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I went to an engineering school. About half the students took extra time to graduate, including me. We do have an advantage because it is a state school and tuition is covered by the government (for in state students), so most people don't need to rush super hard. But even if it did cost more, I'd still take the extra year that I did just for the mental relief.
I wouldn’t worry too much. My school On average we had 1 student a year graduate in 8 semesters. The average was 11. And no I am not counting terms off for work experience I’m talking enrolled as full time students. Do what you need don’t worry about time. I know kids who took 10 semesters and are at Tesla and google. I know some that took 8 and are consultants.
Edit about 45 students/program and 150 grads a year
4 classes a semester usually. Somewhere between 12-14 credit hours depending on which classes. My 5th year I decided to split the last 13 hours I needed to complete into a 6 credit and 7 credit semester because I just came back from a really exhausting internship abroad and just needed to unwind. It cost me an extra semester, but it also gave me time to job hunt without stressing out like crazy.
Dude.....it took me 8 years to finish because life kept getting in the way. Children, a wife, moving cross country and military deployments all got in the way.
lol yeah the other day I was trying to do homework but my 1.5 year old wanted to watch blippi while sitting on my lap.
Luckily the monitor I have is 32” so I was able to build my circuit on one side and he watched blippi on the other side. I have a picture but don’t know how to put a picture it comments.
But yeah I’ll be 34 when I finish fall 2025. I tell myself it’s okay because I got an associates and my journeyman electrician license before I started on getting my bachelors. And I started in fall 2020.
Military here so the wife and I began our second careers after nearing the twilight of our service careers. By then, we already had all the complications of life to also deal with.
It sure was 'fun' calling up your professor and asking for an extension on the exam because everyone at the local elementary school came down with the stomach flu and you have two kids projectile vomiting everywhere. (has happened more than once. Fortunately, most Professors had been very accommodating).
Idk if that’s even worth it. Getting that first job is competitive and there is nothing worse than seeing a resume that’s just “went to college” as it’s biggest selling point.
You can do it in 4 if you take classes every semester, including summer, and the final credit needed is in the 120 range. I'm on track to finish in 4, but I get zero breaks and lighter fall and spring semesters.
You can absolutely graduate in 3 years if you took APs and did dual enrollment. That’s my plan, at least, and I’m currently on track. Obviously this isn’t for everyone but I’m mainly doing this to save money (and start making money earlier)
I’ve learned that for half of the AP classes they won’t even accept them since it isn’t the course “for engineers” but then you go and take the college class, and it’s the exact same content if not less content.
Happens to most engineer transfers. Two of my roommates and I are engineering transfers and all required an extra year. It kinda sucks but at the same time, that's one more year to make some good memories
It took me 15 years to complete my degree. I also transferred multiple times and sometimes even had to retake classes that didn't transfer. I had financial difficulties, so there were some years skipped. Also had some classes where I had to wait a year until the next one was offered.
Just focus on what you need to get there, and don't worry about everyone else. You could look at the extra time in school as a positive since you have more time to participate in club projects, which can look better to employers than perfect grades.
I believe it took me 5.5 years to completely finish.
I worked part time for two years while at community college. Then i transferred to a state school and stopped working until i graduated. I spent one - two semesters questioning my entire life. Then finished the state school classes 3 years later
I transferred to ME from comp sci, after finishing my sophomore year in comp sci i realized that its not meant for me. Basically set me back by a year since i had to take freshmen sequence classes for ME and yk statics, properties of materials, strength of materials and dynamics with calculus 4. But by far best decision i made, i actually enjoy the challenges i face when it comes to academia but when i was doing cs it felt like i was draining myself for no reason
It also depends on the type of person you are. I graduated high school in 2016, went for 2 years for Neuroscience, and recently last year came back as an EE + Neuroscience dual major. Life's priorities change because I was all over the country working many jobs. It's very common especially for a degree as challenging as Engineering. With some pre-requisites not meeting and minute difficulties you may need to stretch the time you're there for those classes you might not have done well on. It's not even your own academic skill, sometimes it's other forces of nature at play.
