With the constant pressure to finish college in 4 years as it's "typically" done, I wanted to take the time to write an article about why I don't care if it takes 5 years or more to finish college. Why should you or other people care if you're considered a super senior?

Yes, college is typically done in a 4 year time period. However, I don't like the fact that most people, professors, administration, etc. will push you to finish your higher education in that time period, regardless if you feel like perhaps going on a ~5 year plan. Maybe you feel like a lower amount of credit hours lets you fully understand the material and have more time to study. Maybe you're a student parent. Maybe you have to work while you attend school. Regardless of the reason, I don't think there should so much stress around doing it in a certain amount of time if you personally don't feel like you can/should do it in that time. Since dropping from 17 credit hours to 13, I feel so much more at ease. I do not feel constant stress. I feel like I have more time to study for my exams and since lowering the amount of credit hours I am taking, have made better grades. That works for me. I like this way of going about it. If that means I end up going for an additional year, so what.

Yes, I will end up paying more, but in this case it is something where I need to put myself first. I need to consider my happiness and my mental health before worrying about loans and money. I have the rest of my life to pay off my loans. While I understand it costs more money and will more than likely put me (or in someone else's case, their parents/guardians) more in debt, but I would rather finish college knowing I know the material and did not hate my entire experience, stressing out the entire time trying to squish my education into a 4 year time period. That just doesn't work for everyone. You only have a certain amount of time in college. Use your resources. Soak up all the knowledge you can. TRULY learn the material. The classes you take are specific to your major. What does that mean? Your classes are teaching you how to do the job you will be doing for the rest of your life.

Please know that taking an extra year or two is okay. Don't worry about the money. Don't worry about how old you will be when you graduate. Don't worry about anything but what is ultimately going to make you happy and what will better you as a student.