What to do with Four-year College Graduation Unlikely

If you've received graduation announcements for your student's fellow classmates' December graduations, you're likely feeling one of two things: urgency to send out your own announcements or rising alarm that graduation isn't on the horizon.

Whether your student passed the college enrollment four-year mark by one semester or the number is still rising, you're not alone. According to the American Enterprise Institute, just 37 percent of public and private school students graduate in four years.

Consider the following tips to deal with the challenge of longer enrollment periods before graduation.

Know requirements. All schools have course requirements for graduation and pre-requisites for higher lever classes, and those offerings are often limited. If your student is planning to study abroad for a semester, make sure he's not missing out on a required class that won't be offered until the next year.

Take summer classes. For many programs, taking classes year-round is the only hope for graduating in four years. Gone are the days of summer breaks home for seasonal employment and meeting up with high school friends. If your student enrolls in summer classes at a different school - like one closer to home - make sure he did his research to ensure all the credits will transfer.

Change majors cautiously. Finding the right major is difficult, but flip-flopping between majors is detrimental. If your student changes his major - especially once he's already taken upper-level classes - his graduation might be pushed back. Making a switch from the liberal arts college to sciences will probably land him in a predicament with a new list of pre-requisites and upper-level courses needed for graduation. For students changing majors, the sooner the better -- and the surer the better.

Take it in stride. There are many factors beyond your control that might postpone graduation. State schools with massive budget cuts result in fewer instructors and classes. With 25 percent more enrolled students than in 2000, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, classes fill up quickly and credit requirements are more difficult to fulfill. And costs of tuition might force your student to take fewer classes and pick up a job.

Keep a clear perspective. If life is a journey and not a destination, then college is about more than graduation. Encourage your student to keep these tips in mind while also exploring ways to make the most of his college experience. Study abroad, internships, Greek life, extra-curricular activities and jobs all play a key role in gaining life experience. While they might postpone graduation, they can also bulk up your student's resume or clarify what he wants to do next.