<p>hello parents,
i am currently a junior at the university of pennsylvania and have recently fallen onto some hard times - financially, personally, mentally - and i feel like i just need a break from school to reorganize myself while living at home and getting a full time job to save money.</p>
<p>my ultimate goal is vet school and i've done very well in school so far, but this semester especially a combination of stress from school and stress from personal issues have just really hit me really hard and i'm not sure if i can continue for another year.</p>
<p>do any parents out there have experience with their children taking a LOA from undergrad? anyone else have opinions or advice?</p>
<p>i'm just trying to get through the end of this semester...but i really could use a breather for a year, i've just been so school crazy and academically driven for the past 3 years.</p>
<p>Also make sure you understand your school’s policies for reinstatement after a leave of absence. If all looks ok there, I think taking a leave when you feel you really need it is far better than trying to tough it out, only to find next year that you really cannot go on. Take good care, and best of luck to you.</p>
<p>it is essential that you check with UPENN to understand their leave of absence policies and how to stay in “good standing”. That said, I recommend that you develop a specific plan on what you want to do with the time off.</p>
<p>I agree with all of the above posters. Talk with your advisor at UPenn to find out what your options are and how you can remain in good standing while taking your “breather.” I also agree that formulating a plan on what you’ll do with your time off is a very good idea. Finding jobs in this economy can be challenging, so are you willing and able to do shadowing, internship, or other activities while you are taking your breather? How will you earn money if you don’t have a job lined up.</p>
<p>Our S is graduating this spring after his 4 years of undergrad & is “taking a breather” by getting a full-time job in his major. Our friend has had two of his three kids take two years off after they got their undergrad degrees before they continued on to their respective grad schools–one is now in med school & the other got her masters & is now working full-time.</p>
<p>Anyway, you can also see if UPenn offers any gap coverage for when you’re taking your break, as many schools have something they can offer students. Your parents can also check to see you are or can be added to their policies.</p>
<p>Good luck–taking a break can be a very good option, especially if you use the time to gather tools and resources to help you move forward. Hang in there and try to finish your semester as strongly as usual before you take your break; this will help you preserve your options going forward (as you well know).</p>
<p>I’m going to offer a little different perspective than what’s been said so far.
Sure, by all means explore what is necessary to remain in good standing at Penn if you take time off; look into the health insurance options, and even start looking for jobs or ‘experiences’. Don’t forget to get your parents’ input.
BUT, I would advise you remain enrolled, make your best possible Fall schedule, map out your Spring course options.<br>
You may find out that the summer away from school is all you really need as a break. And then you can return to Penn for the homestretch of senior year.
Best wishes.</p>
<p>Actually–I did it back in the day. Got a few weeks into my declared major third year and decided I hated it. I found out my parents could get their tuition back if I withdrew by the end of the week so quickly did so, stayed out of school the remainder of that year, and came back the following fall in a major that made much more sense for me.</p>
<p>I’m not really sure the reason for the time off matters, or why Penn would care if you took a year off, although of course check it out.</p>
<p>Think of this as your late kindergarten start, your repeated freshman year of high school, or your gap year. An extra year is taken by so many kids these days–yours is just coming a little later than most. I’ve never heard of anyone (kid or parent) who regretted taking the extra time.</p>
<p>(And FWIW, during my year off, I was living in an off-campus apartment so did not go home but got a job locally–several actually–and paid my own bills.)</p>
<p>(And what I didn’t realize until many years later was how concerned my parents were that I wouldn’t return to finish my degree. I had absolutely no thoughts of dropping out permanently at the time, but I guess didn’t share that sufficiently with the 'rents. A few words of reassurance to your parents will calm their fears. I really think this is not such a tremendously big deal.)</p>
<p>There’s no reason why you shouldn’t – as long as you can solve the health insurance issue and resolve any problems you may have with housing (i.e., if you have a lease on an off-campus apartment, can you get out of it or find someone to sublet?). And taking a leave of absence before the next semester starts won’t cost you anything – unlike taking a leave after the semester starts.</p>
<p>But please consider the fact that when you return to Penn, your classmates will have graduated. If most of your friends are in the same year as you, your senior year could be a very lonely experience.</p>