Will taking longer to graduate affect me in the future?

I’m currently 21 and turning 22 this June. I’ve been in junior college since I was 18, but don’t have that much longer to go. Last year I changed my mind on what I wanted to do and that is mechanical engineering, but I have a few required courses I need to take. Just out of curiosity will taking longer for me to graduate from college affect me badly in the future?

The main difference is that you will spend more time and money on school and have a less time earning post-graduation pay at whatever job you get.

An unpredictable difference would be whether your last year and graduation end up being in good or bad economic times. Obviously, it is better for your future career if you get lucky and graduate in good economic times (generally, and for the type of job you are seeking).

Don’t think so, @Connor_Gatz19.

When I interview people, I never ask them why it took them … years to graduate. All I care is whether they can do the job.

For situation beyond my control, I didn’t graduate until I was 27. I can’t recall any situation that had any effect on me. Sometimes it works for your advantage. For my very first job after school, my boss later told me that it had a positive effect: because the job required much autonomy (making decision in the field), he’d feel more comfortable with someone (me) who was more mature and thus would need less hand holding than other candidates.

My H took 7 years graduating from college. His first full time job was his career for 45 years and he doesn’t feel that the 7 years in college working and going to scoop handicapped him in any way. Our D took 3 semesters of CC and then 3.5 years of college to get her degree. We don’t think it has hurt her, in fact it’s allowed her to meet more people and explore more in college.

Nope. It seems like a big deal now, but in the big scheme of things, it really isn’t. I can’t imagine anyone will care.

With college, the outcome is more important than the process.

No, and as mentioned above, you will be more mature than most grads, a big plus.

Usually on a resume you put when you graduate. When someone is looking through resumes they won’t know when you started…only when they request a transcript would they even know and even then it is probably just HR confirming GPAs/diploma.