your time and enjoy your studies. If it is an issue, I would suggest thinking about it carefully. Definitely discuss it with your parents or trusted adults in your life.
Graduate school - if you think you may go on to graduate school, doing well in core classes and having a strong GPA could help with financial offers and maybe acceptances. However I have know students with OK GPAs that are accepted but the financial offers typically came with a 3.0 GPA or higher. Again others can probably post on this too.
Enjoyment/Mental Health - it does matter and in the end if it takes longer to get through college even at a higher cost that is sometimes the price for satisfaction in life. Just be sure to have the costs in mind not to be “surprised” in the end. If it’s a conscience decision and the best way to move forward so be it.
So this is one opinion and I hope it helps.
I will have tons of loans to pay when I’ve graduated. I’m sure finances will be a pain to deal with but I will hope to have a successful teaching job, and I’m saving up money with the $11/hr job I have had for 3 years now.
As of now, I’m just looking at getting my bachelor’s degree. I will teach for a few years and then decide on whether or not to get a Master’s/go to grad school.
When you say “next semester”, do you mean summer or fall? If you mean fall, is there a possibility of taking some summer classes at a local college or online? A few summer classes at a community college would not be too expensive and it might keep you on track. I teach at a comm. college and a large portion of our summer enrollment is made up of university students trying to stay caught up.
I only have a few more core classes to take, such as communications and a science. I want to take the science course at my normal university, but I will take 2 classes this summer. I still have a lot of classes that are a part of my specific major.
One more thing to consider: some graduate schools have set sequence courses in music, so if you graduate in 4.5 you will be “off cycle” unless you take off a semester before starting.
If you are planning to teach in a public school system, you may not have a choice about going for your masters as it’s required in most places in order to keep your position. The upside to this can be that some districts will offer financial assistance to help pay for the degree.
I think it’s a very good idea to take the extra time.
As you are aware, music majors take more credits per semester than other majors to graduate in 4 years. Will it look bad, if you take 4.5 or 5 years to graduate, no. However it will cost more. At son’s school, the first 2 years are the toughest. Check with friends at your school to see if things get easier for the last 2 years.