Princeton should allow students to take five years

Princeton does not give students the option to take five years of undergraduate coursework. Such a primitive and restrictive policy is detrimental to the University’s success and the health of the student population. For many students, four years is not enough to fully explore their interests and personal goals.

They may feel rushed going through the undergraduate curriculum, resulting in deteriorated mental health conditions and a general feeling of unpreparedness. The University should consider changing its policy and allowing students to take advantage of the many benefits that a five year undergraduate program has to offer, including more flexibility with course selection, more opportunities to engage in research and study abroad programs, an improved alumni network, and more time to prepare for graduate school and job applications.

Enabling students to spread out their studies over a fifth year would significantly help students with class scheduling issues. Many students, especially underclass students, get unlucky with course selection. Other students are often unable to enroll in classes that interest them due to external conflicts, such as extracurricular activities. This phenomenon is particularly pronounced for courses or labs offered in the evenings. An option for an extra year of studies would allow students to choose the courses that really interest them instead of enrolling in ones that they begrudgingly take because it’ll fit in their schedule. Ultimately, this would improve mental health as many students would benefit from a reduction in their course load, helping them to balance academic work with personal responsibilities.

With the option for a fifth year of studies, students would be able to engage in more research, extracurricular, and internship opportunities, enhancing the undergraduate experience at Princeton. Students would even be able to take more classes, which might help some feel more confident about committing to a major, field of study, or career. It would also provide a safety net for students who wish to change their major further into their academic career, but hesitate because they feel unable to fulfill the prerequisites for their new prospective major with the time they have left.

The University of Rochester’s “Take Five Scholars” program allows students to take additional courses in a five year time period to help students find the time to pursue an academic interest that is unrelated to their declared major. Some Princeton students would benefit from a similar program, and the University should make this an option for the student body.

Students would also have more freedom to consider a study abroad program. I know many students, myself included, who don’t want to take a semester abroad because they feel that their time at Princeton is too short to spend a whole semester off campus. There are so many benefits to studying abroad — such as increased language proficiency, cultural immersion, personal growth, and career development — that some students forgo because they feel their time on campus is too short to be away from Princeton.

A substantial portion of graduating seniors enroll in a graduate program immediately after Princeton. An extra year of undergraduate education would also be beneficial for those considering grad school, as it would give them more time to prepare for exams, complete research projects, and gain additional work experience to make them better equipped for a rigorous graduate program.

A five-year option at Princeton would also increase alumni engagement and school spirit — one of the Princeton administration's main objectives. Spending an additional year on campus allows students to form deeper relationships with their peers, professors, and the institution, giving them more opportunities to interact with existing alumni and benefit from their mentorship, networking opportunities, and career guidance.

Princeton should focus on providing opportunities for students to achieve high quality education at the pace they feel is right for them, instead of rushing them through the undergraduate curriculum.

Prince Takano is a junior from Los Angeles majoring in politics. He can be reached via email at takano@princeton.edu.