<p>This is not a matter that should be between you and professors, though as long as you deal with it that way, the professors will too. I am sorry that noone told you there is a better way. You need some help, asap.</p>
<p>So, first, some questions:
When you had mono, was health services or a dean involved at all?
How long were you hospitalized with meningitis? Viral or bacterial? Are you still recovering? Have you been told to rest? Did the meningitis have any temporary effect on your cognitive abilities or energy?
Do you have any chronic problems? Isy our immune system okay?
Are your parents involved in your life at all?</p>
<p>I don’t mean to pry and please don’t violate your own privacy by answering questions here. But these are, to me, relevant things to consider.</p>
<p>Bottom line: you should not be going through this stress, period. It needs to end tomorrow.</p>
<p>Do you have documentation of both the mono and meningitis/hospital stay? Do you have an MD who can support you with a letter? </p>
<p>Even before you have those in hand, pay a visit to the dean or administrator who deals with this kind of thing. You have the option of withdrawing with a clean slate (that means no “W”'s on your record). You may need to advocate for that, or have your doctor chime in. </p>
<p>OR you have the option of trying to finish, with extensions and/or incompletes, and make-up exams (sometimes papers can be substituted). You could also compromise and drop a course or two and salvage a course or two. If you still need to take it easy next semester, you could get the accommodation of a reduced cours eload until you are fully up to par.</p>
<p>In some schools, you could finish up some of your work over winter break and make things up over a period of time. In other schools, if you miss two weeks of work, even due to illness, you are out, and have to reapply. There is a wide range among schools.</p>
<p>It is impossible to tell from your post which path is appropriate. It is hard to tell how much you have missed, and whether you are sufficiently on the road to recovery to handle the stress of finishing. After such a rough semester with your health, I would think you would need to rest.</p>
<p>I have a kid with chronic illness that is episodic. She is registered with the disabilities office, which means professors get letters at the beginning of the semester, and when she is ill, she has to get a note from a doctor, then her dean supports her in communicating with professors. The school is accommodating, but only in a way that does not compromise academic standards. She does pursue her right to “reasonable” accommodations, which you also have a right to, due to illness.</p>
<p>That said, my daughter has twice chosen a leave over extensions. She feels this path has maintained a better relationship with the school, and has also helped her health. That has meant, once, losing the work of 2/3 of a semester. She now takes a reduced course load and has not had any need to take a leave.</p>
<p>Your life is more important than anything right now. You sound like a persevering person, so maybe you will choose to try to finish with accommodations. But if your health is still precarious, please know that an extra semester will not make a big difference in the long run, and take a leave and rest.</p>
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