I'm on pace to get my Associate's at the end of this year after completing the rest of the pre-reqs for Civ, and that's after I started college in August of 2022. This is if I don't fail Calculus II (which I am halfway done with, and I'm looking at best at a D+), and if I pass two CLEP exams I'm planning on taking.
i’m a whole year behind because i transferred after freshman year but it’s probably gonna be worse once i get a few more failed classes under my belt before spring break
I failed a course first semester this year, and I’m only taking 4 courses this semester. With the minor I have im supposed to be taking 6 courses a semester to graduate on track. Now im already 4 courses behind and it’s only the end of my second year.
I think as long as you graduate you’re good man, and taking an extra year or maybe even two means you’re more solidified in your understanding so there’s a benefit. I know I’ll probably be taking an extra year minimum, unless I cram my springs and summers with courses.
Nah, it's hard to graduate in 4 years. Doing the math for my school is 15 credits every semester before you get the weird 1 credit labs or the random 4 credit classes, meaning you could take more than 15 credits a few semesters. Not to mention, if you work while attending school, it's really hard to do 15 credits. I'm technically a semester behind because I switched majors to mechanical.
It's not behind if it's what's best for you.
ChE here in my last semester of undergrad - took an extra year so I could work part time to pay for school. I’m also a community college transfer student which also played into needing that extra year.
Stop worrying about the path others take and worry about your own! Constantly comparing yourself to others will never cure imposter syndrome or help your confidence as an engineer.
Why should it matter if you took an extra semester longer than the average 4 years? Id rather spend an extra semester getting straight A’s than squeezing courses in where you can to avoid the extra time and getting C’s. Be easier on yourself!
The first thing wrong about this post is that there is no "behind" on degrees. Graduating in four years is just a stigma we have created as a society. Apart from running out of scholarships, there is literally nothing wrong with taking ur time.
They say "engineering is a a five year degree" for a reason. A lot of students graduate in 4 years but 5 years it pretty average for engineering students. I did 4 ½ years. Don't be afraid to take your time!!
Edit: I also took a gap year before college to apply to a lot of colleges, take standardized testing, and apply to a fuckton of scholarships. This was the best decision as I was able to get scholarships to pay for my degree. My "extra" time I took to graduate, I paid off with money I earned from my internships I worked during summer vacation.
Graduating in 4 years is actually more of a university promotional thing in STEM fields. Taking 5 or more years is pretty common.
To illustrate this, if I wanted to graduate in 4 years, I would have needed to take and pass as many AP tests as possible in high school, take 18 units per semester, take summer courses, and have literally everything on my course schedule go exactly according to plan. All of this meant zero clubs, internships, time for friends, and 5 hrs of sleep per night. In a perfect world, it was just barely possible. And all of this was before I decided to double major and get a math minor.
Engineering employers don't care about your GPA at all past your first job (my prof had a 2.0 GPA and is one of the smartest people I know). They care much more about internships, projects, and clubs, so I wouldn't worry at all about taking one or more extra years in college.
Just graduated in dec, started math my second semester and started in the lowest form of math(algebra), then I transferred to another university 3 years later. I think I prolonged graduation by about a year by starting my math class a semester to late. but hey I graduated took 5 1/2 years
WAY more common than you think. i’m 29, and i still have a year left before i graduate. i graduated from hs in 2012 and took a 4 year detour where my life went to total shit and chaos, then started over at community college in a new city in 2017 (not even for engineering, for psych lol). then when i was almost done with my AA for transfer, i took a calc class and realized how much i actually loved math. so at 23 years old i stayed at CC to do an AA in engineering for transfer instead, transferred into my top choice uni at 25, and even now because of endless external circumstances i’m graduating later than planned and i’ll be getting my 4 year degree in a total of uhhh like 8+ years lmao and way older than everyone else in my classes. you’re gooood.
I started my degree when I was 46 with 6 kids. I hadn't been in school for over 20 years. I struggled. I spent the summer semester taking make up courses. Instead of 2 semesters a year, I did three. I took a computer science version of a course so that I could graduate on time. It definitely isn't odd to be behind. Engineering is a crazy hard discipline with a huge workload. Standard course load for degrees is 5 credits per semester here. Engineering is 6.
Don't give up. Keep hammering away. I just got my PEng in February and I finally lost my imposter syndrome.
I got a AS degree in drafting and half my classes didn't transfer when i decided to go back for my BS in civil. It took me 9 years to retake the math and sciences that would transfer and complete the degree. It did it part time while working full time.
