Once students enter UCLA, they often have hopes of graduating in
four years. But as the years go by, a large number of students
stretch their stay at UCLA longer than they had anticipated.
A significant number of the members of the graduating class of
2003 have been at UCLA for more than the typical four years, but
some of the incoming classes may not have this same
opportunity.
While students have different reasons for their extended stay,
the majority attribute it to changing majors.
“I took longer than four years because I started my major
late; I could have graduated in four years if I planned it right
but I enjoyed taking my time,” said Eric Chu, who completed
his English major and education minor in five years.
“I know that the university doesn’t want that
(lengthy stay) but you are never going to get these years
back,” he added.
In other cases, students had enjoyed their years at UCLA so much
that they decided to stick around as long as they could.
“A lot of times people aren’t ready to go out into
the real world,” said graduate Andy Morris.
Morris said it took him a total of 10 years to finish his
political science and history major requirements ““ granted he
took a few years off in the process.
“(Graduates) end up looking for the same college
experience in the real world, which is unrealistic,” Morris
said.
On the other end of the spectrum are students who graduate one
quarter or even a year earlier than expected. These students had
either entered with existing credits earned through Advanced
Placement courses in high school or had taken heavy loads over
their years at UCLA.
“A lot of times, general electives could be incorporated
into a major, if students meet with counselors soon enough and plan
ahead; it should be easy. Especially for social sciences and
humanities,” said Academic Counselor Shelly Benton.
Among those who stay on the same path for the whole ride and
often finish early, are the students involved in the honors
program.
“We advise our students to graduate in four years and take
one honors class each quarter, and even though we ask our students
to take a regular load and not rush, they usually do take a heavier
load,” said Mark Santos, Student Affairs Advisor at the
College of Letters & Science Honors Programs Office.
With the implementation of the minimum progress requirement
beginning with students who entered in fall 2001, the amount of
students that remain on campus for lengthy periods should decrease,
Benton said.
“In the past, we have been generous to let the students go
over their units if they had a second major or a minor. Now there
is a boom in the incoming freshmen and we have to move people
through the system,” Benton said.
As for this graduating class, some say that life is too short to
worry about things like units and years.
“At the end, what you do after college is way more
important, so don’t stress about grades and classes “¦
in the real world, no one is going to ask you for your GPA,”
said Sameer Gavankar, a fifth-year graduate with a history major
and an accounting minor.