I’ve been suffering PTSD and severe depression since last year. After going through one week of classes, It was recommended by my campus counselor that I “withdraw” from the fall semester, take a break, and seek counseling outside of school. Because I was diagnosed last year, my “withdrawal” was deemed a medical leave and it was a retroactive drop — meaning it didn’t really count as a withdrawal on my record. Even though it was a medical leave and didn’t ruin my record, my parents were still forced to pay the financial aid back.
This fall I’m dealing with even worse depression. I barely made it through my first 4-5 weeks of classes. I stopped seeing my outside counselor last year and my campus counselor wasn’t able to extend our sessions beyond spring of 2017, so I’ve been without counseling. I haven’t been able to attend classes and as a result my grades have suffered. Unfortunately, applying for medical leave this time would do no good since my parents cannot afford for me to withdraw classes like they did last year. They would still owe money if I withdrew from all classes (retroactive drop). I’m able to withdraw from 3 of my 5 classes without my parents having to pay financial aid back (minimum 6 credits not to pay), but if I drop all of my classes my parents will still owe money.
I’ve discussed this with my parents and the only solution we can think of is just withdrawing from 3 classes and taking a grade of ‘F’ for the two I must keep. I currently have an overall GPA 3.65 (4.0 scale). How will two 3 credit classes with a letter grade of ‘F’ affect my GPA? I am not sure if I plan to continue going to college just yet, as I may need to consider doing something else, but I do not want to crush my options down the road.
Staying and attending just isn’t an option for me this semester (and my parents agree). Any tips or advice? How bad will taking the ‘F’s be?
How much will your parents still owe if you withdraw from all five of the courses?
This is a good opportunity to go talk to an academic dean and explain the situation. You shouldn’t be forced to take two Fs because you are having health problems and your family cannot afford otherwise. It’s possible that they can at least set up a payment plan with you or reduce the cost of the amount that you’d have to repay.
Go talk to your year’s Dean.
If your health makes it impossible for you to attend college, you shouldn’t be in college, and you shouldn’t be forced to take Fs because of your health.
(What college is that, a public university? A private college?)
I am so sorry for your situation. One of my son’s is in a similar plight, although he was at a state school, so no FA was involved. The primary concern is your health.
IF you think you might be able to stay, see about getting back into counseling. This is one of those times when a call from a parent might help. My son refuses counseling, so you are way ahead of the game by being willing to engage in the process. Are there two classes that you could attend and finish, with accommodations? Can you get to a point where you can get an incomplete or even a D. These might be the classes that are the easiest or the classes that you enjoy the most, or one of each. If not, talk to the dean about the financial aid. Maybe it can be converted to a loan and your family will have a little more time to pay it off. The other poster’s suggestion about a payment plan is good advice as well.
I’m sorry you are going through this. The above posters have good advice about what you can do now, such as looking into getting an incomplete.
This will not help you right now, but for future semesters (if you decide to continue, whether it be now or after a gap), look into getting tuition insurance. It’s designed to prevent the predicament you’re in- it provides coverage so you can pay back any money you owe if you have to withdraw due to medical issues.