A year off ?

[David_The_Disciple]

I have been talking with my mom and others... And I am thinking of taking a year off with college i been having trouble with going to class it is not that I am not smart or class is to hard is just stuff i am going thu and having ups and downs with depression, so i been thinking of taking a year off and just work at a job for a year or 1 semester.

Feel free to say something about this.

 

[ArJay81]

I think it could be for the best, if you are struggling with other issues that are preventing you from focusing on school just now.

It'll keep you from having bad grades which will affect your chances of getting into grad school, law school, med school or whatever.

See if you can take a sabbatical through the school.

That will save you the hassle of having to reapply.

Talk to a guidance counselor at the school too, to get their input.

All in all, this is a pretty serious thing you're considering.

Make sure you have a plan in place before you take the time off -- a plan that'll include what you'll do during your time off and for your return to school.

Don't completely give up on school, whatever you do.

My prayers are with you.

 

[Beautiful Fireball]

I have been talking with my mom and others... And I am thinking of taking a year off with college i been having trouble with going to class it is not that I am not smart or class is to hard is just stuff i am going thu and having ups and downs with depression, so i been thinking of taking a year off and just work at a job for a year or 1 semester.

Feel free to say something about this.

Take a year off, especially if you are going through other stuff in your life. I wish I had taken last semester off because I am dealing with a ton of stuff right now and I ended up having to withdraw from three of my four classes, and that just added more stress into my life. I to struggle with depression and the stress of school was not something that I was able to handle, and unfortunately I ended up wasting all that money and in the end I have nothing to show for it. I would advise taking at least a semester off and just relax and deal with the other stuff that you need to, but don't take too much time or it might be hard to go back.

 

[Boss_BlueAngels]

This last fall quarter was particularly difficult for me and my grades really suffered so I did make the decision to take time off.

For me it has been such a HUGE blessing. My main issue was juggling a full time flight training schedule (3 2-hour flights a week) plus a full (at LEAST 15 credits) school schedle. Things didn't work and both suffered, so now I'm working at a local airport and flying full time back home. And the result has been absolutly amazing as I have pretty much guaranteed a job to come back to after I finish school, plus the benefits of working first-hand in my industry. (Oh yeah, and since my school requires internships within your major this job also counts toward my own graduation since I am a flight technology major)

If you feel this is the right thing, go for it. But don't waste your time, try to find something that will be able to really help your future.

Good luck and let us know how things work out for you!

 

[jhollas]

I don't know how common it is over the pond, but here in the UK it's almost a rite of passage to take a "Gap Year" between leaving school and starting Uni. Used to be the preserve of the public school educated middle class kids (like myself ), but now more and more do it.
Many find it a welcome break between studies, and feel they get a lot more experience from being half way around the world on their own, or with friends, or as part of a project. Thus, better prepared for Uni. However, bumming round Thailand on your Gap Year on Daddy's credit card is not accepted as a proper Gap Year! The whole point is making your own way, so a lot of guys work for a couple of months and earn their own money.
For the record, I didn't take one. Wasn't allowed. Bloody Army made me go straight to Uni...

 

[David_The_Disciple]

thank you all.

 

[vette79stingray]

I was/am the same way as you. Its not that I'm dumb, but I was just sick of school and couldn't wait to get out. I have taken my first year off and will be taking one more. I know I'll be ready to go back and get my life started in 2007, I'm already feeling good about it. I have been working hard and doing a lot of travelling which I love. See the world! might be the only time in your life you can. I spent 4 months working at a Bible camp in Italy last year. This year I am going to Spain for a month and will probably go to Columbia for a couple weeks this fall to work with nationals planting churches. It has been an amazing time and I know a lot of my friends wish they had done the same.

 

[kittystrawberry]

I did take a year off school because I was really sick. I don't mean sick of school...but really sick. [Now, I am well.] I went back to school in the summer. There is nothing wrong with taking a year off from school if you are sick, which you aren't.
Since you are just sick of school, take some time off and work a job. <--my family have recently said that to me when I said I was sick of school. The thought of getting a job, just make me want to stay in school. I won't take a break. I am going to stay in school until I graduate.

 

[sunshineray]

I think that taking a year or semester off might be good for you. Why don't you think about getting a job, saving some money, and going travelling? Whether it be with your church for a mission or with a friend or even alone, it might be good for you to have a change of scenery. A lot of people whom I know who have gone travelling, have come back with a changed perspective of life. Think about it, pray about it... it would be an excellent opportunity.

 

[Mrs. Luther073082]

Just make sure that during your time off you work on recovering by getting exercise and possibly therapy for the depression. The job should be a good thing and will give you a routine.

 

[itscharliemae]

I am going to be a little less supportive of the idea, just a warning....

It is a very risky thing to take a year off of school and you should examine all your options before you do it. It can be for the best for some people, but it is easy to just not go back.

Some of the people I know who took a year off found it very hard to get back into the whole school thing, classes and homework...

another option you ha ve is to do community college and only take one class the first semester, then you can still keep one foot in the door but you would only be spening about an hour in class a day.

Of course if you have decided that this is what you need to do, I am not the one to say no, it is a very personal desion that needs to be made on a case by case basis.

My final thought on the mater is that if you chose to take the day off then be sure you are doing something to someone help or progress yourself during that time. Sitting home on the computer/ in from of the TV is not a good use of a year, and you will regret it. Working voulenteering, and just finding yourself are much better uses.

I hope you wont find this to harsh, I am just giving the ither side of the situation.

 

[Asherz]

I took a quarter off at the beginning of my junior year, and it is the best thing I ever did. I was struggling with going to class, too, and the quarter gave me time to examine my life and figure out where I wanted to go and what I wanted to do without the stress of homework and papers due all the time.

I will warn however that many people who take a year off, especially those who find a semi-decent job in that time, do not go back. I took a low-stress class that was only one day a week during my quarter. That way I was still involved in what was going on at the university, and was still in the habit of gong to school.

 

[Elle_For_Short]

I took a year off of school unintentionally. I had alot of issues going on with my family, friends, and my depression. I'll finally go back to school this fall. I'm kind of freaked out about it, but I think its better that I didn't go to school that year I would have had really bad grades. There is cons for taking a year off that you should think of. Like not going back and putting it off. I think you should get a job it will keep you from feeling more depressed. I will be praying for you. I know how hard it is to struggle with your emotions. Talk to someone, a friend, a pastor, someone to help you cope. God bless you.

 

[chemica]

Most of my friends who said they were "taking a year off" have since not returned or found it enormously difficult to start again.

When I was fighting depression during my second-third year, I wish I had taken a lighter course load, but am glad that I didn't take a year off.

 

[Shannonkish]

I took 2 years off of school in between my freshman and sophmore years. It worked for me!

I started college becacuse I had to, not because I wanted to. So, I sucked at my classes. I took a few years off and then went back, this time wanting to get a degree.