During the holidays, The University of New South Wales outlined the maximum time within which students must complete their degrees. The Academic Progression Procedure applies the following rule: 2n + 2. Or, in simple terms, two times the amount of years it takes to complete the degree full time plus another two years.

Panic and fear ran through me, and my stomach suddenly felt empty and light. I knew I was on track to complete my degree within these parameters — albeit a little later than most — but what would I tell my parents if I got kicked out of uni for being too slow?

As Quick As Humanly Possible?

I’ve since realised I have six more years to complete my degree, something I will almost certainly achieve (I say “certainly” because knowing my luck, this piece may come back to bite me!). But it got me wondering: should we focus on finishing university AQAHP (as quick as humanly possible)?

Firstly, the advent of social media and the role it plays in our lives has created a pressure to finish things AQAHP. We’re forever pursuing individuality to find a new fad, we want to be the first to buy a new car or the first to finish uni and get that dream job (a dream job which requires long days, sleepless nights and acne breakouts).

Another reason people want to finish uni AQAHP is due to their misconceptions about this mysterious concept known as ~the real world~. Having worked in the real world — which I’ll get to in a minute — I can tell you it’s only as good as you make it. As a practicing journalist, there have been jobs which have been stimulating and socially rewarding while others have been miserable spells, causing me to wish I was studying what I loved or seeing my friends and family.

For example, I deferred a semester at uni to work in Wagga Wagga and Broken Hill. Many of my friends questioned whether it was worth it, particularly since it has extended my degree by a whole year and put the whole order out of whack.

And, like I said earlier, it is what you make of it! At the risk of a cliche, I made friends during those times who I will know for the rest of my life, while also getting the chance to explore rural Australia.

The Opportunity To Change Your Mind

Conversely, I have friends who blitzed through uni AQAHP. Once they started working, they realized three key things. 1) the profession they had dreamed of required far more administrative tasks than they had envisaged, 2) they weren’t ready for full-time work 40-50 hours per week and 3) they weren’t prepared to work with people who are decades older than them.

I believe the answer to my question (“Should we focus on finishing university AQAHP?”) lies somewhere in the middle. There is nothing wrong with wanting to get your degree in the allotted time. Some people want financial security, while others find university boring and or too regimented for the careers they will pursue.

there is nothing wrong with rushing through a uni degree, just as there is no harm in taking your time.

Likewise, I think people should finish their degrees within the 2n + 2 timeframe. Technologies and protocols are changing so frequently, spending 12 years to complete a three-year degree could perhaps render it outdated and obsolete.

The essences of life are yin and yang — contradictory forces are sometimes, in fact, complementary. For example, the exhilaration of a weekend holiday is amplified when you are escaping a long week at work, right? So there is nothing wrong with rushing through a uni degree, just as there is no harm in taking your time.

The only mistake you can make is not making your own mistakes in the process.

John is a freelance journalist specialising in current affairs, football and procrastination. In his spare time, you will find him watching The Simpsons reruns and eating hummus.