not graduating on time...

[hoyas9488]

I transferred schools during my undergrad and am now facing a dilemma. I could graduate on time, but would have to cram important classes into my schedule before application time comes around. Although I could finish on time and have all the basic requirements plus a few extra (with great scores, gpa, etc), I think I could have a much better profile if I stayed an extra semester (graduate in 4.5 years) and apply the year after because I could take a few extra grad classes and space everything out (as well as actually earning a math degree).

My question is the following: will staying this extra semester hurt my application or should I just keep on charging and apply at the original time?

Part of the situation is that I was only able to take 12 credits for 3 semesters at my new school (which I have a completely valid reason for. I live independently and support myself through college, so I am working 50+ hours a week during school and I had to take less credits for awhile in order to get myself financially stable).

I know there is the opportunity cost of everything I could be doing in that extra year, but in my eyes I want to as qualified as I can, and not have a weaker profile than I could.

So, i know this question was kinda long, but what does everybody think?

[GymShorts]

Whether you should do it or not depends on how much you mind staying an extra semester. However, I think stay an extra semester to get more classes and better grades will only help you. The question is what will you do spring semester? You could take even more classes or get a semester-long RA position, or something else altogether.

[Harry Lime]

I have a few thoughts on this as I'm in a similar situation in that I am transferring to a new school soon and I am pretty certain I will not be able to graduate on time because of new core requirements and such. And I too work full time and go to school so I can't take 6 classes and get a PhD at the same time as a BA like that dude at Princeton.

First off, as GymShorts points out, it doesn't make any sense for you to stay on for only one extra semester because then you'll apply in the Fall, graduate in January, then sit around for six months before you start your PhD. If you are going to stay for an extra semester you might as well make it a year and take more math, more grad econ classes in the Spring. It will help you out later and might look a little better to adcoms.

As to whether or not it is frowned upon.. I can't say, I hope for both of our sakes it's not. I've heard it said that in some departments other than econ (specifically physics) they don't like 5-year undergrads. But you don't have much choice, so just work as hard as you can and hope for the best. And if you're taking grad econ classes anyway in your extra time, it's almost like you're getting a BA/MA.

Good luck, and let us know how it turns out!

[pookie bear]

Just to chime in with my personal story. I transferred and did a year abroad that set me back a year in terms of coursework. I knew it would, but thought the opportunity to travel would be beneficial to my education. I am now on the "5 year plan" or maybe even the "6 year plan" depending on what courses I decide to take. I will have several econ and math grad courses under my belt when i graduate, but do you think this will be frowned upon?

[Harry Lime]

Just to chime in with my personal story. I transferred and did a year abroad that set me back a year in terms of coursework. I knew it would, but thought the opportunity to travel would be beneficial to my education. I am now on the "5 year plan" or maybe even the "6 year plan" depending on what courses I decide to take. I will have several econ and math grad courses under my belt when i graduate, but do you think this will be frowned upon?

Welcome to the brotherhood, friend! I don't completely understand the logic of discriminating against 5-year undergrads. I guess it could be seen as an unfair advantage if you took less classes each semester so you can't handle a heavy workload?? But adcoms don't know how many 4-years had complete support from their parents and could focus entirely on their studies while we were out digging ditches to pay our way through school.

Anyway, obviously when it comes to PhD applicants, adcoms don't want to hear a sob story, they want to know you're going to excel at research and make their department look good. As long as you have that covered with LORs and good grades, you should be fine. It might be a problem if you have semesters where you only took two-classes or something. Anyone can get an A+ in real analysis if that's the only class they take.

[hoyas9488]

thanks for the responses everyone. as to the concern about what I would do that extra semester, i would definitely try to get some great RA job or work somewhere that will help me out. i definitely wouldn't let it go to waste.

as for pookiebear, IMHO i dont see how that should hurt. i mean, it might not help if what you did when you were studying abroad isn't related to econ/math, but i dont think it should hurt as long as you have everything else you need.

[hoyas9488]

also, it's good to hear that there's actually other people out there in a similar situation. i'm at a school where the typical student has never worked a day in his entire life and has everything handed to them whereas Im trying to put my way through while working constantly.

the thing i dont understand is how adcoms dont realize that if a kid has the courage to put himself through college and still be competitive, what do they he'd be able to do if he didn't have to work all the time? with all that extra free time, you'd think they believe he'd be able to do exponentially better.

who knows, maybe they need to walk in someone else's shoes...

keep up the hard work guys. it'll payoff in the long run (even though we'll all be dead by then)