The following situation sometimes occurs in the senior year: either by mistake or design -- the latter particularly in the case of ambitious and complex senior projects: a candidate for graduation does not quite complete everything by graduation day. If this happens to your aspiring graduate, please remain calm, even cheerful, if possible. The candidate and you are welcome at and included in graduation ceremonies. As soon as the outstanding requirement is satisfied, the degree will be conferred. I hope you will be reassured that completing outstanding requirements rarely requires another full semester of Cornell tuition.
Some students find their academic passion late in their college careers; others encounter difficulties along the way (most frequently illness) that result in completing less than a full schedule of courses during one or more semesters. In either case, courses outside (in addition to) the regular eight Cornell semesters become necessary in order to accomplish one’s goal or graduate. These might be summer or regular semester courses either at Cornell or elsewhere. Advisors in the college help students plan such supplementary study.