View Full Version : Leave of Absence - should I?
I have just started school this year as undecided engineering and really dont feel like I belong. I just dont feel ready for college and have a hard time keeping my focus. I want to go out to colorado for the winter and work at a ski resort, just to get the idea out of my head. I need some time to clear my head, put my priorites in line, and in short, just LIVE. I was thinking about waiting until the end of the semester, but really am not sure if i can.
Whats involved in the process for getting a leave of absence?
If I am not allowed a leave of absence, should I withdraw for the time being? (what are my chances of being re-accepted if i barely got in in the first place?)
Do you personally feel this is a good idea? Like i said this is just something i NEED to do.
Thanks
one of my regrets is that i didn't take a year off between high school and uni. at my uni you just defer and you can come back exactly where you left off with no penalty. its dead simple, and lots of people do it for shitloads of reasons. i think this question would be better answered by a student services person at your uni though.
whocares123
2008-09-18, 03:46
Anyone I know who "took some time off from school" never went back. College can be hard to adjust to at first, but if you stick with it, you will adjust and you'll feel more and more like you belong (well, generally, heh). You want to go to Colorado for the winter to work at a ski resort? Ok...how are you getting out there and who's paying for that? Where will you live and who will pay for that? Are you even sure you can get a job there, or is this just wishful thinking? And last but not least, why the fuck can't you just wait until Christmas break, which is usually 4 weeks long for us college students, to go work at said ski resort? What do you expect to find there anyway? Is skiing your passion? Will working at the ski lodge restaurant as a bus boy really fulfill that passion?
I say stick it out, man. At least the first semester, god. Give it your all and see how your grades are, and if by the time winter hits, you could even possibly get a job at a ski resort in Colorado.
Talk to your school's academic advising; they'll be able to provide you with the information. No two schools have the same policy. If you withdraw, you may be able to get back in without re-applying if you do it within a couple of years.
What about your finances? tuition? living expenses? moving expenses?
Why engineering? It has always seemed like something that requires dedication.
Anyone I know who "took some time off from school" never went back. College can be hard to adjust to at first, but if you stick with it, you will adjust and you'll feel more and more like you belong (well, generally, heh). You want to go to Colorado for the winter to work at a ski resort? Ok...how are you getting out there and who's paying for that? Where will you live and who will pay for that? Are you even sure you can get a job there, or is this just wishful thinking? And last but not least, why the fuck can't you just wait until Christmas break, which is usually 4 weeks long for us college students, to go work at said ski resort? What do you expect to find there anyway? Is skiing your passion? Will working at the ski lodge restaurant as a bus boy really fulfill that passion?
I say stick it out, man. At least the first semester, god. Give it your all and see how your grades are, and if by the time winter hits, you could even possibly get a job at a ski resort in Colorado.
I have about 2500 saved up. I figure i could buy a cheap car (<1000) and drive out there. Rent would be <600 per month (470 for resort housing) (I would most likely look for a shared house). It'll probably cost me about $400 to drive out there (2000mi/20mpg=100gals). Misc expenses and I should just make it. Yes, snowboarding is my passion, and am 100% positive that I could get a job there. Its not that im searching for something in particular, I just want to see something different for a few months and steady my focus.
I have about 6000 (well 3k for this semester) in federal loans that I am not positive what would happen. I most likely woul dneed to pay them...but ill cross that bridge when the time comes.
Im fairly certain that I can do it with a little luck and some balls, and im sure everything will fall in place once I make the initial move.
The reason why im not sure if I can wait till the semester ends is that if I keep putting it off it'll never happen and I dont want to wonder about how things would be different. I just really dont feel like I belong and id rather cut my losses than stay just to fail/drop out later.
whocares123
2008-09-20, 00:23
As much as I understand part of what you're saying (although I think your financial figures are a bit misconstrued. I got a pretty good car for $1100 myself, but do not count out insurance, tax, registration, gas goes without saying, if the car needs anything at all...you can drop a few hundred on tires and an oil change for fucks sake), you said you JUST started school. As in you've been going to college now for, what? A couple weeks? People do take time off from college and may or may not go back, but they usually do that after having at least a semester or year under their belt. If you really want to do this, I would finish this semester, and get a part time job to save up some more. That way you've got all semester to find a cheap, good car, as well as look for a place to rent out there. Then you can take the spring semester off and go work. Go back to school in the summer or just wait until next fall. Or don't go back at all and stay out there and be a rad snow dood.
