Leave of Absence for Mental Health Treatment & "Incomplete": 1st semester Freshman

Student Lounge College Life
1

Hi all!
So, I’m a first semester Freshman, who has been told multiple times that I need to seek treatment for my ED (Eating Disorder). Finally, after trying to make it through and complete my semester, I’ve realized my health and safety comes before schooling.
I’ve been working with the disability services and health services to help me plan my leave. I’m leaving my university to seek treatment and structure, because the ED has now caused so much of an issue between doing the work & getting to classes.
I have a “lack-of-structure” issue going on, where I don’t do much in between my two classes I have 3x a week, and the other two days I have one class in the morning.
I’ve realized I still need structure, to keep my mind active, and in order for me to do exceptionally well or just okay (according to my own standards I hold to myself), I have to really enjoy the class. I’ve always loved learning.

I’m only taking 14 credits, and started with 18.

It’s unfortunate, because cognitively, I know I’d be able to do this if I was doing well physically, emotionally and mentally, but in my emotional mind of thinking, I don’t believe I’m capable of going away to school again, or really doing anything.
Bottom line: I need to get better before this completely ruins my whole life.

I sent emails to my professors, talking about requesting incomplete grades or late drops, and being able to work on them during my time in treatment for the chronic condition I have.

If my treatment providers do believe that I can go back to a university, I would try to wait until Fall of 2016. If I were to transfer, would that make me a 2nd year Freshman? I am going to try to take Summer Term courses at my local community college in the interim.

Sorry for putting this all out there, but I need some consolation.
Thanks
~ L

2

  1. You need to figure out what to do this semester. Can you finish up the semester with decent grades? That would be the best thing. Look up the rules for incompletes. usually they are for students who have been doing well, but have something happen. Usually they have to be finished within a certain period of time. I took incompletes twice…once when I got pneumonia and once after a car accident. In both cases, I was doing well. I took the finals in some of the easier courses and an incomplete in the others. I finished up the finals when we got back the nex t semester.

  2. Talk to the Dean of Students about this too…what to do this semester and how to take a medical leave of absence or whatever they call it.

  3. When you are better, figure out if a new school (maybe one closer to home or with more support) would be better. Don’t worry about if you are a 2nd year freshman…usually it is more about what courses/how many credits you have.

  4. Think about financial aid…transfers usually don’t get any merit aid. Do you have any now?

3

Thanks!

  1. I currently don’t have aid, and I was lucky enough for my parents to offer to cover my first year. I’m responsible for my schooling after that.
  2. I’m finishing with 4 incomplete grades, and one late drop.
  3. I’m getting treatment. That’s no. 1 priority. Definitely transferring for next fall, it’s smarter that way.
4

Make sure you finish those incompletes. See what happens if you don’t…sometimes they turn to F’s.

5

Thinking ahead when you transfer, will your parents be funding any of your costs? If not, how do you plan to pay for college? Transfer students get very little merit aid, and if you don’t have an need-based aid, it seems likely you wouldn’t get any next year either.