Whether to have my graduation date as May 2013 or May 2012

Colleges & Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
1

<p>Last year, I had all the requirements for graduation by May 2012. I cancelled declaring my graduation with the knowledge that I could make my graduation at a later date, such as December 2012, or May 2013 if I wanted to, when that time comes. I wanted to do that in case I don't get a job by then. For example, if I don't get a job by December I just put that I graduated on December 2012 on resumes with the plan to actual declare my graduation date as such if and when I get hired. And my plan was to put the graduation date as May 2013 if I don't get a job until then. And I didn't get a job.</p>

<p>And now, the school wants me declare my graduation now and decide whether it will be May 2013, December 2012, or May 2012. </p>

<p>I'm not completely sure if I want to have my graduation date as May 2013 as planned. I'm guessing the two problems might be that it might look humiliating for me to have graduated in 5 years and also if they ask for my transcript it wouldn't match with my graduation date; my transcript shows classes taken for four years, not five years. But I don't think hiring managers usually ask for transcripts, do they?</p>

<p>Hmm, I just saw this: </p>

<p>
[quote]
At many firms, when you apply, they ask for the date you started and finished your bachelor's. They will see you took 5 years. It is not uncommon anymore for students to take an extra year, so you want to have a reasonable explanation prepared. You will get asked about it. So, provide logical answer with confidence and the interviewer will be on to the next question.

[/quote]
</p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/business-major/1158065-would-graduating-5-years-look-bad-employers.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/business-major/1158065-would-graduating-5-years-look-bad-employers.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>But doesn't asking for date started and date finished apply for only the Econ majors and other STEM majors, not a liberal arts major like me?
I wouldn't know how to answer why it took 5 years if they do ask. Would any company ask this information for a job that a liberal arts major can qualify for?</p>

<p>Here it says that it wouldn't hurt at all:</p>

<p>
[quote]
I would say that taking 5 years to graduate will NOT hurt you at all.</p>

<p>Many kids nowadays take more than the usual 4 years to graduate.</p>

<p>There could be financial reasons.</p>

<p>There could be the problem of fulfilling your requirements in this era of budget cuts.</p>

<p>A person might have been ill.

[/quote]
</p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/pre-med-topics/1384801-does-graduating-college-5-years-look-bad.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/pre-med-topics/1384801-does-graduating-college-5-years-look-bad.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

2

<p>“Why did it take you 5 years to graduate?”</p>

<p>“What did you do during the time you graduated last year (May 2013) and now?”</p>

<p>Which question is more difficult to answer?</p>

<p>I as a hiring manager may ask the first question and don’t care much about the answer. If the answer is, “I had to work to support myself,” or simply, “For financial reasons,” it’s perfectly acceptable.</p>

<p>But if I ask the second question, I’m really interested in the answer.</p>

<p>I normally don’t ask for transcript, unless the candidate has not graduated.</p>