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To Graduate or Not to Graduate

Attending classes for years, passing the tests, and finally submitting that graduation application should bring a feeling of relief to any student. Earning a degree to put towards a good job is what all those hours of hard work were about. But what happens when you cannot seem to get to that last step? Why do some students continue putting graduation off semester after semester?

It is easy to just accuse students of becoming slackers when their graduation days are continually delayed. So much studying is done for so long that students can feel burned out near the end. However, there are different reasons for students to struggle getting to that finish line. Often, it is just a matter of not getting the proper guidance.

Although it is tempting to just pick up the single sheets of degree requirements, it is not always the smartest plan. Those sheets may not be updated and the counselors often know exceptions to the rules.

This mistake has happened to myself as well as other friends of mine. We all tried to just follow the sheets for a couple of semesters, thinking that we were fulfilling the requirements. Imagine the disappointment I felt when I finally went to see a counselor about a graduation application, only to find that there were classes missing that would require another year of work to complete.

Simply said: see your counselor! It is amazing how many students do not check in with their guidance counselor or even listen to their advice. Who else is going to keep track of your success better? It may seem tedious, but when students begin to skip a semester’s  regular consultation, they easily go off track, taking classes that are unnecessary or are out of order. This ends up being a waste of time and prolonging the graduation.

See more than one counselor if necessary. Some students complain that they have had a counselor who is not very helpful, which makes students avoid further consultation. This is exactly why I avoided seeing a counselor for over a year. But, that decision kept me in college for more than a year longer.

If you are frustrated with your own counselor, ask to see a different one, so you can ensure proper guidance. If the counseling is not a problem, it may be that the student needs to plan classes ahead of time. Planning the list of classes you are taking for the next two or three semesters can help students stay on track. Of course, fixing a plan may be a problem for some students, which may be the reason for a delay in graduation.

It isn’t always easy to stick to a pre-arranged schedule when life gets in the way with work or family issues. But it is the studious and determined student who finds a way of getting things done by using all of his or her resources in the school.

Students set their priorities according to what they look forward to. If they are not working exceptionally hard towards graduation, it is possible they are no longer interested in the degree they have been studying for. Lack of interest can be a sign of a need to switch career goals.

You do not necessarily need to switch majors. Take a look at the different kinds of jobs your degree can get you. With a little internet research you can create a better career goal, which will help  rekindle your drive to graduate.

Graduating takes determination and desire. Students  use all of their means to get to that degree.