<p>So I'm a French/Theatre major. I figured out that I can do both majors in four years by taking 18 credits here and there. However, for the teacher credentialing option for French, it requires 37 more hours of coursework. It would be totally doable as an only French major in four years, but doing it in four years as a double major is almost impossible.</p>
<p>I went through the requirements and figured that I could do all three in four years, if I took 18 or 19 hours almost every semester (except first and last; not first because I need to adjust and not last, because it's not allowed with student teaching) and took about 24 hours in summer school.</p>
<p>Luckily for me, I live within ten minutes of a 4 year USC campus, so I can actually take my general ed credits in the summer while living at home.</p>
<p>However, I can't help but think it'd be easier to just take five years and not have to overload on schoolwork for four straight years.</p>
<p>But most people seem to think five years in college is bad, so I'm wondering... Is it? Which is better? Overloading for four straight years or still taking a heavy load but spacing it out over five? Or would it be better and just drop the undergrad credential part and get a Master's in the fifth year and go through alternative credentialing? Hmmm</p>
<p>I know I'm only a freshman, but I'm so stressed at how this can possibly work out.</p>
<p>They do? Different majors have different course/credit requirements, so not every major graduates in 4. Some go as long as 5+. And some people even switch and so they stay in college for a while. I doubt many people would care, so it all comes down to whether or not you’re ready to sacrifice an additional year of your life to studying when you don’t necessarily need to.</p>
<p>You have plenty of time to decide, so you may as well keep your options open your first year or two then make a choice when you have a better idea of what you want and what’s best for you.</p>
<p>Generally students who get teacher credentialing stay for a 5th year. At least that’s how Physics majors who go on to get New York State teaching certification do it.</p>
<p>I don’t think staying for a 5th year is necessarily GOOD because it costs more money, but I don’t think it’s bad either. I don’t think it’s something to be aspired to, but if you have to do that then that is fine. I’m thinking of studying abroad for a year so I very well may reach super senior status myself.</p>
<p>If you want to do a five year and your parents are okay with it, then there shouldn’t be a problem. </p>
<p>Don’t worry too much about it as a freshman. There’s always the possibility of a future major change, and even without it, there’s nothing wrong with going for five years.</p>
<ul>
<li>financial aid (in terms of loans/grants/scholarships) - a lot of them (expecially at USC) only go for eight semesters, so you need to check the eligibility requirements. That 5th year might be more difficult to secure aid for.</li>
<li>parental contribution - if I remember correctly your parents aren’t contributing much but if they are you need to discuss your timeline with them.</li>
</ul>
<p>^Why would it not take 4 years? Don’t most majors take four?</p>
<p>And yeah. My parents aren’t contributing much, if anything. (Still haven’t figured that out… It would help if housing/tuition prices and LIFE scholarships were finalized, but I guess that should be figured out soon…)</p>
<p>And I did realize that the fifth year would be difficult to get financial aid for, which is a main concern.</p>
<p>What I could do instead, I’ve found, is complete the French/Theatre major in four years without credentialing and then enroll in a Master’s program for French. I’ve seen a few that only require about 30 hours, so hopefully that could be completed in a year, and I could just go through alternative certification.</p>
<p>Sounds good. It’s good you’re figuring out all this stuff ahead of time.</p>
<p>BTW, I reccommend doing your own advising ahead of time because some USC advisors have no clue what they’re talking about. I actually advised a bunch of my friends haha.</p>
<p>^Yeah… I’m not sure how much help my advisor is going to be. I think she’s really nice, but she’s a theatre person, so not much help with the French and credentialing stuff, and she even admitted that she thought if you did three one hour music courses, it would equate to the Fine Arts credit, but then she found out she was wrong… which even I knew was wrong, because it says in the Bulletin that 1 hour performance courses don’t count. lol</p>
People may say 5 years is bad if it’s because someone was just too lazy to take more credits, or they may be coming from the financial standpoint. Not all schools will give you your scholarship for a 5th year, so you need to check on financial aid if you were to take 5 years.</p>
<p>I don’t think 5 years is bad for the programs you’re doing. If you can afford it, I’d take the 5 years. I’m probably taking 5 years too by the way. Do 5 years, and work during the summer to help save some money for it.</p>
<p>I agree with iluvpiano. Many of the five years that I know have failed classes and had to retake them, sometimes more than once (ouch). Then again, my school offers a program you can apply to during your junior year that will allow you to get a master’s in five years in certain programs. Depending on the programs and what you finish those 5 years with, it can be a good thing or a bad thing.</p>
<p>Personally, I wouldn’t want to be at school for 5 years. Has nothing to do with me being lazy; has nothing to do with academics; has nothing to do with social life. I was accepted as Class of 2014 and I plan on graduating with my class and that’s that.</p>
<p>@Stratusfaction- we didn’t say someone is lazy if they’ll only do 4 years and not go for 5. That’s fine that you want to be done in 4. It’s just for certain programs where some, like the OP, need more time. You’re not alone- most people don’t WANT to be in school for 5 years, but they almost have to if they want the degree(s) they hope to get.</p>
<p>18 to 19 hours a semester will be very stressful, there’s no doubt about it. Taking on such a course load can compromise your grades, social life, and most importantly your sanity. If i were you I wouldn’t worry about taking an extra year, after all you are gaining extra credits…#easy</p>
<p>I did 3 majors in 4 years, and even I wouldn’t think about spending an extra year if I hadn’t planned everything beforehand (Computer Science, Math, Econ…not the easiest of majors either). It’s so much better to get a Master’s degree in an extra year, than finish another undergrad major that probably doesn’t go on your diploma.</p>