Five-year degree
Students feel stigma when they stay beyond four years.
By Maddie Lokensgard
A college education is equivalent to a four-year degree in the minds of most Americans, but times are changing and college does not equate to four years for everyone anymore.
For students who stay at college longer than four years, the stigma they feel is that others see them as doing poorly academically, but for many this is not the case.
“Most people are understanding, but the older you get, the worse it is.” — Michael Edinger, junior Physics major
Sophia Carlson, junior social studies education major, took a semester off after high school before going to community college for a year and a half to get some of her generals done and later transferring to Bethel. This put her graduation date a year later than most in her class.
“I get the same reaction of, ‘Oh my gosh that’s such a smart idea!’ in a way that seems like people are trying to validate me, which gets tiring,” Carlson said. “This is just the reality of my situation; I’m not asking for their approval
According to an article published in the New York Times, nationwide 19% of full-time students at public colleges do not graduate on time. This trend is reflected in Bethel despite Bethel being a private institution.
Although a majority of students at Bethel between the years 2011 and 2017 obtained their degrees within four years or less, it took 18% of students longer to do so for a variety of reasons, according to Bethel’s Department of Institutional Data and Research.
“People think about the future at different times,” said Kerry Shih, junior athletic training major. Shih came into Bethel as a biokinetics major but switched to athletic training soon afterwards. Due to the way certain courses are offered at Bethel, Shih was unable to take the necessary courses during the right times and will be graduating spring of 2020, a year later than expected.
For many students, not knowing what to major in causes the first setback of their college career. “I was definitely lost and definitely rushed,” said Olivia Campbell, senior graphic design major, who will also be staying a year longer to finish her degree.
Campbell came into Bethel undecided and felt helpless in figuring out what to major. After a year and a half, she declared social work as her major and soon realized she wanted to pursue graphic design, so she switched majors mid sophomore year. “I really wish I could have been taught differently, that I could have had more time,” Campbell said.
“I love the fact that it’s taking me a little longer.” — Sophia Carlson, junior Social Studies Education major
Michael Edinger, junior physics major, has had a similar experience. After spending his first year and a half at Bethel as a graphic design major, he took a semester off to figure out what he actually wanted to pursue before coming back the following fall as a declared physics major.
“Most people are understanding,” Edinger said about returning to Bethel and having to stay an extra year. “But the older you get, the worse it is. [College] definitely becomes more of an independent experience because all of your friends graduate before you do.”
Many students report feeling a certain pressure to graduate within four years, but despite the stigmas students internalize surrounding graduating late, many students see the benefits of their situation as well.
College is a journey that looks different for everyone and for some it means staying a fifth year.
“I love the fact that it’s taking me a little longer,” Carlson said. “Yeah, it’s expensive, but every feeling of being rushed went away. It’s not such a mad sprint to get to wherever I’m going to end up. I know I’ll get there when I get there, and I’ll be doing something that I love.”
