What’s Another Year?

Contributed by: Katherine Neilan, Digital Content Producer & Storyteller

No one can really prepare new college graduates for the immense pressure they are about to feel. The expectation of finding a full-time job, moving out on your own, and taking the next step toward independence. Leaving the nest, if you will.

When Sam Witt ’26 graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Albertus Magnus College, he could have entered the workforce immediately. Instead, he chose to continue his education through the College’s 4+1 program, which allows students to earn a master’s degree in just one additional year.

“The 4+1 program just kind of screamed further education. I could get a graduate assistant job at the school, and it just seemed like a no-brainer for me,” Witt said.

The 4+1 program at Albertus is a streamlined pathway that allows students to earn both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in five years. Students apply during their junior year and begin taking graduate-level coursework while completing their undergraduate studies.

According to Pericles Koutroulas, Senior Admissions Counselor for Professional and Graduate Studies, the value of the program is clear.

“My motto for this is: What’s another year?” Koutroulas said.

For many students, that question becomes more relevant as graduation approaches. What comes next? Enter the workforce right away, or invest one more year in advancing your education and career opportunities?

For Witt, the opportunity was introduced early in his college experience.

“I found out about it my freshman or sophomore year through older guys on the hockey team,” Witt said.

As a member of the men’s ice hockey team, Witt saw teammates take advantage of the program and continue their education while still staying connected to campus life.

One of the keys to the program’s success is early awareness. Koutroulas spends much of his time introducing students to the 4+1 pathway long before they are eligible to apply.

“We plant the seed with first-year students, second-year students, and juniors,” Koutroulas said.

By the time Witt reached his junior year, those early conversations had turned into serious consideration. Like many students approaching graduation, he began thinking strategically about how to position himself for long-term success.

After speaking with faculty mentors, advisors, family members, and friends, the decision became clear.

“I talked with my advisor and Professor Aniskovich and got their input. Then I talked with family and friends and ultimately decided to apply,” Witt said.

For Witt, choosing the 4+1 program was not about delaying the start of his career. It was about strengthening it.

“So many people have undergrad degrees now, and to give yourself a leg up is to get your master’s and push yourself to that next level,” Witt said.

Koutroulas says that mindset is consistent among students who choose the program.

“The applicants I’ve spoken to are very serious. They’re doing this because they know it’s going to benefit them career-wise and in the future,” Koutroulas said.

During his four years at Albertus, Witt fully embraced campus life. In addition to competing on the men’s ice hockey team, he spent four years in the Honors Program, served on the Honors Program Executive Board, and participated in Finance and Accounting Club activities.

Those experiences helped prepare him for graduate-level coursework and strengthened his confidence moving into the Master of Business Administration program.

“The undergrad gives you a good base from the different electives you can take, but it also gives you critical knowledge and skills in whatever you’re specializing in,” Witt said. 

Now enrolled in the MBA program, Witt says the transition has felt like a continuation of his undergraduate journey rather than a new beginning.

“I just feel like I have a good solid foundation from the experiences that I had in undergrad,” Witt said.

Looking ahead, Witt is completing his MBA while preparing for a Graduate Assistant position in the Registrar’s Office. In this role, he will gain hands-on professional experience while continuing his education in a flexible online format.

He is also currently completing a sales and recruiting internship, using both experiences to explore different career paths and build real-world skills before entering the workforce full time.

After graduation, Witt plans to pursue a career in business or sales, with a focus on roles that emphasize communication, relationship building, and long-term professional growth.

According to Koutroulas, students who thrive in the 4+1 program share a common trait: they are intentional about their future and deeply engaged in their Albertus experience.

“They’ve built a rapport with faculty, they’ve done well academically, and they’re really invested in their experience at Albertus,” Koutroulas said.

For students wondering what comes next after graduation, Witt’s experience reflects the core value of the 4+1 program at Albertus Magnus College: one more year can create a lifetime of opportunity.