@statsnerd Why is Take 5 a symptom of needing more time to graduate??? My son is in his Take 5 year. The program is designed to give students who love learning a chance to study something just for curiosity’s sake. It can’t be related to their major(s) in any way. His majors are Brain and Cognitive Science and Biology. He’s also getting minors in American Sign Language and Psychology (and is one class short of a Chem minor). His Take 5 subject is something like The Effect of Western Globalization on Success in Africa - totally different than anything else in his degree. Tuition is free (a nice draw). One has to make a proposal and get accepted into the program and part of that is proving that one can graduate in 4 years if not accepted. This means if my son had not been accepted, he’d have graduated last year - counting as one of their “within 4 years” graduates - with the same majors/minors he is getting.
I’m really missing how this can be considered any sort of symptom rather than a potential cause in the numbers being different.
I’d propose another possible cause in that most students I know (of) tend to have 2, or even 3, majors. 'Tis always possible the desire to get those requires an extra semester - but not for a “bad” reason. How many folks opt to double major at those other schools?
A few drop out - to be sure. Some don’t like the weather. Some decide they want a major that isn’t really a biggie at URoc (plant pathology was one I know about). Some have other issues going on in their lives (health, etc). Undoubtedly money can be a factor for some. But those don’t have to be the only explanations.