The Four-Year Mythology

The story is the same across the nation. Students work hard throughout high school, go off to college, and emerge in four short years with a bright, shining degree so that they can set off to conquer the world. The subject of the degree is sometimes less important than the document itself; be it criminal justice or underwater basketweaving, that student has fulfilled their part in a larger destiny that as a whole remains consistent. Or does it? The traditional "four year" degree has been a milestone in America's higher education system since the very beginning. While there are other degree programs available, such as the Associate's Degree (designed to give students the knowledge they need for general work in a field without having to delve into broader issues), the American mindset says that you go to college or to a university for four years and then you graduate. While the theory may sound quite nice, it is not always the case. A new trend has been observed in post-secondary education, and it has been building there for quite some time. In direct opposition to the standard "four year" timeframe, more students than ever are taking as high as five to six years to complete undergraduate degrees. Often these students begin to worry that they're not good enough, or that they've done something horribly wrong, never realizing that thousands upon thousands of others are standing right there with them. There are a variety of reasons for students to wander from the four year course. Common social factors such as jobs, social interaction, and even the shock of being away from home for the first time can lead to a decline in study time or an overwhelmed feeling in relation to classes being taken. However, there are a number of factors beyond a student's control, such as school program adjustments, class availability, and specific program requirements, that can also cause students to linger in school past the four year deadline. Of course, once a student begins to realize that they have fallen behind, the idea seems to snowball upon them as they find their four year goal slipping slightly farther away with each semester. Undue stress caused by a fear of not graduating on time compounded by fear of their parents' reactions can often lead to more disrupted study habits, slipping grades, and even more stress being created. If left unchecked, a cycle of stress and overcompensation can begin, which can eventually lead to students leaving school either temporarily or permanently. Luckily, things don't have to end in so harsh of a manner. Falling behind a four year deadline for graduation is no cause for stress; nationally, the average time to complete degrees is creeping closer to six years, and many universities are beginning to use that standard in order to more accurately measure their retention and graduation rates. Some states and institutions are developing and implementing incentive and guidance programs for students pursuing four year degrees, while others are abandoning the four year idea altogether in favor of seeing students through to graduation regardless of the timeframe. For students who feel overwhelmed by the responsibilities of coursework, faculty advisors and student counselors are often available to help them to sort through whatever problems they may be facing. Tutoring services can often be located on college campuses for students needing additional assistance with certain subjects, and are often free of charge if implemented by the school itself. In addition, many schools also offer specific courses designed for Freshmen to assist them in establishing and maintaining study habits and a balance between school and social life. Help also exists for those students who have some form of learning disability, be it in the form of mentoring, test proctoring, or assisted study. While learning disabled students do often have to study a bit harder in order to learn class information, in most cases their disabilities don't drastically increase the amount of time that they spend in school. Like any other student, they are smart enough for their lessons; sometimes they just have to put a little bit more effort into learning it. Ultimately, students and their parents need to realize that even if they don't complete a degree in exactly four years, there's nothing wrong with that. If it takes four years or six, they've still got to work for it, and the degree will mean just as much at the end of an extra semester or two. And in the end, they'll still be on par with other students all across the nation.