Knight Ridder Newspapers (KRT)
DETROIT Angela Samuels is in her fifth year at Grand Valley State University. Her art major is almost impossible to finish in the traditional four years, she said although that’s not what she thought when she started college. “I was thinking the usual four years,” said Samuels, 22, of River Rouge, Mich. “I think everyone averages around five ? years. I’m going to be five ?.” Samuels takes fewer classes to keep her course load manageable and her grades high. “I realized I was burning myself out,” Samuels said. “You could do it, but you’d only do half in each of your classes, because you only have so much time.” Her parents planned ahead to pay for her college four years of it. They decided there was nothing they could do but keep paying. During the past couple of decades, students have been steadily taking longer to finish a bachelor’s degree. Now, five or even six years is becoming more common than the traditional four. “Most likely, they’re going to pay for five plus,” said Michael Boulus, executive director of the Presidents Council, State Universities of Michigan. “To finish in four years means four years full time.”