We are facing something like this now. She has changed majors 3 times, so now that we are nearing the end, she has to finish some required courses. She currently needs 15 credits of upper division history to graduate. She also needs the dreaded math class which we have been putting off (she struggles with math). She could take the math class this summer and then take the 15 history credits in the fall, but she really wants to go to school for 2 more semesters, split the required course, and also finish a minor. There really aren’t 5 history classes she’s interested in offered in the fall.
This will cost a couple thousand for the extra semester (she’ll lose the merit scholarship because it is only good for 8 semesters), plus she’ll have an extra semester of student loans.
I’m usually the mean mom, and the cheap mom, but I have to give a little on this one. She has some learning issues that she’s overcome. She was born at 24 weeks, weighing only 1# 4 oz, suffered some brain bleeds, worked through PT and OT and come a long way. I can give her the extra 5 months, the extra semester. So yes, I could make her finish in just one more semester but she’ll take two. $$$.
Her sister didn’t have the same option of an extra semester because she got so much in scholarships that only lasted 8 semesters that I couldn’t have paid the extra $25k for one extra semester. I will get accused of favoring one kid but really each got the education that was best for her.