Q: Are employers concerned with how long it took one to attain a degree?

[DerekG]

When all is said and done, it will have taken me seven years to earn a BA (chalked to a crippling depression upon which I haven't the heart to elaborate). My GPA is 3.87, but I fear that my protracted enrollment will give me the image of a shiftless frat-boy (even though I've never set foot in a dorm room).

Will this mark me?

[alarimer]

1. I shouldn't think so

People have taken that long because of work or other reasons as well. And I hope not for myself because I am on year 6 of working towards my Masters degree. Of course it used to be typical for graduate students to take a while.

[NewWaveChick1981]

2. They absolutely should NOT be.

I've worked on college campuses for over 20 years, and I've seen a lot of students who took nontraditional paths through school. When I worked as a financial aid director at a small women's college, I worked with a woman who was 87 years old and finishing her degree. She had started it at age 18 and dropped out to get married and have children. Her six children (the oldest was 68) attended her graduation along with her grandkids and great-grandkids. They were incredibly proud of her, and so was I.

I know that's an unusual situation, but if an employer is concerned with how long it took you, stay away from them. Most of them just care that you have the piece of paper! :)

[DerekG]

3. 87...that's wonderful!

Out of curiosity: Do you recall her field of interest?