But you better fucking defy the statistics. Don't turn into a piece of shit, you hear me? There are pieces of shit all over this town. I know how it starts and a lot of what you're saying sounds like what they said. I'm just warning you.
Have fun.
Kamisama
2008-09-20, 02:46
Look.
I wanted to do the year off thing, too.
Economy was bad, and I hate life. I think I would have been better of were I to have taken a year off.
Then again, maybe I'd be an engineering student still rather than a biologist.
Here's what you do:
You get the fuck out while saving your GPA.
If you can't get the fuck out while saving your GPA, then shut the fuck up, read the book, study hardcore, and do what you're told until the semester ends.
Once you get the fuck out, take a year off.
While taking the time off, study hardcore the courses you would have took while you're not working.
When you go back to school, you'll know the material and have an easier time.
Those are your options.
The other option is the fail.
That can bring forth the option of academic forgiveness.
Tell the dean about your situation and ask if the dean would allow academic forgiveness.
Be mature about these things.
You're an adult.
Exothermia
2008-09-22, 00:20
I am back in school after three years off. Here's a few pieces of advice:
Don't leave unless you feel have no choice but to do so. Most people who leave don't come back, and if they do, they almost ALWAYS realize what a waste of time that time they took off was.
That said, some people need time off so they can grow up. Like I said, only do that if it's because you have to, not simply because you aren't sure of what to do with your life. Nobody is sure of what to do with their life. But figure it out while you're in college accomplishing something, don't try to find yourself while you're dicking off trying to hold down some crappy low-paying job living in some shithole while everybody you know is off doing something with their lives.
And if you do decide to go, make sure you finish the semester. Even if you don't think you'll go back. You never know if you will or not, but if you do, you don't want to have to deal with fixing your ruined GPA (which is the situation I'm in this semester).
Thanks for all the replies, but needing to go to "grow up" is kind of the boat im in. I feel that i just need get away for a bit to relax and straighten myself up if that makes sense.
The first year is always the worst... Cowboy the fuck up and finish your first semester. Then decide what you wanna do
Brimstone
2008-09-28, 09:47
I'm a new student at RIT in Rochester, NY. So far, I'm adjusting pretty damn well. Life's great so far. But I do feel homesick. Maybe you are too?
Consider taking advantage of any upcoming long weekends or just skip class on Friday or Monday and go home.
Being home for just a weekend will make you realize just how much you have adjusted to college - just as it did to me.
I went home last weekend after 4 weeks at college and it felt...fucked up. Home was nice but it didn't feel the same anymore. That told me I had already adjusted to college so I returned with a lot more confidence and bravado.
idk if that applies to you but maybe think about that?
I'm a new student at RIT in Rochester, NY. So far, I'm adjusting pretty damn well. Life's great so far. But I do feel homesick. Maybe you are too?
Consider taking advantage of any upcoming long weekends or just skip class on Friday or Monday and go home.
Being home for just a weekend will make you realize just how much you have adjusted to college - just as it did to me.
I went home last weekend after 4 weeks at college and it felt...fucked up. Home was nice but it didn't feel the same anymore. That told me I had already adjusted to college so I returned with a lot more confidence and bravado.
idk if that applies to you but maybe think about that?
no, I would love it if i lived at college. I commute about 20 mins to school. Being a commuter I feel like I miss out on alot of the "experience". This is the reason for my lack of focus. I have things in my home-town live and college life to worry about simultaneously. Thats mostly why I feel like I dont belong.
Tom_Sawyer
2008-09-30, 13:47
My dad did the same exact thing, only the ski resort was in Tahoe. He said it was cool at first but he ended up hating it and regrets leaving college for it.
- Tom
Everyone knows all the good skiing is in Utah.