<p>Hi, everybody. I am a current undergrad and rising junior at a college in the South. I am currently interning in D.C. This is my first time out outside of the South, and with that, I have confirmed that the college I am currently at is unsatisfactory to my personal growth and interests.</p>
<p>I find myself always having to take initiatives independent of my school (e.g. current internship in D.C.) There are limited resources there, by virtue of it being small, and I just cannot see myself growing there for the next two years. </p>
<p>There is an international program which takes current college students and college grads into its rank. The students/grads are sent off to countries that demand native English speakers. I am highly considering taking a leave of absence from my school to understand myself more, and to better comprehend what I want to do with my life before I have to be foolishly forced into specializing in fields/majors which would make me unsatisfied. Of course, my parents wish for me to finish my last two year. I plan on doing so, but I might also put in transfer apps for the fall 2013 semester. I just do not see myself going back to my current school after this summer. What do other parents think. Should I drudge through the last two years, unsatisfied, or go abroad, actually understand why I am majoring in something, and come back refreshed?</p>
<p>I can only tell you that my S went through a dissatisfaction over the spring of his sophomore year. Didn’t know what he wanted to do, didn’t know if the school was right, etc. However, it wasn’t a question of resources. But I can also tell you that something changed when he went back for his junior year, whether in himself of in his direction, and he fell head over heels in love with his school.</p>
<p>I’m usually all for leaves of absence so that a student can get his/her head together about the future. However, and this is a BIG however, you do need to sort out the financial aspects of all of your options before you decide.</p>
<p>How are you currently paying for college? If you have a ginormous trust fund and don’t rely on parental help or scholarships or grants or student loans or fill-in-source-of-money-here, then you can do whatever it is you want to do because you can pay for your choices on your own.</p>
<p>If your parents are helping you pay for your education, then you need to know what their parameters are. So much money each year for four years? So much money in total over the course of X years? So much money if you attend college Y but only so much if you attend college Z?</p>
<p>If you are able to attend your current college only because of some big scholarship, will it still be there after a leave of absence? How long will they “hold” it for you? You also need to know that most colleges and universities don’t offer good aid to transfer students. This could drastically change your available budget - as in now you can live on campus at college A but if you leave your only affordable option is to live at home while you attend B.</p>
<p>Have you taken out any student loans to pay for the first two years of college? If so, you need to thoroughly understand what happens when you are not enrolled in an institution of higher education. Do they come due immediately? Is there a grace period? How much will you need to pay each month?</p>
<p>Lots to think about.</p>
<p>Wishing you all the best this summer in DC. You will have a grand time there!</p>
<p>Assuming you work out all the financial/transfer details, I say, go for it. You sound like a very sensible person and if you’ve decided your current school isn’t right for you, then it probably isn’t. Speaking for myself, I also encourage college students to travel/study/work abroad if they can. It can be a life-altering experience - and certainly will be eye-opening. So my advice is, if you have that opportunity, carpe diem.</p>
<p>If you are going to take a leave AND try to transfer to another college, get any LOR’s from Prof’s that are required for your transfer applications NOW. It may be a LOT harder to get a positive LOR a year from now from a Prof that may have forgotten you in the meantime. </p>
<p>If you do have a Merit scholarship at your current college, ask that it be put on hold while you take a leave of absence. You may decide to come back. </p>
<p>Know that FA $$ may not be available, or as generous, for transfer students as it is at your current college. Many colleges are not need blind for all students, and reserve the most $$ for incoming Freshman and continuing students.</p>
<p>Thanks for your replies and advice! I have been teeter-tottering between both staying in school or taking a leave of absence for awhile now. Yes, financially I will have to make sure if I do leave that I am in good shape.</p>
<p>Assuming you have your financial bases covered and your school is okay with a leave of absence for a year, there is nothing to lose and much to be gained by taking a Gap year in your situation. You can decide later to either return to your school or transfer - but you don’t get a prize for finishing faster. Do get those LOR lined up though, just as a back-up.</p>
<p>Contrary to what you may believe, it’s not up to the school to line up internships for you.</p>
<p>Erin’s dad, I don’t get get it then. So, my school is supposed to help me find a job, i.e. the office of career services, but it isn’t supposed to help me find internships that can possibly bridge the transition from school to jobs?</p>
<p>Also, I understand that the point of college is not wholly as a jump to a career. College is an end within itself. However, on that point, the college I am attending does even worse. Whereas, politics, philosophy, and history talk are like saying hello, what is your name in D.C., it takes pulling teeth to even grab a sentence out of many of my fellow college mates pertaining to the worlds affairs.</p>
<p>It’s possible that your parents are afraid that if you “quit” for a year that you’ll never go back and finish. If you think that’s an issue, you might want to see what you could do to alleviate their fears. </p>
<p>What do you plan to do on your gap year? Have a plan that you’ve thought out (where am I going to live? What am I going to be doing? What income will I have?).</p>