<p>Hello all,</p>
<p>I'm currently a first year student at Rutgers University and we're just about to finish the end of freshman year. I know I'm only a first-year student but I have already declared and changed my major, and I honestly don't know if I should just continue with this or take a break from academia. I will be honest, after this first year, my GPA isn't stellar and I know it's my own fault, but even though I thought I was taking course that I would like and enjoy I kept finding myself unmotivated, stressed and all around miserable. The thought of taking a break has crossed my mind multiple times throughout the Fall and Spring semester, but my parents refuse to consider it. </p>
<p>Have any of you taken of leave of absence/break from college or have any advice on how to go about making this big decision?</p>
<p>I think it’s important to consider what would you do during this break. Many students can benefit from taking a break from school but it’s important that you have a solid plan for what you will do both for your own benefit and to help your parents feel more reassured that you will be doing something productive and that you do plan on returning to school. You’ll likely need your parents support in this, so coming up with a realistic and logical plan for why a break would be beneficial, what you plan on doing during that break, and when you plan on returning to school would all be helpful.</p>
<p>Also, make sure you check in with your school about all of the policies concerning this. Read everything you can and meet with your adviser so that you don’t get caught aback by any technicalities in returning to school or getting aid or anything like that.</p>
<p>I had to take a leave of absence this semester because of family/financial reasons. I had a plan of what to do: I am working part time and preparing for the school year/trying to be productive. It’s going pretty well and I’ve learned a lot of about myself and what I want out of life. When I am in college I never have time to think about that stuff because I am always busy! For me it was definitely a great experience, since I was also stressed and unmotivated in school.</p>
<p>However, like I said, it was because of family and money issues. You seem to just want a break from school. That’s completely OK. BUT you have to convince yourself, your parents, and anyone else that you need it. Come up with a concrete plan. I ended up being glad I took the semester off because I now am refreshed, relaxed, and ready to do great things in school and in the future.</p>
<p>You could work, learn and do stuff (I am a CS student, so I am learning a programming language and I will start writing little programs for practice), travel a bit, anything really. Just don’t do nothing. If you work, try to get a job that isn’t a “teenager job” so you can get some real experience. I work at a supermarket and although I like it, it doesn’t really help me in terms of skills. You say you are depressed or at least it sounds like it. Take the time to get some help and relax.</p>
<p>Taking a break is completely normal and it has no effect in your future or grades assuming you will be back in school and work hard. A lot of parents don’t understand that being stressed or depressed is a legit reason to take some time off. College and jobs now are a lot harder than they were for them. Be direct and honest with them. Tell them your problems. If you don’t get a break, it could end up being worse for you!</p>
<p>Thank you for the insight, I have a loose idea of what to do during the break: I’m currently an Environmental Planning/ Landscape Industries major, and I love working outside with plants (and physical work doesn’t bother me) so I would look for a full time job at a landscaping nursery or company. My mother is currently getting remarried and preparing to move out of the house while me and my friend split my current house paying rent and utilities to my mother. This is just a loose plan but would still be a hard sell to my mom. Also I will welcome most rational ideas.</p>
<p>*I would also be trading stocks</p>
<p>How long of a break are you considering taking? From your post, it wouldn’t seem like a bad idea to take a semester off. I get a little worried when people say that they’re taking a year or more off, as I feel like they might lose the motivation to return. I agree that it is a good idea to have an idea of what you’d like to do with the time off, and glad to see that you have somewhat figured that out. </p>
<p>I would like to take a full year off, however a single semester is a good place to start. The full year would be more for the sake of the job and to have a longer time chunk to put on my resume, however, this past semester has been extremely overbearing, so it is possible I might return after just one semester if I feel as though I have been able to sort out my thoughts.</p>