college 101
Avoid the 6 Year Plan
Did you know:
How to Stay on Track
Only 19% of full-time college students at public
universities graduate in 4 years.
Only 36% of full-time students at selective “flagship”
universities graduate in 4 years.
Only 50 of over 580 universities can say that the
majority of their students graduate by their 4th year.
The benchmark used by education policy experts
for graduation rates is now 6 years for undergrad
degrees.
The reasons vary, from:
1/ Students taking too few credits each semester
Chart your Course
Course selection is key! Make sure to meet with your advisor at
least once per semester so that you can be sure you’re taking the
required courses in a timely manner.
Choose your College Carefully
Consider your major and what you need from a school rather
than where your friends are going or who has the best on-
campus dining options! Sometimes transferring is unavoidable,
but take extra care to choose the right school from the start since
transferring will likely cost you credits. TIP: Chose a school that
has your top 3 major studies.
The Bare Necessities
If you can afford the occasional “fun” course that won’t count
toward your degree, then go for it. If money is a major factor,
as it is for most students, you may want to rethink Weightlifting
101. Consider the cost per credit hour and ask yourself if you
would pay that rate outside of a college setting.
2/ Losing credits in transferring from one college to another
3/ Not being able to register for the classes needed
4/ Taking too many classes unrelated to their chosen degree
With the skyrocketing costs involved, each additional year can
cost tens of thousands of dollars. One study showed that tacking
an additional two years onto the college experience can raise the
overall price tag by 70%. Most scholarships and financial aid only
cover 8 semesters, so extending your time beyond that can add a
crippling amount of expense!
Most scholarships and financial aid
only cover 8 semesters, so extending
your time beyond that can add a
crippling amount of expense!
Source: According to a report from Complete College America,
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Summer 2017
www.potentialmagazine.com