From “senior” to “super-senior”
Why my fifth year at UTM isn’t a failure, but a part of the journey.
Starting my fifth year at University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) feels nice, but a little bitter sweet. I should have wrapped up last spring, but here I am, still plugging away. At first it felt like a personal failure, but over time, I realized it isn’t shameful:it is realistic. Taking longer than the designed 4 years has forced me to slow down, re-evaluate my priorities, and approach university with more patience and greater perspective.
Only about 44 percent of Canadian students finish in four years, while nearly 75 percent graduate within six. The average time to finish is around 4.3 years, which is just slightly longer than the ideal, but far from rare. Even more, Mya Colwell reported that only 40 percent of students actually manage the four-year mark, and that’s before the pandemic, financial stress, or mental health challenges that have recently entered the picture. One of my friends, who is also a fifth-year student in a science program, shared, “I thought I was behind, but hearing how normal it is to take extra time made me feel better.” At the University of British Columbia (UBC), many students take between 4.5 and 6.5 years to finish, due to co-ops, reduced course loads, or just needing more time to breathe.
I began at UTM in Fall 2021, already in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, with classes half set online, and the other half taught in awkward formats. The social isolation, rushed lab sections, and lack of on-campus connections slowed everything down. I wasn’t alone as many students felt robbed of the stereotypical university experience.
Breanna Reid-Clarke, a politics student at Ryerson University, explained that studying from home over two years “was basically taken from [her]… so it’s frustrating,” and she didn’t feel hopeful about fully recovering the traditional university experience. Add this to my Biology major and pre-med track, where course availability is tight, the delay has a ripple effect. Counselling and academic advising helped, but it often gets crowded nearing a semester’s end. I often felt stuck trying to pin down a plan when the courses themselves wouldn’t cooperate.
There’s also the stigma. Walking around campus as a fifth-year student can feel like everyone expects you to be “behind” or struggling. Some friends joke about being a “super-senior,” and while it’s mostly light-hearted, it makes students feel pressured to conform to the four-year plan. Yet these assumptions ignore the reality of the current student life, where financial pressures, mental health, part-time work, and program hurdles not only turn the extra semesters as a common trajectory, but sometimes essential. In reality, taking more time has given me space to grow, meet new people, and learn lessons outside of coursework that I wouldn’t trade.
Still, a fifth year hasn’t felt like lost time. Instead, it felt intentional. I got to deepen my club and work-study involvement, volunteer, work part-time, and actually absorb what I was learning. My work-study job in particular gave me confidence, professional skills, and a sense of purpose that shaped how I see myself after graduation. UTM has become more than a university to me; as it feels like a community and family. The people I’ve met in classrooms, labs, clubs, and even on campus walks have made this place feel like home. From late-night study sessions in the library to impromptu coffee breaks with friends at Second Cup, these small moments have shaped my experience. Even while juggling tight courses, lab schedules, and the constant pressure of pre-med pre-requisites, I felt supported by peers and staff alike.
The pressure to finish on time hurts more than it helps. Rigid timelines ignore the realities of students who work, have health needs, commute, or face family obligations. UTM’s course offerings and advising structure can bottleneck progress. Mental health isn’t optional and rushing through four to five courses a semester can be a quick route to burnout. Sometimes, slowing down isn’t a weakness at all, but a survival strategy that allows you to thrive in the long run.
University and the culture that surrounds it should shift the narrative. A fifth year isn’t a failure, but often a strength. Schools could highlight flexibility, promote more summer offerings, or provide clearer pathways for students who need extra terms.
As for me, I start my fifth-year with pride, not guilt. UTM is my community filled with many memorable experiences. It’s not what I expected, but maybe that’s exactly why it matters. This year is about finishing strong and appreciating the journey, even if it took a little longer than planned.
