Finish in Four
Many students I know take at least five years to finish college. How can I finish in four?
Do research and make campus visits before choosing your college.
Students who change schools usually take longer to graduate because they may have to repeat entry-level courses. Ask about the credit transfer policy if you plan to change schools.
Rely on excellent academic advising.
Ask your advisor to help you develop and carry out a "four-year plan." If your long-range plan is to change school, investigate transfer options before you take a single course.
Don't take "major" decisions too lightly.
Graduation delays also come from changing majors too often or declaring a major late in the game. Follow our advice from the "Major Decision" section to help you avoid "major" delays.
Don't have too much fun.
If you focus more on fun than studies, you'll find yourself dropping classes, taking less than a full-time load, or carrying incomplete grades from one semester to the next.
Go into college expecting to finish in four years. Take 15-16 hours each semester, and demand excellent academic advising. Don't accept five years as the norm.
Help your child understand the cost of the fifth year of college. An extra year of college means additional tuition, books and living expenses. Your child also loses a year of post-college income while incurring another year of student loan debt. Are you starting to see the dollar signs?
