Monday, September 22, 1997 ‘Old hands’ prolong college days
STUDENTS: Bruins relate why they’ve stuck around to finish later
than most
By Hala Ali
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
"So are you graduating in five years or six?" the girl asks her
friend.
"Why do you say that? I’m graduating in four!" her friend
responds.
This question is not uncommon for UCLA students — the bulk of
them, in fact: 72 percent of UCLA students take five years to
graduate.
Even more surprising are the students who stick around for six,
seven or even eight years. Although such lengthy stays are rare
among students, long-time veterans do exist. They are often assumed
to be the partyers, to be lazy or to simply not care.
That may or may not be the case.
Charles Foldes is a sixth-year electrical engineering student
who transferred from Glendale College. Although Foldes admits he
could have worked harder his first year of college, he attributes
his prolonged stay here mainly to the number of classes he was
required to take.
According to Foldes, UCLA requires many classes of engineering
students that are not offered at junior colleges. With all these
required classes, the department has each student taking 18 units
per quarter in order to graduate on time. "You’d spend your whole
life indoor. You’ll get rickets or something," said Foldes.
Foldes’ social life seems to have taken its toll as well.
Although he estimates that he spends 22 to 26 hours a week
studying, he also estimates that socializing usurps about 28 to 30
hours. "I try to put my friends before school as long as I don’t
fail. I’ll study hard, but I tend to socialize more than I
should."
Foldes doesn’t regret taking longer to graduate. Although some
students graduate in four years, he claims that there is much more
to learn through interaction and relationships with people. He
appreciates the knowledge he’s gained about the world through
talking to people.
"There’s so much to learn in life besides classes. But I don’t
skip through North Campus barefoot throwing flowers or anything,"
said Foldes.
Heshmat Ali, a sixth-year psychobiology student, agrees that
there is much more to learn outside the classroom. Ali, whose
interests lie in the subject of the mind and how it works, believes
that people, in reality, are different from their portrayal in
textbooks. "I spend my time trying to experience the big classroom
in this world, philosophizing with people and traveling."
However, Ali does not disregard the knowledge his classes have
to offer. He claims that he is interested in the lectures and that
he does read the materials and listen to lectures. The key point is
that he doesn’t put his efforts into getting a good grade.
"I refuse to be a part of the research machine. I do my own
research," says Ali.
Although he admits that professors know more about the
biological and technical aspects of psychology, he claims that
there is not too much known about these areas.
"There is a side that can only be learned through
experience."
Ali adds that building character is just as important as
building an educational background. "Most people can do well in
school, but if your character doesn’t change, you’re just like a
little kid with a lot of knowledge."
Another factor that causes students to stay in school longer is
the realization during their junior or senior years that they don’t
like their major. Alex Dean, an eighth-year history major, spent
his first five years at UCLA in mechanical engineering.
After not doing as well as he would have liked in engineering,
he decided to switch. Because engineering majors don’t have general
education courses, according to Dean, it was like starting all
over.
Dean is also engaged, has a family who lives nearby, is actively
involved in his church and has to work 30 to 40 hours per week to
pay for school.
When he first got engaged, Dean spent more time with his
fiancee, instead of studying.
However, he doesn’t blame her for his lack of success in
engineering. He claims he had problems with the major before even
meeting her.
"I was taking on too many responsibilities. Eventually, you take
on too many things," said Dean. He stepped back and analyzed his
priorities, leading to the change in majors. "I needed to do
something that suited my lifestyle better," said Dean.
How do his parents feel about adapting his major to his
lifestyle?
Although he was nervous about breaking the news that after his
fifth year he was switching majors, he says they supported him. "It
took my mom a while to finish school," said Dean. "As long as I
finish and get a degree."
Although many blame UCLA’s enormous campus and student body for
some of its students’ extended stays, neither Dean, Foldes nor Ali
put the blame on UCLA itself.
Foldes admits that he enjoys certain aspects of the university,
such as the professors, students and campus, although he has his
share of negative feelings toward Murphy Hall.
"At a community college, you can go to the window and talk to
somebody and get things done in two minutes," said Foldes. "At
Murphy, it’s insane."
According to Ali, UCLA is as good as a university can get. But
because it is a university, he believes students have to do things
the way professors and administrators want them to.
"If you disagree with the theories, you end up getting a worse
grade even if your theories are just as valid," Ali said. Referring
to philosophy classes in particular, he said, "It reduces the
amount of free thinking."
Ali considers himself past what he calls "organized thinking."
"I can’t just learn what they want me to learn. I have to come up
with my own ideas. The price I paid was a longer experience."
Ali’s parents wish he would have finished first and then done
the extra learning, which is the point he said he is currently at.
"When I came in, I came as a sophomore. It’s costing my parents
twice as much. They’re just annoyed because my whole life I was 4.6
in high school and 1300 SAT."
Looking back on his years at UCLA and his approach to education,
Ali now ponders the idea of finishing school first and then doing
the extra studying, although he admits he would not have been the
same person.
"A lot of people think I’m an underachiever or I don’t want to
succeed. I do want to, but I don’t care if it takes longer," said
Ali.
Ali will graduate in June, completing six years at UCLA and
receiving a bachelor’s degree in psychobiology. Foldes will also
graduate this spring after having completed three years at Glendale
College and three years at UCLA. He will receive a bachelor’s
degree in electrical engineering. Dean will graduate in December,
completing eight years at UCLA and receiving a bachelor’s degree in
history.
Armed with years of knowledge — and experience — they’re ready
for the real world.