Victory lap (academia)

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A victory lap is a term used in American academics to describe one or more extra years of study needed beyond the traditional four years of undergraduate studies. These added years are generally associated with poor academic focus, immaturity, or addiction to the party life, but can also be the result of switching midstream to a different major or program. In certain cases such as engineering and teaching and Life Science degrees, the victory lap is instead attributed to increased course load and stress.

Other slang terms used to represent this same idea include "jewel degree", "5th year senior", "super senior", and "Van Wilder" (in reference to the 2002 film National Lampoon's Van Wilder).

The term may also be used to refer to additional years in high school, particularly in Ontario after the elimination of Ontario Academic Credit (Grade 13).