General

Most tech friends (engineering/cmpt sci/design/media) I know finished in 5 years in Canada because they did the co-op program (usually 4-12 months depending on how many terms you apply for). The co-op program gives you job experience and may even land you that job coming right out of university.

[quote=Gyroscope]I noticed a good amount of undergrad students tend to switch majors, programs, and even schools. It's really sad because I know some people who switched programs and their credits were not able to transfer, so basically they wasted like 2 years of their life!

Life advice to high school kids: If you're planning to get to college/university, RESEARCH a program very carefully and STICK with it.[/quote]

All the research in the world won't guarantee that I won't regret my (usually dumb) decisions. It's hard for a person who's new to the whole "adult" thing. Hooray for regret!

[quote=yesno1]If I have the chance to finish it in 2years I will totally do it.[/quote]

Let's say you take 12 AP courses in high school. Maybe you self-study for 3 more so you take 15 AP courses in high school. 4's and 5's on all for the credit at most universities, you're looking at 45 credits minimum. 45 credits will get you roughly 1.5 years of college.

Take 18 credits each semester of your first year in college, you now have 81 credits at the end of the first year. You're going to need around 120, more if you're a double major. Take 3 courses over the summer for 12 credits. Now you're only missing 27. Take one semester of 12 and one semester of 15 credits and bam, 2 year college degree.

But it's obviously a lot harder than it sounds....

I got my bachelors degree in 3 years. It involved 18 hours a week of lectures and tutorials as well as 14+ hours a week of my own private study time.

3 years is the time it takes for most bachelors degrees here in the UK for full-time students, and 4 years for part-time students.

[quote=yesno1]If I have the chance to finish it in 2years I will totally do it.[/quote]
I've never heard of anyone taking more than 3 summer classes at a time. they're too fast pace to take 5

If I have the chance to finish it in 2years I will totally do it.

@SpearCrusher: nooo it's $25k for my entire degree. My parents are paying that, and I just buy my parking pass and books. had to buy my own car and laptop too, though.

And I work with a bunch of young people that are making $30~$40/hr ($10 wage + tips) and the ones that are living with their significant others are doing fine

[quote=xUnholyJadenx]I lol at the people who say college is a scam, uh yeah university of phoenix and technical schools are scams but not legit universities that you would find ranked in the usnews rankings or businessweek. Seriously, don't expect to get a good job after graduating from Bob State University or some other 9th tier university just because you did not do your research. And you don't just graduate with a "piece of paper" it is an EXPERIENCE. What does that experience entail?... Opportunity to compete in NCAA D1/2/3/NAIA athletics, forming relationships with students, making new friends, learning new concepts, living on your own (if you dorm), forming relationships that could get you a nice job after graduation by talking to your PROFESSORS. I don't know what school you are going to, but at my school there is job placement services BEFORE you graduate. Most business majors end up getting a GUARANTEED job at a big 4 firm in Seattle BEFORE they graduate with minimum salaries in the $55k range with max being around $100k+ as an ENTRY level employee. Yeah, college can be a waste of time depending what you do/don't accomplish there but it could also be the most monumental time in your life. Your choice...[/quote]

I find it difficult to believe that you get guaranteed placement unless of course you are in an Ivy or any other top tier schools.

No I'm in co-op so that automatically makes it a 5 year degree. Plus I want to take some extra, non-required courses to gain more knowledge so I'm looking at 5.5 years. Without these, I would have graduated in 4 years because I usually take 5 courses per semester.

I noticed a good amount of undergrad students tend to switch majors, programs, and even schools. It's really sad because I know some people who switched programs and their credits were not able to transfer, so basically they wasted like 2 years of their life!

Life advice to high school kids: If you're planning to get to college/university, RESEARCH a program very carefully and STICK with it.

I don't understand why undergrads work jobs. It's impossible for the average human being to juggle 6 classes and work 20 hours a week. If anything, you should just work full time during the 4 months of summer.

I'm hoping that I will.

