<p>I was wondering how law school admission counselors would look on someone who was a "super senior," someone who spent five years completing their bachelor's? I'm a current college student who is thinking of spending five years so as to be able to pursue a very broad and varied course of study: there are simply a huge number of courses that interest me and that I want to take. I'll probably graduate a double- or triple- major with at least one minor. Will it hurt me?</p>
<p>The double, triple major + minor will not matter to them. Graduating in 5 years probably won't hurt you as many people graduate in 5 years for a number of reasons: work, finances, change of major, change of status (full to part-time). As long as you have a strong GPA/LSAT, you should be fine.</p>
<p>My usual answer has always been that it's fine if it's common at your school. At mine -- where it was completely unheard of -- it's hard to imagine that it wouldn't matter without a really good explanation. Change of major, or addition of major, probably wouldn't qualify.</p>
<p>BDM,</p>
<p>You are right at schools like Duke, the ivies, their peer schools and the elite LACs unless a student is dual degree in something + engineering, most students do gratuate in 4 years. However, the national average graduation rate is 6 years. It is not unusual for students who attend large public university systems to take more than 4 years to graduate simply due to the inavailability of classes.</p>
<p>Right, exactly -- so if you're at a large public and you take 5, that's pretty normal and I would think law schools wouldn't look twice. But if you're coming out of Duke and taking 5, I can't help but think that a law school would stop and wonder: "What?" In other words: Is it okay to take five? Sure, so long as lots of kids at your undergrad are doing it.</p>
<p>(Actually, even our Engineer/ArtSci kids graduated in four. I know one kid -- one -- who took five years to graduate, and he was routinely known as, "That five year kid." He ended up attending medical school in the Caribbean.)</p>
<p>BDM- I usually don't do this, but I think you are wrong. Even at schools where 4 years is the usual, you have transfers who are almost forced to takes 4.5/5 years. I personally don't think it would matter, but again thats my own belief and have no evidence to support the claim.</p>
<p>I can't imagine it mattering much either way unless your transcript was covered with low grades and withdraws, drops, or pass/fail courses. If your GPA is still strong there are loads of reasons why it could take 5 years to graduate.</p>