So You Didn't Meet the Requirements for Graduation - What Next?

This is the article you don't want to read, unless you're just trying to get advice for a friend. After all, if you're a college senior, graduation time will be here before you know it. May is the season of caps, gowns, parties and farewells to dorm life. The excitement is already in the air.

But what if you're one of the unlucky ones who, in spite of your best laid plans, have just realized that you won't be strutting across the stage after all?

It happens. As someone who has working in a university office where graduation clearances are processed for almost a decade, I have seen it far too many times. A senior applies to graduate, thinking everything is in order. We conduct a review, and discover that all the requirements for the student's degree have not been met.

At that moment, we go from being the first to congratulate you on completing your degree to being dreaded bearers of bad news. Sometimes, the stone-faced bureaucracy in many universities makes it almost look like we enjoy snatching those dreams from your hands. But this is far from the case. I hate delivering this bad bit of news almost as much as our students hate hearing it.

What Happens?

Generally, those who don't graduate when expected fail to do so for one of two reasons. The most common is that a student who has applied for graduation is currently enrolled in a course that is required for their program, but doesn't complete the course with the minimum grade needed for the degree.

The other scenario is that somewhere along the way, the student overlooked a degree requirement and didn't fulfill it. In spite of print and online information, degree audit systems, and meetings with an advisor, the student somehow misses a required course or doesn't complete the total number of credits needed for a degree.

Either way, the situation is heartbreaking. You've got your sights set on life after college, and suddenly that new world is at least another semester away.

I can't offer advice that will make delaying your graduation anything but disappointing and stressful. But hopefully, if you find yourself in this predicament, some of the information provided here will help you map out the best alternative for completing your degree, moving forward with the next phase of your life in spite of the setback, and making the most of an unfortunate situation.

Whatever you do, don't quit.

During my career, I have seen far too many students walk away in frustration just one or two courses shy of their degrees.

I'll be the first to admit that when you come that close to the finish line but can't cross it, quitting is tempting. There's a stubborn, disappointed voice in your head that says "Fine! I don't need your damn degree anyway!"

But think about how far you've come. If you're this close to graduation, you've already invested at least four years of your life and a significant amount of tuition money into earning your degree. One more semester is frustrating, but it isn't worth throwing away all those years.

Think about the goals that drove you to college in the first place. That career you've been working for is still within your grasp. Don't give in to the temptation to say "I'll finish later." Returning to school only becomes more difficult once you start working full-time, raising a family, or taking on other obligations. Give yourself time to wallow in your disappointment, and then accept the fact that you've got one more semester as a student to get through - now.

Handle the situation professionally.

You want to cry and scream, rant and rave. And maybe you have every right to.

But first, you need to map out how you're going to finish your degree requirements and what you're going to do in the interim. The best resources to help you figure out how to get there will be advisors and graduation coordinators at your university. You can express your disappointment and frustration. You can even shed a few tears in the safety of an advisor's office.

But avoid being abusive, confrontational, or accusatory to those that are there to help you. They're going to have to tell you about the hurdles you'll now need to jump through, but it is information you need to hear. And most of the time, these professionals are in their roles because they care and want to help. If you treat them respectfully and value their support, many of them will bend over backwards to help you meet your goals.

Consider an appeal.

I have to be honest. Most of the time, there's nothing to appeal. A requirement is published in the catalog and other materials you're supposed to be following to complete your degree, but you've somehow overlooked it. Or you just aren't doing well enough in a course to earn the required grade.

But sometimes, the situation is not that cut and dry. I have seen situations where an advisor or professor has misunderstood a requirement, and recommended that a student complete a course which does not in fact fulfill it. The student does as told, and goes along thinking everything is fine until the graduation review comes back with the bad news.

At my university, we have an appeals committee to review and determine what should be done in such situations. It is a committee made up of faculty and administrators. Students in such situations appeal to this committee and their cases are reviewed and handled individually.

If you honestly feel that an error on someone else's part has put you in your predicament, ask your graduation office if such a process exists at your university. The worst they can do is say no.

Figure out the best way to complete the missing requirement.

The first thing you'll have to resolve is how you'll complete the missing requirement.

If it is a course you are currently enrolled in but will not pass with an acceptable grade, then you'll need to repeat it. If it is a requirement you overlooked altogether, then you just need to get it done.

The easiest course of action is to complete the class at your university. If you were supposed to graduate in May, you can take the course in summer session or the following fall and earn your degree in the next graduation cycle.

