Completed by Guest Blogger: Kayla
Complete College America is a non-profit organization that works with states to help close the college degree attainment gap, making it easier and more cost effective for students to pursue higher education. According to Complete College America, most college students at public universities end up completing their bachelor’s degree in 6 years. This costs them 40% more than students who graduate in the traditional 4 years. So why are students not graduating on time?
- Lack of a plan. Students often enter college and take a relaxed approach. They fail to create a strategy to conquer college in 4 years and go on to a successful career. Tip: meet with your advisor every semester.
- Change of majors. Approximately 80% of students change their major before they graduate! Changing your major can often delay graduation. Tip: take summer classes to help you catch up on credits and graduate on time.
- Change of universities. 37% of college students end up transferring during their college career. Often times, classes do not transfer between schools. Tip: keep a course catalog and description of the courses that you take to ensure all possible credits are transferred.
- Unnecessary courses taken. Students, on average, take 134 credits, while a bachelor’s degree typically requires 120 credits. Tip: keep a curriculum card to make sure you are taking the required classes to graduate.
In order to graduate on time, utilize My College Max to prepare for college and your career. Be sure to go into college with a plan. Research majors and career paths so that you have a strategy and don’t need to switch majors, which will prolong graduation.
Steven J. Harvey, Ph.D.
CEO & Founder, My College Max, Web Site: www.mycollegemax.com
Executive Director, The WNY Consortium of Higher Education, Web Site: www.wnycollegeconnection.com