I am seriously considering dropping out of Purdue, I am not made to go to school or work at a job. I am so mentally exhausted from life right now.
Talk to your advisor about the possibility of medically withdrawing if you are feeling so overwhelmed. Keep your options open for returning.
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Can you elaborate on the benefits of a medical withdrawal? I know itās better than just leaving but I donāt know the details.
Thanks.
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@unknowncreature I am sorry to hear that you are so stressed. I am also worried about what you will do if you take a leave from college, because I recall your saying in the past that you donāt want to live with your parents.
What are your options for where you will live if you take a medical leave?
Reaching out to @EconPop , because I know they have had good suggestions for your previous posts.
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I believe we are passed the drop period at Purdue. If a student is granted a special circumstance withdrawal, it can eliminate a withdraw/fail from a transcript.
In any circumstance though, Purdue allows for returns for up to three terms.
Itās imperative to work through an advisor to make sure withdrawing is done properly.
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Iām kinda stuck and I donāt wanna work at my dead end job if I drop out and life would be completely boring after that. Nobody prepared me for college and I have no support from my family.
- No stress
- No anxiety
- No depression
- No constant worrying about schoolwork
Counseling can help with checking your health, learning ways to manage stress, providing support, etc., medication, etc.
Learning to breathe, Getting good sleep, healthy food, fresh air & exercise are building blocks to support your health.
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Start here:
https://www.purdue.edu/advocacy/students/withdrawal.html
You need to see a doctor to get a medical withdrawal. You need to see an advisor at your college to figure out your next steps to make this happen. Make these appointments today. Start by explaining what youāve said here.
Itās very important that you get mental health care. The problems you are experiencing are unlikely to disappear when you withdraw. Stress from coursework might become stress from working a low-paid job you donāt like. Depression requires diagnosis and treatment.
It will be difficult for you to address these issues without professional help, but your medical insurance will cover mental health care. You can call your insurance company and ask for providers in your area who accept your insurance.
Going forward, maybe you are a person who will better adjust to college by starting at community college. I myself attended community college for several years before I transferred. For me, it was the best option and I have no regrets. CC is much less intense than plunging into a four year college.
Please donāt assume college isnāt for you. Youāve had a rough start, but again, that doesnāt mean failure. Keep moving forward and work on a plan.
This again is untrue. This is your current state of mind being the bad guy. You are mentally exhausted. Mental health IS health, so if you can address your mental health, you will feel a lot better mentally and physically. Please start calling people today.
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Thank you for answering so honestly.
Please call 765-494-6995 as soon as possible, but definitely today. This is the number for Purdueās Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) department. They will talk to you when you call and help you figure out what to do next.
If you think you are in a crisis situation, you can even call them after hours and then press 1 and someone will answer the phone and help you.
Thinking of you and sending you virtual hugs.
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@compmom Iām not sure if you have seen this thread, but I know you have posted a lot about medical withdrawals based on your familyās experience, so I thought you might have some helpful advice for this student.
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I did see this thread but not the post about failing.
A retroactive medical withdrawal is sometimes possible. This would often mean wiping the current grades and, usually, no Wās for a medical withdrawal. You could then take the medical leave, or withdraw entirely- I suggest you wait on that decision.
A therapist or psychiatrist would have to document the need for the medical withdrawal. @unknowncreature I understand your feelings about education. But it also sounds like your situation is more complicated, and involves depression, anxiety and possible learning challenges.
When you take a medical leave, the option to return remains, with conditions, like classes or work that prove your ability to return successfully.
However, I would recommend doing the medical withdrawal, take the leave that follows, and consider other options besides returning.
One of my kids took a medical leave for a medical condition, returned, and had increased accommodations, including reduced course load, extra time on assignments if needed, excused absences when ill etc.
One of my kids took a medical leave for a psychiatric condition and never returned. They worked, did community college for a bit, worked, then joined a degree completion program for adult learners where they did part-time classes and part-time work. Almost done the degree after several years.
In both cases, medical withdrawal wiped the grades. Professional documentation was required. Different paths, both are thriving.
It sounds like you are not registered with the Office of Disabilities. That registration , which also requires professional documentation, enables you to receive accommodations. Depression and anxiety qualify. Wherever you go, including community college, it would be helpful to pursue this.
I know that right now your transcript may not feel important to you and you just feel like you want to get out. But meet with a therapist or MD, your advisor and maybe a dean and ask about a medical withdrawal that could protect your transcript for the future, so you can start fresh.
I absolutely think you deserve the diploma. If you prefer you can just pick it up and skip the ceremony. That is up to you.
Given your feelings about education and the practical goals you have, I would strongly suggest looking at vocational programs at your community college. I know a kid doing radiology tech and the salary is quite good. There are a number of associate degree and certificate programs that might satisfy your desire for more relevant education to your life and goals.
If your family or friends make you feel that a 4 year education at a school like Purdue is the only route to success, I would talk with a therapist about this and maybe have a family meeting. I respect the concerns of all parents in this day and age of high tuitions and rents, but financial security is possible with many paths.
Finally, as someone else said, you entered mid-year and did not have freshman orientation, and other freshmen were not new at the same time. COVID hit again in January which is causing distress among many young people. Think about whether depression and anxiety are causing discontent about education or vice-versa. Cart before the horse?
In other words, you will also have to explore whether, with mental health treatment, you would feel differently at Purdue.
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Thank you 
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Iāll give them a call today
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Iām so glad. Please keep us posted. We all care about you and want you to be healthy and happy.
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@compmom My oldest is in a similar position and taking a āleave of absenceā. His academic advisor (different University) said that it made no difference for him academically to state personal vs medical. But with personal reasons, the return would be easier and not require proof or extra paperwork for the return to campus in the future. Do you suggest that we look into this further? He will probably have two āWā withdrawals on his transcript. My feeling was that the "w"s were not impacting his GPA, and he would be working on his health, regardless. After going through these traumatic few years (and having a sibling going through chemo), does he have to even be concerned about the stigma of a āWā on his transcript? I didnāt think so but now you got me thinking. Thanks for any advice!
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You have received lots of support and good advice. My son who is taking a break from school now, is already starting to feel better. And like everyone is saying, donāt be hard on yourself. So many good things can come from a pause in your education. Your health comes first and we are all here to support you.
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That is a good idea to add to my post for @unknowncreature . If a school does not wipe grades clean, Wās may be an alternative way to protect GPA. If the semester is not yet over, withdrawal with Wās may still be possible.
My kids obviously needed medical leaves, and their grades were just erased.
There are indeed conditions at most schools for returning from a medical leave. We agreed with the conditions. They involved working or classes and meeting with a physician before returning to campus, at the two schools we dealt with.
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Please call someone and get help TODAY. Talking things out will make you feel better and having someone in your corner can help sort out what your options are. Please take care of yourself today. IF the health services canāt help you within 48 hours ask for an outside referral.
You donāt need to make big decisions. Sometimes taking baby steps in the right direction is the way to go. And the people at Purdue can help you with sorting out the administrative tasks ( withdrawals, leaves etc).
You can do this. Sending you warm thoughts and hoping you can connect with someone soon.
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We could probably use an entire thread on āHow to drop classes and take a leave of absenceā. At my sonās school, there are rules and then there are āpetitionsā to the rules if you are in the midst of a hardship and missed important dates. There may be options for kids who are struggling that we donāt even know about. I hope @unknowncreature, after you take the first step and reach out for help, someone at the school will work with you and tell you your options. And if you missed any deadlines, ask about petitions.
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