Assuming I can take my numerical methods class I failed overtop of my regular classes, I should be graduating on my 4th year, which will be in May.

That being said out of the ~80 people in my branch of Engineering (mechanical), 60 of them did the co-op program making it a 5-year degree for them.

I'm taking like 5 classes this semester and its overwhelming me. I'm not gonna finish soon cuz in planning to switch majors again. I envy those people that can triple major or finish in 1-2 year.

OP, either you work less or take less classes a semester. Last semester I took 12 credits with 25hrs a week. This semester, I am taking harder classes (11 credits) and working 10 hrs a week. Even now, I am barely keeping up with classes

I lost a semester when I switched from a double major in econ and math to math with a minor in secondary education.

It sucks but I really love teaching people math. <3

@easyrolling: No, I haven't done it, but that doesn't mean I can't think about it, and hear from other people about it. Honestly, everyone I know who's talked to me about their college experience said they made it through in 4 (or less) years, and a bunch of other NORMAL stuff that the average person DOES.

Im trying to decide between computer programming and development, or and physical scientist
it's hard-I love working with technology, and I love science
so yeah I'm positive that im doing four years

[quote=easyrolling]@vCane: I've considered that and will probably end up doing it. I'm just nervous that that classes that I need to take either won't be offered at all or won't be night classes.

@fradddd: Sounds like you've never done it before. While it is possible, I just felt miserable all the time. Which lead to me not getting the marks I wanted and not giving the best customer service I could have given at work.

@SpearCrusher: my tuition is only $25k and my parents are paying for it. Regardless, STEM graduates can look forward to making $55k+ right out of school and approach the six digit mark by your late 20's if you continue to be a hard worker.[/quote]

I'm talking mainly the average person/majority though. Many that get out and try finding jobs won't start off with 55k+, in fact starting out at 30-35k would be impressive at this point. Even that 55k isn't a lot. After factoring all bills such as rent, gas, misc, taxes, etc., that 55k becomes 10-20k if you're lucky. With 25k/semester (assuming it's per semester) that would mean it would take you at least 10+ years to pay it off because of interest. At which point you'd be dead broke, but "debt free."

Times have changed, and the cost of living + education have gone up, but wages have NOT. $8 (min wage) and even $15/hr or $25/hr (above average wages for most STARTING) is hard to live on.

I can go to any school I wish tuition free, but I still feel that it isn't worth it. I also go to a vocational school, so I do have skill sets to fall back on. Heck, I once had to give a speech to the electric company president, mayor of the town, etc., about how efficient the school was, and they talked about maybe hiring me in the future.

EDIT: I have also learned more on the internet than in school itself. Just my personal experience though

i'm goin to [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJl0XuDKSjc]everest[/url]

[quote=vCane]@easyrolling: take 1st year courses in the summer, those are always offered[/quote]
I only have room for one of those. already in 200 leveled CS, math and econ courses

@vCane: I've considered that and will probably end up doing it. I'm just nervous that that classes that I need to take either won't be offered at all or won't be night classes.

@fradddd: Sounds like you've never done it before. While it is possible, I just felt miserable all the time. Which lead to me not getting the marks I wanted and not giving the best customer service I could have given at work.

@SpearCrusher: my tuition is only $25k and my parents are paying for it. Regardless, STEM graduates can look forward to making $55k+ right out of school and approach the six digit mark by your late 20's if you continue to be a hard worker.

I don't even see the point. Why go 100k+ into debt for a piece of paper with no GUARANTEE of landing a job that can support all your living costs & pay back that debt? Plus, most don't even teach actual useful SKILLS. At this point they don't even care about actual education and how the real world works, all they care about is milking kids for money. No matter how smart you are, if you have no skills, it doesn't mean a thing. Many expect that a degree will automatically land them a job, and that's not the case.

If anything, it screws people over in the long run because many can't get jobs and that kills their credit.

Pretty sure it isn't that hard if you can learn to manage your time.

T.T
I can't, I lost a semester

im doing med it's 6 years in total

Of course.