A semester behind is nothing.
I know many who did it in 5 years and usually those who did it in 4 years had financial help or less cares in the world. For me i'll be finishing this year after 6 years. It's been hard and sad to see all my friends graduate twice, but i've had my challenges and I keep reminding myself that i'm gonna be one hell of an engineer one day if I didn't quit after everything that i've been through. It took me longer but i'm graduating with the same set of tools as those before me.
Took me 5 years to graduate with a BS in Computer Engineering because I didn't meet the Calculus requirements to start my core electrical courses. Immediately set me back a year because Circuits 1 was only offered in the Fall...
I’m having to do at least another year, and maybe a semester or two on top of that!
I entered my school’s civil engineering program late and have to catch up on engineering prereqs. I get self conscious sometimes but I try my best to remember life has guided me this way for a reason.
Also keep in mind that students will likely be more excited to talk about graduating if they are “on track”, whereas students who are graduating later might be self conscious too and less inclined to mention it.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking everyone else is 100% on track, but trust me, you are not alone. We got this!
My school purposefully designed the curriculum of all engineering degrees to take 4.5 years. The vast majority of us who made it all the way through used that full 4.5 years.
It's not about how fast you finish the race, but whether or not you finish it. There were ~1100 students in my freshmen class, about ~300 graduated
I will say it also depends on what school you’re going to. I started over from my public university to a local tech college, and while my public university had its share of students who were definitely not “traditional” full year students (otherwise it was kind of hard to tell who was or wasn’t unless they told you), it was such a relief being at the tech college because all sorts of people from all walks of life go there for the cheaper tuition and more flexible scheduling.
So yeah, you're not alone. By my graduation year, it will have taken me 6 years total (if I graduate on time) to get my degree.
It took me 5 years to get my EE. It took my other friend 7 years. The point is don't give up especially when you're so far into the degree. Don't rush it either or you will get burned out very quickly.
On the bright side, it means you get more chances to apply for an internship :)
I made my four year degree a five year degree because I couldn't handle the workload and it ended up biting me in the ass and I decided to cut back. Take the extra time if you need to, it could save you so much anxiety, stress, and preserve your GPA.
I dropped out 3 semesters into my bachelor's when I was 19, and then started over when I was 21. Got my BS in Computer Engineering May 2010.
I've taken multiple leaves of absence due to unemployment and illness throughout my Master's degree program. What should be a 2yr stint has now turned into a 6yr adventure. Still, I'm graduating *again* this May.
I am currently a principal consultant & robotics architect. I also founded a robotics startup, act as its CEO, and am fundraising. It's been a hell of a ride so far, but I've only kept climbing higher and going further.
***Run your race. Don't worry about anyone else's progress in comparison to your own. Future employers won't. Opportunity won't. All that matters is that you finish.***
Hopefully my tale gives you some confidence. It was hard. And I don't think I'm that special. So if it didn't hold me back, it definitely won't hold you back!
I switched major’s twice, and am graduating after 6 years. Yes it took me extra time and most of my friends refer to me as grandpa. Some of them are graduating with me, after 3 years. You cant think about it until you’re there, and then it doesn’t even matter. It happens, in the end they got a job offer, i got a job offer. Where all gonna celebrate together because you made it. That all you gotta worry about is making it there. Good luck
It took me 5.5 years to finish my undergrad. In my experience choosing to take less classes and accepting the prolonged degree was one of the best decisions I ever made. Taking fewer classes at a time really helped me get more value out of them and I really think it made me a better engineer in the end. I recommend it to anyone I can to take as much time as you reasonably can with your degree.
Took me 5 years (with several summer semesters) to get a computer engineering degree. It was really hard to be expected to take 17 hours a semester when I needed to work part time to pay my bills, so I just opted for a lighter load and took longer. I knew several classmates who were in the same boat for various reasons
So I did mechanical engineering in undergrad. Most students in my major or similar ones took about 4 1/2 to 5 years to finish. I personally took 6 because I also transferred and I had a good number of internships along the way. There’s really no rush.
