<p>I'm a sophomore at a university that operates on the quarter system. Since freshman fall, I have yet to take a break and while my classes are not the most difficult, I have begin to feel extremely unmotivated. As a result, I am doing poorly in my classes and would love to take the semester off. I still have time to withdraw and salvage a part of my scholarship (60%). However, going home and finding a job means being back with parents, who strictly adhere to the "my house, my rules" motto. I believe that the only reason why I'd rather not stick it out is graduate school admissions. I currently have a 3.5 GPA (which I hope to raise to a 3.7) as an engineering major, and I could not possibly imagine the thought of failing. I am interested in hearing what parents have to say, specifically with children who have been in my situation? Thank you in advance for your suggestions!</p>
<p>Why haven’t you taken a break? I think all you need is a few days to relax. Why are you thinking of graduate school admissions now? Concentrate on your work and having a good time NOW. Who knows what the future will bring…</p>
<p>1) Everyone needs a vacation. What are you doing with your between quarter breaks that leaves you so exhausted? Can you suck it up for this term, but take the next one off from school and just work and/or sleep?</p>
<p>2) My house = my rules. If you don’t like your parents’ rules, you have to find somewhere else to spend your time when you aren’t on campus. If you are truly tired of school right now, you need to think very carefully about just exactly is so wrong about their rules that you don’t want to go home. Maybe home wouldn’t be so awful if you can just suck that up too.</p>
<p>You may also be experiencing what many engineering students face the second half of the second year. Your courses will get more difficult and you may question if this is what you want. You may want to think about the reason you are burning out. Have you been in school without a break? If you are taking summer courses than that may be a problem. I have noticed that engineering kids seem to need a break from the academic rigor during the summer. Give yourself that time if you have not done so. Even a summer job is a break and you could enjoy your weekends.</p>
<p>By the way, you may also want to stop planning so far into the future. Graduate school after four years of engineering may wait a couple years. It sounds like you are not living in the moment at all.</p>
<p>The idea of finishing the engineering program (it is a 5-year program that results in an AB/BE) once appealed to me. I’m worried about graduate school admissions now because many of undergraduates are constantly taught to think about our future. I have peers (sophomores) right now who are preparing for GREs, MCATs, and LSATs. If grades now are so significant, I can only imagine explaining this semester to future admissions officers.</p>
<p>happymomof1:</p>
<p>Many of my quarter breaks are 2-3 weeks long (including Christmas). I’m not doing anything extreme (i.e. working, hanging out with old friends), but I have been feeling physically drained since the beginning of summer quarter. You are right, home and rules are not that bad. I am afraid of leaving my friends behind again (this is my first time seeing most in 7 months due to an exchange program) and, hence, starting over socially. </p>
<p>You are right on target. I am at that stage where I’m questioning if an engineering major is for me. And, yes, I continued with college through the summer quarter. The classes aren’t necessarily the most difficult, but the intensity and time commitment (one class required close to 30 hours per week) has become draining. I have the option of taking off in the spring, but summer is mandatory for 2nd year students. Perhaps I will reconsider coming back in the spring. Thanks!</p>
<p>I forgot to mention that I aimed to finish the engineering program in four years or less. I am starting to believe that this is the root of my problems.</p>
<p>If you can take a quarter off without losing your full-time student status (which might make you ineligible to be on your parents’ health insurance), do so.</p>
<p>But do NOT withdraw. Take a leave of absence instead. You have a 3.5 GPA; therefore, you are a student in good standing. In all likelihood, you are entitled to take a personal leave of absence for any reason whatsoever, including no reason at all, and you will encounter no grief from the university when you come back. If you withdraw, you have to apply all over again.</p>
<p>Back when dinosaurs roamed the quads of our universities (or malls, for you southerners), my future husband got sick during the first few weeks of his sophomore year, realized that he had fallen hopelessly behind in his classwork and could not catch up, and withdrew from his university. Not only did he have difficulty getting back in to the university the next term, he almost got drafted. If he had taken a leave of absence instead, he would not have faced any of these difficulties.</p>
<p>Would it be possible for you to take a co-op or paying internship for one or two quarters? Lots of students did this when my son was in engineering school. Or, they spent summers working in a university lab for pay. Doing either of these would mean that you would not have to move home, and recommendations from either would give you a boost in either seeking a job or applying to graduate school. Either would be a change in pace from taking courses.</p>
<p>Don’t withdraw if you can take a leave of absence. Everyone needs time off. Try to remember life is not a sprint it is a cross-country race or marathon. There is absolutely no need and very little benefit to “beat the system” and try to get done faster. And yes, many, many people work for a year or two before entering a masters program…some programs actually “like” people that have some real world under there belt. Stop stressing yourself out…life is a long haul.</p>