<p>My child is in her third semester of college. It isn't working out. She needs time to mature and gain focus on her life's path. so we've all agreed this will be it for the near future. I would like her to finish the semester so that if and when she decides to return to college she will have 3 complete semesters on her transcript. However it may be best to WD now if the courses she is taking now result in less than stellar grades. We're also worried about her mental and physical stability. She's lost weight, bad time management, sketchy friends, etc. And yet she has many moments of clarity and responsibility which make me think she can finish this semester successfully. Any advice on finishing vs. withdrawing 7 weeks into the semester?</p>
<p>Do you get need based financial aid? If she withdraws, she may not have satisfactory academic progress…which could affect future need based aid.</p>
<p>Can she get a C or better if she stays? Can she take a medical withdrawal? Can she apply for a leave of absence?</p>
<p>She does not have financial aid but she has two scholarships, one from the school and one from outside. Obviously, she will lose both. She could take a medical withdrawal. I’m not familiar with what a leave of absence entails but I highly doubt she would return to this college so probably not worth pursuing (unless I don’t understand the process well enough).</p>
<p>If she withdraws mid semester, it would probably be better to take a medical withdrawal. You don’t want her transcript to reflect withdrawal from all of her classes.</p>
<p>I think you and your daughter need to have a conversation with the Dean of Students as soon as possible to lay out a course of action for her.</p>
<p>A leave of absence would leave the door open for her to return to this school without reapplying for admission. If there is a chance she might do this, it’s worth inquiring about.</p>
<p>The Dean of Students should be able to work with you to facilitate a clean withdrawal if it must happen before the end of the term.</p>
<p>Can she drop a course or two and still be considered full time? </p>
<p>Is it too late to drop a course?</p>
<p>What happens financially if she drops a course…in terms of her scholarships? It might be that she is at the point in the term where nothing will happen if she drops below full time. </p>
<p>Ask.</p>
<p>As mentioned above, ask her to meet with her academic adviser or dean of students ASAP to discuss withdrawing (not dropping) from one or more courses. Everything changes, however, if she decides to withdraw from ALL courses this semester. If she fully withdraws, you’re still on the hook for all tuition and fees — unless she seeks a medical withdrawal and has solid documentation from a medical professional. She should also discuss these scenarios with Financial Aid. If she can’t, you should (ask her to grant to permission with waiver of her FERPA rights, if need be). In case there’s a chance she might return to this college, she should read her school’s Satisfactory Academic Progress policy and discuss her likely status for SAP at the end of this semester, given the different withdrawal scenarios she might be considering. Can the scholarship be suspended for one semester (spring)? Go back in fall? BTW, when you withdraw, you’re still “registered” for the credits (therefore student can maintain FT status). Drops, where the course disappears from the record and the bill, are a different matter. That Drop period is usually only two weeks long at the start of a semester. Good luck to you. </p>
<p>Hugs to you. If you are worried about her stability in any way, help her with a medical withdrawal. My son became ill but toughed it out to finish a semester last year - but he finished it very, very poorly and that really hurt transfer prospects. All has worked out but it was very tough. I would recommend a medical withdrawal/leave of absence in advance of a rough end to the semester - both for her current wellbeing (most important) and the future.</p>
<p>Thank you, everyone, for your advice. Wheels in motion for a medical withdrawal this week. I’m sad and disappointed and worried. And hopeful too. I’ll update this post when I know something worth sharing! Thanks again.</p>