Taking Longer To Complete A Post-secondary Education

It is generally understood that when students attend colleges or universities, they will graduate in four years with a lovely degree in whatever field they chose to study. Earning a bachelor degree, be it in the sciences, humanities or arts, is expected to require a time commitment of four years, and programs are generally designed to be spread over four years. Students in their third and fourth years are often grouped into cohorts or study groups, or, if the program is particularly small, they fit one class and are expected to remain as a group. There has been little room for variances outside of this program design, though perhaps that needs to change.

There are many benefits to extending your education by an extra year. One that hits close to home for many people is the financial benefit. Post-secondary education is a costly endeavour, even with loans, scholarships and grants. If you decide to spread your course load over 5 years instead of four, you are also effectively spreading your tuition out as well, meaning that you will have less to pay each year. Of course you will have an extra year’s worth of fees as well, but it still can be much easier to manage.

As well, still looking at the financial benefits of taking it a bit slower, it can be hard to hold down a job with a full course load. By spreading your degree over 5 years, your course load typically drops to 4 classes a term rather than 5. This may not seem like a large change, but it also means 1/5 less coursework, readings and assignments. You may find it easier to add a part time job to your schedule without sacrificing the quality of either your school work or your work at said job.

Easing up your schedule also lets you spend a bit more time focusing on the courses that you are taking. You may find the pace a little less frantic, especially around exam time. You have a bit more breathing room, and time for some non-academic, stress-relieving activities, such as exercise, yoga, team sports, social activities or hobbies.

By: Jon Ginsburg

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