Should You Take a Semester Off?
So it finally happened! Through tremendous work and effort, you managed to get accepted into college and are now pursuing a degree. Life is great. However, for whatever reason, you are wondering if there is any way to press pause on your endeavor. You can do this, which is what we call “taking a semester off”. But is taking a semester off a good idea? Will you fall behind on your studies, or will it be just what you need to recharge and get back on track? What are the rules for taking a semester off, and how can you go about it? Read on for the answers to these questions.
Reasons to Take a Semester Off
If you go around asking a bunch of people who took a semester off why they did it, chances are they will all give you different answers. And that's true, people take semesters off for various reasons. Although we have been conditioned to think we absolutely must obtain our degree on time and enter the job market immediately, there is no reason why that should always be the case. Sometimes taking a semester off can have your education and career catapulting ahead. Keep reading to find out some of the most common reasons students take semesters off.
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Personal
Even though most of us like to have a clear idea of how our life, academic and personal, will pan out, we can never be sure of what tomorrow will bring. And it is precisely the unexpected things that happen in our lives that drive most students to take a semester off. It is important to remember that everyone deals with loss, crises, and the like, so taking a semester off is better than juggling all aspects of your life and overworking yourself.
Financial
It's something everybody knows: college costs a lot. So, when a student finds that suddenly, for whatever reason, they can barely or no longer afford it, they opt for taking a semester off. A semester off from college can be precisely what someone needs to fix their financial situation, either by taking a job, saving, or exploring available resources to help with their tuition.
Laboral
This item on the list is closely related to the previous one. When in college, most students balance academic life and a job on the side to afford college. While for some students, the working part entails entry-level jobs or part-time jobs, others might take a chance and start their own business. If you are one of those students and you see your business has the potential to flourish, you can take a semester off to dedicate your time to your new business. Even if you haven't started one yet but are planning to, time off from college can give you the opportunity and space to come up with an idea and have it take off.
Stress
Stress is part of everyone's life in some way or another, including students. And while stress can be advantageous for some because it pushes them to work harder and get better results, not everyone is able to manage that. Stress is not an incentive for everyone. Stress that is present in a student's life, whether academic or other, can really take a toll on your academic performance and even mental and physical health. Take a semester off to recharge and put things in perspective for when you decide to return to studying.
Unsure about the path ahead
It is crucial to keep in mind that everybody makes mistakes. However, what defines us is how we respond to them. Such is the case for people who are no longer sure they still want to pursue the same major or career. Taking a semester off can help students clear their minds, consider or explore other options, or perhaps just reassure themselves that they made the right decision by choosing their current major.
Wanting to transfer to another college
Last but not least, the reason could be the institution a student is attending. If the college or university they are attending is no longer a good fit for them, students can always transfer to another institution. Taking a semester off of college can be great when you are planning to transfer. You can use the extra time you have on your hands to relocate if you need to or simply recharge, as transfers can be stressful on their own.
Benefits of Taking a Semester Off
While putting your academic life on hold might seem like a step back or, at the very least, like you're stuck in one place, a semester off can have incredible benefits. Going to college is so much more than simply pursuing a degree. Most students start college at 18 when they have just legally become adults. And while the freedom they dreamt of for so long is finally here, it can be overwhelming too. Pausing your studies for a semester can be a great thing, and here are some of the reasons why:
Time to reflect/rethink future goals
College is stressful enough without adding to it the doubts and uncertainty regarding your chosen career and the future. Taking a semester off will let you distance yourself from the chaos to see the bigger picture and make sure of your choices.
Time to heal
As we have already established, adulthood, college, and holding a job at the same time is no easy feat. Add to this a personal loss, crisis, and what have you, and you get the recipe for mental strain. By taking a semester off, you take the time you need to get over whatever you are dealing with and return to your studies when you are ready.
Time to save up money
Whether you find it extremely stressful and difficult to work in order to afford college, or are worried about your financial situation in the near future, a semester off would be a great solution. Taking a break from studying and attending classes will open up more time for you to search for better-paying jobs and save money in the long run.
Gain professional experience
Pursuing a degree is one of the best ways you can help launch your career. The only other thing you will need is experience. Students can take a semester off and use that time to gain professional experience and get back to college after some time. Gaining professional experience while simultaneously finishing college and juggling other aspects of your life can be near impossible; that's why some students take semesters off.
Expand your network
Last but not least, having some time off from college and getting a job that is closely related to your major can also contribute to your professional network. Working with different people in the industry you plan to join after graduation will help you create and expand your professional network, which in turn is a great investment towards your future. A wide professional network will be a great advantage when you do enter the workforce and want to advance your career.
Disadvantages of Taking a Semester Off
On the other hand, taking a semester off is not always advantageous and does have some side effects. Some of the disadvantages of taking a semester off are:
You will take longer to finish your degree
It goes without saying that when you pause something, you stay in that place. So the amount of time you take off of college will delay the date you graduate on.
When you return you will have forgotten some material
This next disadvantage is closely related to the previous one. Many students who take a semester off forget they are still enrolled in college and try to use the time they have on their hands to do anything not college-related. While this is perhaps a good idea for those that need to recharge, keeping your mind off of college will result in you forgetting some of the material you have learned. This, in turn, will affect the time you will need to graduate because you may have to go back and revise what you have already learned.
What to Do When Taking a Semester Off
This is a question that you personally can answer best. It is important to use the time off for the exact reason you took it in the first place. If you need to recharge, become financially stable, travel, and whatnot, do just that! Idleness is not a good thing, especially for a college student. Use the semester off to continue learning in ways you aren't able to in college by reading for fun, traveling if possible, meeting new people, trying new hobbies, developing new skills, doing volunteer work, etc. The possibilities are endless!
Conclusion
If you are here reading this article, it means the idea of taking a semester off has already crossed your mind. Now all that is left to do is to decide if doing so would be a good thing for you. Remember that not all people are the same, so don't compare yourself to others. If you have weighed the benefits of taking a semester off against the disadvantages of doing so and the first ones outweigh the others, take a semester off.