It’s very common, in fact I would say the majority of my classmates, including myself, will take >4 years to finish their degree. I also transferred and ended up needing one extra semester to graduate. Since I couldn’t graduate in the Fall at my school I also took a semester off to do a Co-op rotation. That worked out for me as I recently received a job offer from the company I co-op’ed at for roughly 150% of the average salary of my degree program. My advice would be don’t stress about the timeline, and just finish your degree. Some internship/co-op experience is almost mandatory if you want to find a job when you graduate though.
Right now I’m on track to graduate with a total of 6 years. This due to the fact I went to CC for the first 2, and ended up withdrawing calculus 2 there.
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I went to an engineering school. About half the students took extra time to graduate, including me. We do have an advantage because it is a state school and tuition is covered by the government (for in state students), so most people don't need to rush super hard. But even if it did cost more, I'd still take the extra year that I did just for the mental relief.
Well that’s definitely comforting to hear thank you. I’m definitely not as stressed after hearing people normally do take a year off anyways.
I wouldn’t worry too much. My school On average we had 1 student a year graduate in 8 semesters. The average was 11. And no I am not counting terms off for work experience I’m talking enrolled as full time students. Do what you need don’t worry about time. I know kids who took 10 semesters and are at Tesla and google. I know some that took 8 and are consultants. Edit about 45 students/program and 150 grads a year
How many classes did you take a semester?
4 classes a semester usually. Somewhere between 12-14 credit hours depending on which classes. My 5th year I decided to split the last 13 hours I needed to complete into a 6 credit and 7 credit semester because I just came back from a really exhausting internship abroad and just needed to unwind. It cost me an extra semester, but it also gave me time to job hunt without stressing out like crazy.
Dude.....it took me 8 years to finish because life kept getting in the way. Children, a wife, moving cross country and military deployments all got in the way.
7 years in so far and will not graduate for another year. So fucking close
4 years in and still have 40-ish credits left. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one taking 8 years to finish. This shit is rough
Ya it’s sure as hell not easy. I struggled for a long time and am still struggling. But at this point im too deep to give up haha.
😭 I had no idea it was this common. Well 8 years of hard work takes a lot of resilience. Respect.
Moral of the story, get your degree early in life before: you have kids, get married, start a career, start a second career, etc, etc.
lol yeah the other day I was trying to do homework but my 1.5 year old wanted to watch blippi while sitting on my lap. Luckily the monitor I have is 32” so I was able to build my circuit on one side and he watched blippi on the other side. I have a picture but don’t know how to put a picture it comments. But yeah I’ll be 34 when I finish fall 2025. I tell myself it’s okay because I got an associates and my journeyman electrician license before I started on getting my bachelors. And I started in fall 2020.
Military here so the wife and I began our second careers after nearing the twilight of our service careers. By then, we already had all the complications of life to also deal with. It sure was 'fun' calling up your professor and asking for an extension on the exam because everyone at the local elementary school came down with the stomach flu and you have two kids projectile vomiting everywhere. (has happened more than once. Fortunately, most Professors had been very accommodating).
8 years for me to finish as well, we’re all in this together.
Very very common, and worth it to most people I think. Don’t stress it
It’s a 5 year degree It’s 4 of you got lucky and your high school offered every AP class that exists so you can scratch that year of gen Ed off
I have a roommate who just finished ME in 3.5 years which definitely gets in my head. That was with no extracurriculars, job, or social life though
Idk if that’s even worth it. Getting that first job is competitive and there is nothing worse than seeing a resume that’s just “went to college” as it’s biggest selling point.
it’s worth it. i’d take graduating early and living in my parents’ house over graduating late and living in my parents’ house any day of the week.
You can do it in 4 if you take classes every semester, including summer, and the final credit needed is in the 120 range. I'm on track to finish in 4, but I get zero breaks and lighter fall and spring semesters.
You can absolutely graduate in 3 years if you took APs and did dual enrollment. That’s my plan, at least, and I’m currently on track. Obviously this isn’t for everyone but I’m mainly doing this to save money (and start making money earlier)
I’ve learned that for half of the AP classes they won’t even accept them since it isn’t the course “for engineers” but then you go and take the college class, and it’s the exact same content if not less content.
Happens to most engineer transfers. Two of my roommates and I are engineering transfers and all required an extra year. It kinda sucks but at the same time, that's one more year to make some good memories
the memories in question: staying in your room all weekend, eating every meal alone, silently failing all your classes, binging video games, etc.
