Going straight to university after school – this formula is certainly not for German schoolchildren, who are willing to spend several years traveling, volunteering, and making plans for the future before entering university. But even that does not always help make a difficult choice: according to Deutsche Welle, about 30% of students subsequently change their faculty or major, and some drop out voluntarily.
“Every fifth German student drops out. The division into master’s and bachelor’s degrees has led to the emergence of narrow specialties: there are now over 15,000 study programs in Germany, making the choice of direction very difficult and not always correct. I think we should help young people more in choosing a profession,” said Stefan Grob, head of the press service of the German National Association for Student Affairs (Deutsches Studentenwerk), in an interview with Deutsche Welle.
But even the right choice of specialty is not a guarantee of success. According to Felix Schmidt, a graduate of the University of Bonn who became a certified geographer after nine years, he lacked concentration and self-discipline. “During my studies, I felt very comfortable, but I was not organized. No one watches over you, and I did not make any long-term plans,” Felix admitted. Instead of the expected 10 semesters, Schmidt spent 18 semesters at university and now works outside his specialty. His friends also graduated only after the age of 30.
“Extending one’s studies can depend on many factors: illness, family problems, changes in marital status. Of course, among such students there are those who are more prone to stress, because they lose social contacts with their classmates. It is more difficult for them to motivate themselves and keep their spirits up,” explains psychotherapist Michael Kugayli, a representative of the psychological counseling service of the Free University of Berlin.
At the same time, there are a number of reasons why it is advantageous to be a student in Germany: a travel pass, discounts, cheap health insurance. However, after reaching the age of 30, these bonuses can be forgotten. And to reduce the number of “eternal students,” universities have defined the so-called standard period of study (Regelstudienzeit). The closer to the finish line, the more fears about entering adult life.
Stefan Grob claims that the causes of pre-graduation stress are not at all related to the age of the students. “Eternal students do not fear that they are too old for life; on the contrary, they worry that they are not sufficiently qualified for employers. During their studies, students face the pressure that they must be faster, more successful, do more internships, have practical experience, speak several languages, and get better grades. The demands on today’s graduates are very high,” the expert explains.
At the same time, Stefan Grob notes that established bachelors find work within an average of three months after graduation. And employers try to attract students from mathematics and natural science faculties to their companies even before they graduate. “So age is not a problem at all in Germany,” summed up the head of the press service of the German National Association for Student Affairs.