Took longer than usual to complete undergrad program. Explain?

Graduate School
1

<p>Hello! I have added this explanation to the comments section of my application to MIT’s M.S. in Chemical Engineering Practice. I don’t know if it is reasonable to add it, so I’d really appreciate your opinion!</p>

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<p>The program’s nominal duration is 15 trimesters, comprising a minimum of 216 credits. I completed the program in 17 trimesters, even though I never failed a subject and never took less than the required amount of credits in any trimester. In fact, I completed 238 credits. Two reasons account for the extra two trimesters: due to the regulations of the student exchange program, each semester at the exchange university is equated to only one trimester after returning to [my university], so it is necessary to enroll one extra trimester in order to “make up” the difference. The other extra trimester is due to the fact that at the end of the second year, as I was considering switching my major, I took a trimester of chemistry courses that did not count towards the total of the chemical engineering curriculum.</p>

2

<p>I’ve served for many years as adcom for graduate programs, at 3 different universites. Not once has someone ever noted, let alone cared, that someone took extra time like this. There are many good reasons and no one cares. I think making it into something gives the wrong impression (that you are a bit too anxious/too young/might be high maintenance).</p>