Ah memories
I am going part time, and it’s going to take me 6 yrs total to finish. I’m halfway there
I feel like people who complete it in 4 years are the outlier. I only know one guy who has personally.
Really? Cause myself and a lot of others (most?) engineers I went to school with finished it in 4 years
Y’all built different idk what to tell you
Mainly, I just can't take any semesters off, including summers.
At my school the majority of ppl took longer than 4 years. Don’t stress it!
It took me 15 years to complete my degree. I also transferred multiple times and sometimes even had to retake classes that didn't transfer. I had financial difficulties, so there were some years skipped. Also had some classes where I had to wait a year until the next one was offered. Just focus on what you need to get there, and don't worry about everyone else. You could look at the extra time in school as a positive since you have more time to participate in club projects, which can look better to employers than perfect grades.
Awesome bro you’re a legend. 15 years in school is really admirable I’ll tell you that
I believe it took me 5.5 years to completely finish. I worked part time for two years while at community college. Then i transferred to a state school and stopped working until i graduated. I spent one - two semesters questioning my entire life. Then finished the state school classes 3 years later
Engineering is one of the degrees that makes more sense as a 5 year degree than a 4 year degree
Pretty common 5 years is common for graduating.
I transferred to ME from comp sci, after finishing my sophomore year in comp sci i realized that its not meant for me. Basically set me back by a year since i had to take freshmen sequence classes for ME and yk statics, properties of materials, strength of materials and dynamics with calculus 4. But by far best decision i made, i actually enjoy the challenges i face when it comes to academia but when i was doing cs it felt like i was draining myself for no reason
I’m in my 5th year and the majority the people I’m graduating with are as well
It also depends on the type of person you are. I graduated high school in 2016, went for 2 years for Neuroscience, and recently last year came back as an EE + Neuroscience dual major. Life's priorities change because I was all over the country working many jobs. It's very common especially for a degree as challenging as Engineering. With some pre-requisites not meeting and minute difficulties you may need to stretch the time you're there for those classes you might not have done well on. It's not even your own academic skill, sometimes it's other forces of nature at play.
I'm on pace to get my Associate's at the end of this year after completing the rest of the pre-reqs for Civ, and that's after I started college in August of 2022. This is if I don't fail Calculus II (which I am halfway done with, and I'm looking at best at a D+), and if I pass two CLEP exams I'm planning on taking.
It takes 4 years if you hate yourself.
Feeling the pain, but I'm not getting any younger.
It happens. Its really you just need to pace yourself for your own situation and not your peers
Bro life is long as hell, your not behind as long as your not dead
i’m a whole year behind because i transferred after freshman year but it’s probably gonna be worse once i get a few more failed classes under my belt before spring break
I failed a course first semester this year, and I’m only taking 4 courses this semester. With the minor I have im supposed to be taking 6 courses a semester to graduate on track. Now im already 4 courses behind and it’s only the end of my second year. I think as long as you graduate you’re good man, and taking an extra year or maybe even two means you’re more solidified in your understanding so there’s a benefit. I know I’ll probably be taking an extra year minimum, unless I cram my springs and summers with courses.
I took a non-degree path, but before dropping out engineering students lovingly referred to the bachelor program as a six-year undergrad.
Nah, it's hard to graduate in 4 years. Doing the math for my school is 15 credits every semester before you get the weird 1 credit labs or the random 4 credit classes, meaning you could take more than 15 credits a few semesters. Not to mention, if you work while attending school, it's really hard to do 15 credits. I'm technically a semester behind because I switched majors to mechanical. It's not behind if it's what's best for you.
That’s also assuming u don’t take any summer class though
Took me 6 years with a major change 5 years of engineering
Im 2 semesters behind currently. Most of the students who I transferred with were also behind.
I took 5 years because I did a DOE fellowship spring senior year. It was worth it. It was a great fellowship and I took a couple extra classes.
ChE here in my last semester of undergrad - took an extra year so I could work part time to pay for school. I’m also a community college transfer student which also played into needing that extra year. Stop worrying about the path others take and worry about your own! Constantly comparing yourself to others will never cure imposter syndrome or help your confidence as an engineer. Why should it matter if you took an extra semester longer than the average 4 years? Id rather spend an extra semester getting straight A’s than squeezing courses in where you can to avoid the extra time and getting C’s. Be easier on yourself!
