Is it normal to not graduate "on time"?

[greenbean14]

Hello all,

I'm a sophomore in college who was originally a BS in biology. I had enough credits where I would actually be able to graduate a semester early as a biology major. My original plan was to take nursing school pre-reqs instead of minoring and go to accelerated nursing school after graduation.

After much debating and speaking with some of my family members who are nurses, as well as speaking to people on here, I've finally made the decision once and for all to change my major to Pre-Nursing now as an undergrad. Luckily, a lot of my science classes will transfer over into my new major, but I've still got about a whole year of pre-reqs ahead of me. I'm really excited about switching and feel like this is the best decision, but I am a little disappointed that I will not be able to graduate in 4 years, as my original major allowed me to.

My question is... will I "stick out" in nursing school since I am a year behind? I guess I'm just needing a little reassurance that "being behind" isn't as big of a deal as my over-achieving mind thinks it is.

[Anonymous1257]

The 5th year of college, or "victory lap" as I called mine, is actually very common nowadays, as is switching majors. This will have no negative impact on your future in nursing whatsoever, just keep your grades up!

[elkpark]

Lots of people spend five or six years completing an undergrad degree these days, for a wide variety of reasons. You will not "stick out." Probably no one will notice or care.

[caliotter3]

Even decades ago, people who took more than four years to finish were not uncommon, nor were they ostracized in my nursing program.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

4 year programs are a thing of the past. Schools graduate every year and sometimes twice a year. Who cares which time you graduate as long as you do it? Good luck!

[caliotter3]

4 year programs are a thing of the past. Schools graduate every year and sometimes twice a year. Who cares which time you graduate as long as you do it? Good luck!

This is what I was going to say, better to graduate late than not to graduate at all!

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

In this day and age the average age at nursing school graduation is 31 years old. The number of second-career folks and late-entry people attracted to nursing seems to outnumber the traditional college-aged students.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

I too started college as a biology major and switched to nursing in my sophomore year. It took me a full extra year to graduate. I did have the added benefit of not taking a lot of classes while I was taking my nursing classes. There were many second career students and many students who were taking longer than the so-called four years to complete their programs. It really isn't a big deal, nor will you stick out in school or in the workforce.

[happyinmyheart]

Everybody in my Nursing school graduates in 4 and a half years immediately, unless they declared their major as Nursing when they were a high school senior & got accepted early. No sweat!!!

[BusiestBSN]

Nursing is tough because it has a very specific course sequence, thanks to all those pre requisite courses. I switched to nursing when I was a sophomore in college... this set me back a year & I am now graduating a year late (this May). It sucked seeing my friends graduate a year ago, but you are probably going to think about your "5th year" much more than others around you.

[strawberryluv, BSN, RN]

A year doesn't mean anything. You're going to have years and years of nursing left when you graduate. If it bothers you so much then retire a year later than what you already planned.

[Nurse Katelyn BSN PCCN, RN]

One year isn't going to make or break it in nursing. I went back for my ADN after getting a BS in Business and no one batted an eye at me. Keep your grades up. Good luck!