... here's my question that was just brought to my attention today that I couldn't find clarification for on Reg&Records...

I'm a double major. I was PLANNING to finish one degree in May and finish the other in December or May. (Mostly because I'm really tired of the first and just want to be done with and not extend my tenure in that college any longer.)

I was told today by someone that they *thought* they were told something like you cannot finish one and be awarded that degree and continue after it with another undergraduate degree. Essentially, you have to drag out both until you finish degree requirements for both and graduate at the same time.

Anyone done this or know specifically the rules regarding this?

11/28/2006 8:24:56 PM

i am pretty sure that's not true b/c i have known several people who graduated in december w/ one degree and then the following semester w/ their 2nd degree
sorry i'm not much help but i'm sure someone more qualified or knowledgable will eventually come along and help you find a real answer

[Edited on November 28, 2006 at 8:46 PM. Reason : ]

11/28/2006 8:45:56 PM

I could have chosen to graduate this December with my first degree and then in May with my second. I've opted to wait until May and just do it all at once, but when I asked I was told it was my choice for when I wanted to graduate and it didn't have be at the same time. This is advise from my advisers and from a dean of engineering, so I would say no, you don't have to graduate with both at the same time.

[Edited on November 28, 2006 at 9:33 PM. Reason : can't spell]

11/28/2006 9:32:38 PM

even if it was true which I doubt if there is no excessive time span involved, it seems pretty easy to circumvent by just saving one last course so as to finish both degrees at the same time

11/29/2006 2:00:03 AM

I'll search and see if I (or somebody else) can't post some specific NCSU policies/regulations later. For now, I graduated in May with one degree and August with my second degree. You don't have to finish your degree requirements at the same time; it's recommended, but not required. Mainly, you have to let either/both of your advisors know WHICH department you want to walk with and WHEN.

11/29/2006 3:53:06 AM

correct, you can finish one in december and another in may or visa versa.

i will have to check with the graduation clerk to find out what the deadline is for december.

however, i do know that your name will not appear in the graduation booklet for december because i just sent that to the printer yesterday.

you can e-mail me at mailto:nicole_harrell@ncsu.edu with your specific information if you want.

11/29/2006 7:31:02 AM

ok there is a 30 day post-graduation deadline. however, that deadline is for the process to be complete, not for you to just start the graduation clearance process.

i would say getting it in sooner than later would be your best bet.

- i can't seem to find the exact policy - but it states on the readmission form that:

"However, reentry is not necessary for a senior who returns the next regular semester to begin work on a second bachelor’s degree. Only a Curriculum Change Form is required in this case."

if you already have that 2nd major declared then you don't need to declare it again.

11/29/2006 9:10:06 AM

Here's what I did:

I finished one degree by getting all of the requirements out of the way, but didn't fill out a blue card. I mean, I was finished with it, but didn't technically "graduate." Then in my final semester (this one) I just filled out blue cards for each. Just because you've completed the degree requirements doesn't mean you have to fill out the blue card.

11/29/2006 9:50:58 AM

Thanks all! I called R&R this AM before getting on here and got the same response pretty much. My intentions are to just finish my first degree in May and have that to get a job with and in Summer/Fall continue on my second degree while working. That's the only reason I didn't want to extend one class another year.

11/29/2006 11:16:56 AM

DSMears is right in that you should just not fill out the blue card if you want to wait for graduation.


HOWEVER I was told by my advisor that if you graduate in one semester with a degree, then continue the following semester for the second degree, you would no longer be eligable for ANY financial aid except loans (and that may be only private loans).

11/29/2006 2:50:26 PM

you can fill out the blue card for one degree and continue in another.

trust me - i work at Registration and Records.

- Nicole Harrell

11/29/2006 8:16:07 PM

I wasn't arguing that fact, only that financial aid could be an issue if a person graduates from one degree then continues with the other.

11/30/2006 1:29:07 AM

nah

[Edited on November 30, 2006 at 3:58 AM. Reason : h]

11/30/2006 3:58:28 AM

I just called Financial Aid and was told that if the first degree is finished before the second degree, then for the remaining semester the student would NOT have any grant eligability. The only financial aid available would be federal or private loan programs.

11/30/2006 3:12:16 PM

that is correct sir.

11/30/2006 9:09:09 PM

Thankfully, I'm lucky enough to not need financial aid, but thanks for the heads up anyway...

12/1/2006 1:26:22 PM

On the topic of financial aid:

I'll be finishing two degrees this May. I have two courses left for a third major that would be finished eventually. It depends on whether I get into Vet school this first attempt.

If I end up coming back in the fall to take classes and finish the third major due to not being accepted to vet school, how would that affect my financial aid? I received mostly grants for this year.

Would it be smarter to drop the third major and then add it again if I need to come back next fall?

What's the best way to do this?

12/2/2006 4:01:03 PM

I'm in a similar situation, only I am tring to get into grad school for Fall. For me, its a question of whether or not to finish my second degree. I don't know if there is a "smart" way to handle the situation, we obviously have to graduate if we want to continue with a higher degree.

The options, from my perspective, are to go ahead and graduate with one degree and apply for grad school. If I don't get in, then I would just probably finish the second degree, despite the fact that it would be financed with student loans. The other option seems to be to just stick it out and finish both degrees, trying to graduate from both at the same time, and then applying for graduate school for the next fall.

So I'm left asking myself whether the *possiblility* of avoiding the cost of one semester at NCSU is really worth the extra year before graduate school.

In your case, I would say that two degrees would be enough, but who am I to talk; most people would say that one degree is enough.

12/2/2006 7:36:31 PM

^^
Call Financial Aid to get the best answer. In general, ask yourself if the extra 6 months for the third major is going to be worth it, given you'll be working (or moving onto grad school, then working) for the next 25-50 years.

12/3/2006 3:31:36 AM

Well, for me the most likely cause of not getting into vet school the first time would be my GPA. So I would mainly be bringing that up for an extra year and would finish the third major in the process.

12/3/2006 3:15:11 PM