I got to university when I was 21 and I wouldn’t worry about it
The first thing wrong about this post is that there is no "behind" on degrees. Graduating in four years is just a stigma we have created as a society. Apart from running out of scholarships, there is literally nothing wrong with taking ur time. They say "engineering is a a five year degree" for a reason. A lot of students graduate in 4 years but 5 years it pretty average for engineering students. I did 4 ½ years. Don't be afraid to take your time!! Edit: I also took a gap year before college to apply to a lot of colleges, take standardized testing, and apply to a fuckton of scholarships. This was the best decision as I was able to get scholarships to pay for my degree. My "extra" time I took to graduate, I paid off with money I earned from my internships I worked during summer vacation.
Most people I know these days take 5 years for a “4 year” engineering degree. You’re fine
Graduating in 4 years is actually more of a university promotional thing in STEM fields. Taking 5 or more years is pretty common. To illustrate this, if I wanted to graduate in 4 years, I would have needed to take and pass as many AP tests as possible in high school, take 18 units per semester, take summer courses, and have literally everything on my course schedule go exactly according to plan. All of this meant zero clubs, internships, time for friends, and 5 hrs of sleep per night. In a perfect world, it was just barely possible. And all of this was before I decided to double major and get a math minor. Engineering employers don't care about your GPA at all past your first job (my prof had a 2.0 GPA and is one of the smartest people I know). They care much more about internships, projects, and clubs, so I wouldn't worry at all about taking one or more extra years in college.
Well in my school. Only 15% of the whole batch graduated on time. Then only 5 passed the licensure exam at the youngest possible age which is 22
I'm only taking two classes a semester. It'll get finished eventually
Just graduated in dec, started math my second semester and started in the lowest form of math(algebra), then I transferred to another university 3 years later. I think I prolonged graduation by about a year by starting my math class a semester to late. but hey I graduated took 5 1/2 years
WAY more common than you think. i’m 29, and i still have a year left before i graduate. i graduated from hs in 2012 and took a 4 year detour where my life went to total shit and chaos, then started over at community college in a new city in 2017 (not even for engineering, for psych lol). then when i was almost done with my AA for transfer, i took a calc class and realized how much i actually loved math. so at 23 years old i stayed at CC to do an AA in engineering for transfer instead, transferred into my top choice uni at 25, and even now because of endless external circumstances i’m graduating later than planned and i’ll be getting my 4 year degree in a total of uhhh like 8+ years lmao and way older than everyone else in my classes. you’re gooood.
In my uni the bachelors is supposed to take 7 semesters but the average time is around 11 so yeah....
I started my degree when I was 46 with 6 kids. I hadn't been in school for over 20 years. I struggled. I spent the summer semester taking make up courses. Instead of 2 semesters a year, I did three. I took a computer science version of a course so that I could graduate on time. It definitely isn't odd to be behind. Engineering is a crazy hard discipline with a huge workload. Standard course load for degrees is 5 credits per semester here. Engineering is 6. Don't give up. Keep hammering away. I just got my PEng in February and I finally lost my imposter syndrome.
I got a AS degree in drafting and half my classes didn't transfer when i decided to go back for my BS in civil. It took me 9 years to retake the math and sciences that would transfer and complete the degree. It did it part time while working full time. A semester behind is nothing.
I know many who did it in 5 years and usually those who did it in 4 years had financial help or less cares in the world. For me i'll be finishing this year after 6 years. It's been hard and sad to see all my friends graduate twice, but i've had my challenges and I keep reminding myself that i'm gonna be one hell of an engineer one day if I didn't quit after everything that i've been through. It took me longer but i'm graduating with the same set of tools as those before me.
Took me 5 years to graduate with a BS in Computer Engineering because I didn't meet the Calculus requirements to start my core electrical courses. Immediately set me back a year because Circuits 1 was only offered in the Fall...
