@bopper @njsue I can definitely look at a retroactive withdrawal. In fact, I would have taken medical leave midway through the semester but I would have had to pay back the tuition (I’m on a scholarship) and my family can’t afford that. I thought about taking out loans to cover it, but my parents have messed up credit and so I couldn’t get a cosigner. At this point, a year off would just leave me feeling lonely and isolated, and I probably wouldn’t do anything spectacular with my time. It’s not going to take a year for me to recover from this, and I REALLY need to get away from home.
Unfortunately, I agree with those who say that the way the letter is currently written, the probability of successful reinstatement is low. Your letter needs to be succinct, address that you had at the time an unrecognized MH issue which is now being comprehensively addressed with a psychiatrist, psychologist with therapy and medication management, and list one or two specific steps that you have taken (not that you will or hope to take in the future) to rectify the situation so you will be able to handle the academic, social, MH and other demands of school, and provide supporting documentation. Sadly, the state of your home life is not going to carry any weight with those deciding on whether or not you are capable of handling the demands of the academic institution.
@Fox_Spirit11 how really low is your GPA? I’m old but I was kicked out of my first school for a poor GPA for similar reasons. First I was put on academic probation. I thought I could get my grades up. That was foolish thinking. If it was me and I had to do it again I wouldn’t for go the appeal, take some time off and start fresh somewhere else. Best wishes and I hope your health improves. ADHD and other mental health issues are tough to fix. Hang I. There things turned out ok for me.
@Ducky312 At first it was around a 3.7 but I failed 2 classes and didn’t do that well in 2 others, so it’s abysmal now. It honestly feels like my life is over and I can’t believe I messed up this badly.
@jym626 But everything is actually hypothetical at this point. I just got home last Sunday, bickered with my parents about what I should do next, then said to hell with them and made an appointment with a specialist for this week (that was the soonest available). I told them I was suicidal and then hypomanic last semester and all they could say was “Well, you’re not now! Why can’t you just be happy and stay that way? Why are you looking for trouble?” Like I said, the turn around time for this whole process has been pretty quick, so there’s not enough time to show that I’ve taken a bunch of steps to get better. I’ve only been home a week.
I am sorry that your parents/home life is toxic, and would not be supportive. This still is not a reason for the college to let you continue. Many people who don’t get along with their family find someplace else to live. A year off for one bad semester is more time off than I am familiar with - is that the school’s policy? What about academic probation? Did they not consider this for some reason?
You could find an apartment/room etc. in your college area or any other you would prefer and get a job to pay expenses. In college towns there often are staff positions that are available due to employee leaves, attrition etc. such as answering phones in offices, work in libraries etc. A semester of doing that would show that you are ready for the return to school. I know of a number of students who took time off, worked at a job and then returned. Students find all kinds of interesting things to do during “gap” years; you could consider it a “gap” year for yourself.
If you return in the fall and do not succeed again, that would be worse.
I would recommend talking to your academic advisor or Dean who works with students with academic problems since they have a great deal of experience with what works for students. You are not the first person to have these problems, and also not the first to have a less than great home to go to.
A medical withdrawal, if supported by professionals, might not have the financial repercussions you describe. Have you investigated this? If you were registered with the office for disabilities that would be a resource, but talk to a dean.
It sounds like it is time to go on Craigslist and find an apartment with roommates. Staying home doesn’t sound like a great option. Many people have situations like this, and it makes life tough at your age, but see if you can find some alternatives to home. The college will definitely be impressed if you have a job and keep it .
Most schools that require a student to take time off, especially for the reasons you outline, will require you to demonstrate that you have addressed the issues. As you said, you have not yet had the opportunity to do so, so in all likelihood the school will not grant the request for reinstatement until this is done and can be demonstrated with documentation. Its somewhat like a child who has been misbehaving and has been punished asking a parent to be allowed to go on some fun outing, saying “I promise to be good”.