Universities are often known for their rigid deadlines, complicated bureaucratic systems and for the pressure they impose on students to graduate with unparalleled honours.
However, it is becoming increasingly clear that postsecondary institutions are more than accommodating when it comes to graduating in a timely manner.
A 2011 statistic revealed that only about 45 per cent of university students in Canada will graduate in four years.
Yet this statistic should not come as much of a shock for the majority of us who witness many of our peers taking an additional year or two in order to ensure they graduate with the grades they know they deserve and are capable of achieving.
Too often there is immense pressure put upon students to get their education in order to find a job as quickly as possible. The very nature of a university education however, is to take your time learning and developing. There should be no rush to enter into a rapidly declining job market.
For most students, obtaining a degree in four years is not only mentally straining, but financially draining as well. Thus, taking an extra year may give students the time to hold down two or more jobs in order to pay for their education.
Considering the current state of our ever-failing employment options, it has become even more crucial for students to get involved in extra-curricular activities that will enhance the quality of their degree.
Involving yourself in athletics, international experiences, co-op and leadership roles give you exposure into real-world situations that often prove to be just as useful as your university degree itself.