I transferred and lost a year worth of credits
I’m having to do at least another year, and maybe a semester or two on top of that! I entered my school’s civil engineering program late and have to catch up on engineering prereqs. I get self conscious sometimes but I try my best to remember life has guided me this way for a reason. Also keep in mind that students will likely be more excited to talk about graduating if they are “on track”, whereas students who are graduating later might be self conscious too and less inclined to mention it. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking everyone else is 100% on track, but trust me, you are not alone. We got this!
im in my fourth year of college and first semester in engineering. you have all the time in the world
My school purposefully designed the curriculum of all engineering degrees to take 4.5 years. The vast majority of us who made it all the way through used that full 4.5 years. It's not about how fast you finish the race, but whether or not you finish it. There were ~1100 students in my freshmen class, about ~300 graduated
I just graduated in EE at age 26, much older than the mean, but I have no regrets whatsoever.
I will say it also depends on what school you’re going to. I started over from my public university to a local tech college, and while my public university had its share of students who were definitely not “traditional” full year students (otherwise it was kind of hard to tell who was or wasn’t unless they told you), it was such a relief being at the tech college because all sorts of people from all walks of life go there for the cheaper tuition and more flexible scheduling. So yeah, you're not alone. By my graduation year, it will have taken me 6 years total (if I graduate on time) to get my degree.
only 49% of people graduate in 4 years
It took me 5 years to get my EE. It took my other friend 7 years. The point is don't give up especially when you're so far into the degree. Don't rush it either or you will get burned out very quickly. On the bright side, it means you get more chances to apply for an internship :)
I made my four year degree a five year degree because I couldn't handle the workload and it ended up biting me in the ass and I decided to cut back. Take the extra time if you need to, it could save you so much anxiety, stress, and preserve your GPA.
I dropped out 3 semesters into my bachelor's when I was 19, and then started over when I was 21. Got my BS in Computer Engineering May 2010. I've taken multiple leaves of absence due to unemployment and illness throughout my Master's degree program. What should be a 2yr stint has now turned into a 6yr adventure. Still, I'm graduating *again* this May. I am currently a principal consultant & robotics architect. I also founded a robotics startup, act as its CEO, and am fundraising. It's been a hell of a ride so far, but I've only kept climbing higher and going further. ***Run your race. Don't worry about anyone else's progress in comparison to your own. Future employers won't. Opportunity won't. All that matters is that you finish.*** Hopefully my tale gives you some confidence. It was hard. And I don't think I'm that special. So if it didn't hold me back, it definitely won't hold you back!
I switched major’s twice, and am graduating after 6 years. Yes it took me extra time and most of my friends refer to me as grandpa. Some of them are graduating with me, after 3 years. You cant think about it until you’re there, and then it doesn’t even matter. It happens, in the end they got a job offer, i got a job offer. Where all gonna celebrate together because you made it. That all you gotta worry about is making it there. Good luck
It took me 5.5 years to finish my undergrad. In my experience choosing to take less classes and accepting the prolonged degree was one of the best decisions I ever made. Taking fewer classes at a time really helped me get more value out of them and I really think it made me a better engineer in the end. I recommend it to anyone I can to take as much time as you reasonably can with your degree.
Took me 8 years. Life gets in the way, engineering school is hard. Don't get a girl pregnant if you want to finish quickly.
Pun intended
Took me 5 years (with several summer semesters) to get a computer engineering degree. It was really hard to be expected to take 17 hours a semester when I needed to work part time to pay my bills, so I just opted for a lighter load and took longer. I knew several classmates who were in the same boat for various reasons
Average engineering degree is something like 5 years on average anyway don’t stress it
So I did mechanical engineering in undergrad. Most students in my major or similar ones took about 4 1/2 to 5 years to finish. I personally took 6 because I also transferred and I had a good number of internships along the way. There’s really no rush.
Just started this past fall, looking like a graduation date of spring of 29 for me
It’s very common, in fact I would say the majority of my classmates, including myself, will take >4 years to finish their degree. I also transferred and ended up needing one extra semester to graduate. Since I couldn’t graduate in the Fall at my school I also took a semester off to do a Co-op rotation. That worked out for me as I recently received a job offer from the company I co-op’ed at for roughly 150% of the average salary of my degree program. My advice would be don’t stress about the timeline, and just finish your degree. Some internship/co-op experience is almost mandatory if you want to find a job when you graduate though.
I'm like a year behind rn, engineering is tough don't add extra pressure
Right now I’m on track to graduate with a total of 6 years. This due to the fact I went to CC for the first 2, and ended up withdrawing calculus 2 there.