<p>“Should parents plan for the possibility of more than 8 semesters’ of college costs?” is the title of this thread. Perhaps it has changed since it’s inception, but that is what my posts are responding to, rather than anything else. </p>
<p>I know quite a lot of students who go to college for different periods of time than 8 semesters. Unless the U has a guarantee that kids will graduate in 8 semesters of the equivalent, it is a good idea of the parents and student to figure out how any expenses in excess of the 8 semesters (or equivalent) will be funded/financed. People can argue about how realistic (or not) it is for students in particular majors to finish in 4 years, but as a practical matter, it is not that uncommon for students to take longer than 4 years.</p>
<p>S’s college room mate was still a student when S graduated after 4 years & not sure when he graduated. D is still a student, even though she’s now in her equivalent of 5.5 years of college and will have completed the equivalent of 6 years by this spring when hopefully she will get her degree.</p>
<p>It is indeed up to each student and family how they choose to plan and what they want to do in the event that student does NOT get the degree after 4 years of college (or equivalent). Agreements reached ahead of time can minimize conflict and confusion and stress.</p>