But sometimes that option isn't realistic. Your university is far away from your hometown. You only need one or two more courses. It doesn't seem worthwhile to spend another full semester there, living on campus and being far away from home, just for a few credits.

If that's the case, consider taking the course at a community college or a university closer to home and transferring it to your institution. Research course options elsewhere. Work with your advisor. Get verification in writing that your school will accept the course for the requirement you are missing BEFORE you actually register.

If you've been living on campus, you'll also have housing options to consider. If you're taking the course elsewhere and transferring it, then maybe you can just go home. If you're taking it at the university, you may need to be enrolled full-time to continue living on campus. Ask if this is the case, and if so whether they make exceptions for students in your situation.

You'll also have to consider financial aid. If you've been using student loans, when you go down to part-time enrollment status you may be expected to start repaying them. Work with your financial aid counselor to figure this out, and make plans to do so if you choose not to stay enrolled full-time.

Enroll right away.

Whether you're staying on campus or going to another institution to finish your requirements, get registered as early as possible. You've been in college long enough to know how quickly popular or required courses fill up. Don't put yourself in a situation where you'll be shut out of the class you need and have to wait even longer.

Can you still participate in commencement?

The commencement ceremony is a big deal. It is a celebration of your accomplishments and an opportunity to recognize all the work you've done. It is a chance to celebrate with all the friends who have crammed for exams by your side and been part of your college social scene.

Some institutions have more than one commencement ceremony a year. Mine has two, one in May for those who graduate in the spring, and one in December for those who finish up in the fall. We don't allow students who have not completed the requirements for their major to participate in commencement. But if a student is missing just one general requirement, and can prove to us that they have enrolled in a course that will fulfill that requirement, we let them participate in their scheduled ceremony. We don't award them an actual diploma - those aren't actually distributed at the ceremony anyway.

But we allow them to go through the experience rather than waiting until the next one.

Many universities may be much stricter about this than mine. Others might be much more liberal. The only way to find out is to ask.

Present your family with the bad news and your plan for fixing the situation all at once.

Giving parents and other loved ones the bad news is almost as upsetting as hearing it yourself.

It is understandable to be afraid that your parents will be angry, frustrated, sad or all of the above. But putting off delivering the news won't change that. In many cases, avoiding telling your parents actually deprives you of a strong and sympathetic support system.

When you deliver the news, also explain what you'll need to do to finish the requirements and how you plan to do so. Having an action plan will show your family that you're determined and committed to your goals, and that you're taking responsibility for making things right. You may be surprised at the offers of help you'll receive.

Be upfront with potential employers and graduate schools.

Many soon-to-be graduates already have jobs lined up, or have been accepted to graduate school.

If you have been granted a job offer for upon graduation, and the offer was for a position that requires a degree, then you'll need to discuss the changes in your timeline with the employer.

Do this as early as possible, so you're not leaving the company in the lurch. Be honest and upfront. Share your action plan. Explore all your options and reiterate how interested you are in the position and in working for the organization. Is there any way you can still begin working there in a trial basis on in a different position? If not, who can you contact when your degree requirements are fulfilled to be reconsidered for employment?

Exercise the same honesty with graduate schools. Can you defer your admission for a semester? Would it be possible to take a graduate course on a provisional basis while fulfilling your undergraduate degree requirements?

Update your graduation application.

Once you have figured out exactly what you need to do to finish your requirements, and know when you will be truly eligible for your degree, go back to your graduation office.

Many students assume that the process for updating your graduation application is automatic. Sometimes this is the case, and sometimes it isn't. At my institution, students need to formally update their application. If you applied to graduate in May but don't fulfill your requirements, we don't automatically assume you'll have them done in December and move you forward in the process. You need to let us know your plan.

Make the most of the lost time.

Perhaps the best thing you can do for yourself is to use the unwanted extra time to your advantage.

If you're taking a requirement again because it was a subject you struggled with, use the extra time to focus on the course material. If you can't take the class until fall, use the summer to prepare, read your text books and seek out tutoring.

If you're going to be sticking around your university for an extra semester, talk with your advisor about what else you can do with the time. Maybe you're close to earning a minor or a certificate in another subject matter, and could do so with 2 or 3 additional courses. Since you're stuck anyway, why not take them and get the extra credential under your belt?

Or maybe you could use the extra time to focus on your job search instead, devoting a few hours a day to researching and networking. Maybe you could take on an internship, volunteer opportunity or part-time job that will increase your marketability.

Setbacks are always frustrating, and not graduating on time is certainly no exception. But if you keep on top of the situation, you'll have your degree in hand soon enough. Use the time in between now and then to move closer to your goals.