Despite what the ubiquitous and unspecified “they” might have you believe… there isn’t really a “right” or “wrong” way to “do” college.
For example. You don’t HAVE to graduate in four years. Despite that, everyone assumes that’s what you’re aiming for.
Now, if you have to spend an extra year catching up because you’re failing your classes, there might be some personal re-evaluation to be done, but even if you’re completely on track with your classes, you still don’t HAVE to finish in four years’ time. I have a heck of a lot of classes I want to take–about twelve to fifteen extra classes, depending on how I arrange my electives, I think–which manage to comprise a whopping three minors: electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, and technical theater. Now, if I tried doing that in four years, I’d likely lose my head from sleep deprivation, considering the mechanical engineering major I just declared requires a nice 17-credit course load pretty frequently. However, who said I had to do it in four years?
I’ve talked with both my parents, and we’ve all come to the consensus that, through various attack methods–a couple summer courses and an extra semester or two, maybe?–why not do all three minors? It’s not like I’ll have another shot at this, unless I win the lottery and decide to go back to school with all my new spare time. Not very likely.
You just can’t get caught up in the rush of classes, the idea that you “have” to get this all done exactly how everyone else does. No. Stop it. This is your college experience, not theirs. Taking the path less traveled can often stand out as not only a personal achievement but an academic one, too. Doing something you’re interested in, and that not a lot of people bother to do, means that tomorrow, you’ll be able to go even further. Personalize your experience. Make it something you enjoy! You’re here to learn, and have fun, and get ready for the rest of your life. Don’t just blindly follow every other person in front of you if you don’t want to.
First-Year Lehigh Engineers 