The idea of taking a semester off has a lot of appeal, especially if you are in the middle of a tough semester with exams to face and term papers to complete. However, taking a semester off can help you or hurt you depending on why and how you do it. Let's look at the pros and cons of skipping a semester at college.
The first step in making a decision about whether you should take a semester off is to carefully look at your true motives for taking the time off. Are you just reacting to all the pressure and looking for a way to do more partying without having to worry about college? If this is what is driving your decision, then taking a semester off will probably not bring you any positive results. Sometimes, students who take the semester off cannot get back into the rhythm of college life and drop their studies.
Perhaps you want to take a semester off because you are in a "rut" and need a change of scenery. If you are already doing well in college, but feel somehow stifled by your environment, then a semester spent elsewhere could give you the mental break that you need, and you may end up coming back to campus with renewed energy and zest for completing the rest of your college semesters.
Perhaps your reason to take a semester off is so that you can "find yourself" and get a better idea about what your life is all about. A semester in pursuit of self discovery often takes the form of travel abroad, learning foreign languages or serious introspective study. If you indeed take the semester off and learn a new language or other skills that you wouldn't have gotten in college, then it will also be a positive step towards helping you complete college with much success.
Similarly, if a semester abroad helps you to mature and to become surer about what you want to do with the rest of your life, then you are very likely to become a better student when you return to campus. Many students can't work hard because they are "lost" and not sure why they are even in college. If you take a semester off with the purpose of self-discovery, and end up with a better understanding of yourself, then it can be very helpful to your future college career.
Finally, maybe you want to take the semester off so that you can do some social service or do your part to make the world a better place. Should you choose this path, there are lots of volunteer opportunities available in the United States and also abroad. A semester spent helping others will give you a new perspective on life and this can be a perfect way to start the second half of your college career.
So, before you jump off and take a semester off. Carefully examine your inner motives. If you are doing it for self-discovery, to gain new skills, to renew your desire for learning or to serve others, then a semester off will probably be helpful to you and not hinder your chances of graduating from college.
The first step in making a decision about whether you should take a semester off is to carefully look at your true motives for taking the time off. Are you just reacting to all the pressure and looking for a way to do more partying without having to worry about college? If this is what is driving your decision, then taking a semester off will probably not bring you any positive results. Sometimes, students who take the semester off cannot get back into the rhythm of college life and drop their studies.
Perhaps you want to take a semester off because you are in a "rut" and need a change of scenery. If you are already doing well in college, but feel somehow stifled by your environment, then a semester spent elsewhere could give you the mental break that you need, and you may end up coming back to campus with renewed energy and zest for completing the rest of your college semesters.
Perhaps your reason to take a semester off is so that you can "find yourself" and get a better idea about what your life is all about. A semester in pursuit of self discovery often takes the form of travel abroad, learning foreign languages or serious introspective study. If you indeed take the semester off and learn a new language or other skills that you wouldn't have gotten in college, then it will also be a positive step towards helping you complete college with much success.
Similarly, if a semester abroad helps you to mature and to become surer about what you want to do with the rest of your life, then you are very likely to become a better student when you return to campus. Many students can't work hard because they are "lost" and not sure why they are even in college. If you take a semester off with the purpose of self-discovery, and end up with a better understanding of yourself, then it can be very helpful to your future college career.
Finally, maybe you want to take the semester off so that you can do some social service or do your part to make the world a better place. Should you choose this path, there are lots of volunteer opportunities available in the United States and also abroad. A semester spent helping others will give you a new perspective on life and this can be a perfect way to start the second half of your college career.
So, before you jump off and take a semester off. Carefully examine your inner motives. If you are doing it for self-discovery, to gain new skills, to renew your desire for learning or to serve others, then a semester off will probably be helpful to you and not hinder your chances of graduating from college.
About the Author:
Andrew Marshall is a freelance writer whose interests include online degree programs, online colleges, and distance education.
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