There’s often a stigma surrounding the idea of “taking time off” in college, and to some, leaving school for a semester seems like the end of the world. However, there’s a myriad of reasons why students decide to take a semester off, and it’s completely doable if you take the right steps to make the transition away from school as seamless as possible. Of course, taking a semester off is still a big life change, and a decision that warrants a lot of thought and planning, but it doesn’t have to be a bad thing.
“Taking a semester off was probably one of the more difficult decisions I’ve ever had to make, just because there are so many social implications around being a ‘drop-out,’ but it ended up being the most beneficial thing I’ve ever done for myself,” says Ray Connelly-Gonzalez, a sophomore at Chapman University. “Making the choice to work on yourself is the bravest and strongest thing you can do. I think taking the time off for yourself to grow, rediscover yourself, let yourself heal, or whatever you need to do is absolutely valid and if it’s something you’re even considering, it’s probably the right choice.”
Putting yourself and your health first is always more important than your studies, and you should never feel ashamed of that. Whether you’re experiencing burnout, want to consider a new career path, or you’re realizing traditional college life might not be a good fit for you, it’s okay to want to take a step back. If you’re looking to take a semester off for your mental health or otherwise, here are some steps you should take first.
speak to an advisor at your college career center.
Before making the call to transition away from school (even in the short-term), it’s crucial that you talk to someone at your university advising office or career center to learn about the process for taking a leave of absence. Finding a mentor or speaking with an academic advisor can be a great way to start; they’ll be able to point you in the right direction and provide actionable advice. Most colleges also have a dean of students or even a dean for a particular class year who can help with your situation. Talk to school officials to find out the exact steps you have to take to make the transition as painless as possible, and don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions! Remember: They are there to help you succeed.
learn about your financial aid options.
We all know that college can be incredibly expensive as it is, so it’s important to learn how taking a leave of absence might affect any scholarships or loans you have. What does it mean financially for you to take time off? Will you lose any scholarships, and could it potentially be difficult to return in the future? What does your money situation look like right now, and how might that affect your decision? Additionally, your financial aid package may be contingent on you completing semesters consecutively or within a specific time frame. If you want to take a semester off in college, be sure to speak with a representative in the financial aid office to find out what the process is like and, if applicable, how to navigate any financial aid, scholarships, or loans.
have a plan in place, but stay flexible.
If you’re debating whether or not to take a semester off, be warned that people are going to question your decision no matter what. Whether it’s your friends, roomies, professors, or family members, it’s common for people to worry that you’re “getting off track” or even fearful that you won’t return to school again. However, having a concrete plan — even if it’s just for the next couple of weeks — can help placate some naysayers and will hopefully give you some peace of mind. (And at the end of the day, it’s your decision).
That being said, don’t feel like you need to have the next six months of your life meticulously planned out to the minute. In fact, planning each and every second is unrealistic and will likely leave you feeling more anxious and drained than before! Yes, it’s important to know what you plan to spend your time away from school doing; maybe you want to study abroad, do a co-op, apply for an internship, or simply take some time off for your mental health and return to school when you’re feeling better. Regardless of your reason, feel free to explore different options and keep both your short and long-term goals in mind.
“My advice for someone else would be to really focus on what you need and what you need only. If you need to do absolutely nothing for a semester and that’s your way of rest or making sense of things, do it,” says Ray. “It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks about that because they aren’t you. If you want to work or try lots of different things and use it as an exploratory time, do it. There aren’t many opportunities in life where we get to solely focus on ourselves and our personal needs, so really take advantage of the free time and do what’s going to be most beneficial for you and you only.” Try setting a list of concrete, limited goals to accomplish over the time you’re away from school and establish a routine that will help keep you calm and on track.
Decide if you want to return to your current school, or transfer to a new one.
If you’re considering taking a semester off, you may also be considering transferring schools or campuses altogether. This is another big decision that can alter the course of your college career, so take time to determine if you want to stay at your current institution or make a move.
“I ended up taking the second semester of my freshman year off for a variety of reasons,” Ray tells Her Campus. “My anxiety over the course of the year was getting worse and worse — which was really distracting from my school work — and I realized the university I was at was not fitting my educational goals or career needs.”
Ray then decided to take some time off and figure out next steps. “I decided that instead of spending the money on a semester of college I wasn’t thrilled about, I would take a Leave of Absence and use the time to explore other interests and focus on my mental health,” Ray says. Taking a semester off while you figure out your transfer process will take some pressure off so you’re not filling out applications on top of trying to keep up with school work.
consider getting a part or full-time job.
First and foremost, you’re absolutely not expected to work the entire time your away from school (it’s called taking a semester “off” for a reason!). And you’re taking a semester off for health reasons, jumping right into work may not be the best option for your long-term wellness. However, if you’re leaving school to focus on a transfer process, or are looking for something to do yourself in the interim, looking for a job is a great way to save money and support yourself in college. Whether it takes some of the pressure off of paying for your next semester or just gives you a little extra pocket money, having a couple of shifts once or twice a week will give you a reason to leave the house and help you feel like you’re accomplishing something.
map out your “return” plan.
After being away from school for a whole semester, planning your return might seem daunting. If you’re returning to campus, you’ll likely have to revisit key decisions like planning your housing, class schedule, and re-starting extracurriculars — on top of all the actions necessary in order to re-enroll. Every school has a different process and set of boxes to tick off, so figure out what those are as early as you can. Having a set plan will motivate you to actually follow through with the return process. If you’re planning on transferring to another school, consider taking an official leave of absence from your current school; this ensures that you still have a place to return if your transfer process to another campus doesn’t work out.
Making a return plan also requires being sure that you’re actually ready to return to school. If you’re taking off a semester for your health, you want to know that you truly have taken enough time off to heal and that you are completely ready to reintegrate yourself back into an academic setting.“I got a job, made lots of art, tried out a bunch of new things, and started therapy, which ended up being the most transformative thing,” says Ray. “It allowed me to refocus and feel out what I’m really looking for in my future and gave me the time I needed to heal.” Go to therapy, try a new treatment plan if your old one isn’t working, and give yourself a chance to slow down. Remember: You may not have a total “ah-ha” moment where you feel completely healed and ready to reintegrate into college life; it’s okay to admit to yourself that you need more time and more professional help.
The decision to take a semester off of college takes a lot of soul searching, so be patient with yourself throughout the process. College students are facing an unprecedented amount of pressure and stress, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with feeling like you need to take a break from all that pressure. Don’t let the social implications of “dropping out” stop you from taking a semester off. Take it one day at a time and surround yourself with people who will love and support you through every choice you make. You got this!