Dropout Nation
Alison MillerIssue date: 7/23/09 Section: News
Carson said he originally planned to graduate in four years, but says it took him longer since he decided to change his major.
While Carson doesn't blame ASU for not graduating in the typical four-year period, he did find that some classes were harder to complete than others.
"Large lecture classes were more difficult to do well in because you don't get the personal attention," Carson said.
But, overall, Carson said he thinks there are a couple of reasons why students don't graduate in the expected four-year period.
"I think that it's partly ambition, but I think that some of the programs are a little more difficult to figure out what you exactly need to do to get out in four years," Carson said.
Justine Devaine, a student entering his sixth year at ASU, faced similar problems as Carson.
Devaine started at a community college in New York, than became a video programming major for three semesters, and finally enrolled in ASU in the fall of 2005 and became an elementary education major.
Devaine said he doesn't blame the school for the length of time that it has taken him to graduate.
"The biggest problem was that I didn't know what I wanted to do," Devaine said.
However, since he changed his major so many times, he ended up having 55 elective credits that didn't go toward anything. And Devaine doesn't think he is the only one running into these problems.
"I have heard a lot of people tell me, 'Oh I don't really know what I want to do so I changed majors,'" Devaine said.
To solve this problem, Devaine thinks it would be helpful for ASU and other institutions to provide academic counselors, in addition to advisors, that would aid second semester freshman and sophomores.
Since the first two years of school are normally general studies classes, Devaine said it would be beneficial if students really figured out what they wanted to do before they got into the specialized classes.
While Carson doesn't blame ASU for not graduating in the typical four-year period, he did find that some classes were harder to complete than others.
"Large lecture classes were more difficult to do well in because you don't get the personal attention," Carson said.
But, overall, Carson said he thinks there are a couple of reasons why students don't graduate in the expected four-year period.
"I think that it's partly ambition, but I think that some of the programs are a little more difficult to figure out what you exactly need to do to get out in four years," Carson said.
Justine Devaine, a student entering his sixth year at ASU, faced similar problems as Carson.
Devaine started at a community college in New York, than became a video programming major for three semesters, and finally enrolled in ASU in the fall of 2005 and became an elementary education major.
Devaine said he doesn't blame the school for the length of time that it has taken him to graduate.
"The biggest problem was that I didn't know what I wanted to do," Devaine said.
However, since he changed his major so many times, he ended up having 55 elective credits that didn't go toward anything. And Devaine doesn't think he is the only one running into these problems.
"I have heard a lot of people tell me, 'Oh I don't really know what I want to do so I changed majors,'" Devaine said.
To solve this problem, Devaine thinks it would be helpful for ASU and other institutions to provide academic counselors, in addition to advisors, that would aid second semester freshman and sophomores.
Since the first two years of school are normally general studies classes, Devaine said it would be beneficial if students really figured out what they wanted to do before they got into the specialized classes.
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Doug Bryan
posted 7/10/09 @ 3:56 PM MST
Thank you for this study! My company helps parents save thousands on college. One of our secrets is properly preparing the student. Kids entering college with no idea what they want to do are bound to be there longer than 4 years. (Continued…)
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