<p>I was just wondering what people thought of college students taking time off during college, say a year or a semester. </p>
<p>Also, what do you guys think of going through college slowly, taking half a course load, and taking your time in college?</p>
<p>How do Grad schools look at this?</p>
<p>Taking a year or semester off is all right and a little common, but only taking half the course is dangerous. Many colleges have a strict number of credit taken to be called a full-time student. At my school, you HAVE to graduate in four years (or five years for engineers) unless you get permission from the professors teaching your future classes, your advisor, the dean of your college, the dean of students, and the university president to be able to stay an extra semester. </p>
<p>I would believe that grad school might look down on the light coursework but they might be all right about the semester/year thing.</p>
<p>If you don't have a good reason, I think both are looked down upon. If you do have a good reason, I don't think they don't have to hinder you at all. Taking a year off can be great if you do something with your time that is enlightening but if you just chill at home and hang out on CC (LOL!) then I don't think many colleges are going to take that excuse. Taking a lesser course load is okay if you have circumstances that require that (ie you can't pay for school and you have to work 40hrs a week to pay for it or your sister/brother/parent/best friend is suffering from some fatal disease and you want to be home). If you're just doing it to "take your time" I don't think that'll cut it for an excuse especially if you aren't working and are being supported by your parents. </p>
<p>... just what I've heard.</p>
<p>Something else to consider is health insurance. A lot of insurance companies will only cover policy holders' children if they are full-time students (usually under the age of 24, I think).</p>