Ever know anyone that dropped out of school mid-semester?

[mcsangel2]

I'm having fantasies of just saying "Fuck it!" and walking away from school. I won't, I'll be fine, but it's tough fighting the burnout and waiting another year before I can consider taking a break. I wonder if anyone knows someone that fizzled out and just dropped out mid-semester. (Which is different from just being flaky and not going to class a lot). I hope some stories will make me feel better.

[studytime45]

Don't do it!! I would go home for a weekend/holiday and fantasize about never going back. Just running away.

I didn't, though, and toughed it out. I'm now working on my BScN (accelerated) and already have an honours BSc.

You can doooo eeeet!!

[cheeseandcrackers]

the only time it would make sense is if you knew u were going to fail the course and u didnt want it to effect your gpa lol

[mcsangel2]

Well, I'm not failing anything, it's just tough going. Besides, the last day to withdraw is Monday, and then I'm stuck with it, ha ha ha.

I just got to wondering how much it happens that a person gets so burntout mid semester that they just walk away, (like, for good, or at least for several years).

[papie]

One of my students did in November. She was pregnant and tired. She failed all her classes because it was past the dropout without failing date. I wouldn't recommend it.

[amberlyrose]

I did, but it was the best thing I did. I was just over anxious and it was affecting my health and my marriage. Plus, I wasn't 100% behind my masters choice at the time, too.

Sorry I'm not helping. But I do think you should stick it out and you'll have a nice long summer to recuperate

[mcsangel2]

Mar 1, 2014 11:00:07 GMT -5 amberlyrose said:

I did, but it was the best thing I did. I was just over anxious and it was affecting my health and my marriage. Plus, I wasn't 100% behind my masters choice at the time, too.

Sorry I'm not helping. But I do think you should stick it out and you'll have a nice long summer to recuperate

Not me! I have to take a 8-week class over the summer semester.

[lilac05]

A classmate did that in grad school. Top program in the country for a field that requires a Master's to work, and she dropped out mid-semester. She was married and they had moved so she could go to school. She was a very good student, but just decided that it was too much on her plate. I lost contact with her and don't know if she ever went back to school or not.

There's something to be said about knowing your true limits and respecting them. But there's a big difference between true limits and "Holy crap! This is stressful and it sucks!" Only you know where that line is.

[spindle92]

I did when I was going thru my divorce. I just could not do it.

I am back now and almost flippin done but I still have days where I am so ready to throw the towel in.

[papie]

One of my friends also dropped out of her phd years ago after failing her comps. She started over two years ago at a different university and had to redo the entire program, classes and all.

Just keep going!!!!!!!! You can do this!

[mcsangel2]

I know I can do it. But it's tough dealing with how long it takes going part time (because I have a job, in my field, already). I've been going since 2010, and I'll be finishing my second associate's degree next spring. But man, I gotta take a break after that before I transfer to the university to finish my BS.

[sonrisa]

One of my good friends dropped out the week before finals freshman year of college. It was a life altering decision and not in a good way. It took her almost twenty years to finish her degree. Her opportunities were not the same as they would have been the first time.

Stick it out.

[scsarah]

I have students who do this occasionally (I'm an academic adviser). As PP said, only you know where the cut off line for you is, but often, when I see this happen, it really doesn't end well for the student. They don't usually come back to finish their degree, or if they do, they get frustrated that they have to do the same classes over again.

That said, there are definitely situations where it's worth it, but you also need to assess whether the situation will change drastically before next semester, and what impacts there would be on your long term plan. Do you have an adviser or faculty mentor you could talk things over with?

Also, I'm not sure where you are in your term/semester - but at our school, students are in the 8th week of classes - just past the midpoint of the semester, and they only have 7 weeks left. Sometimes if they start thinking of it that way (only x number of classes left), it seems to help.

[stanfran]

Yikes, I did this today!

I lurk. but had come on to ask advice about child spacing around getting my second masters to be a physician assistant. I had some prerequisites to do before I could apply, and I took two last semester and was taking two this semester. I was supposed to start the application process next month, but I decided that it just wasn't worth it. School has been really disruptive for me because I was taking really heavy science courses, working full-time, and had my husband and toddler, too. It was just too much, and I decided it wasn't worth it to me, at least for right now while my daughter is young. I was very tired of feeling like I was doing nothing well because I was spread in so many directions. I will have to report back to let you know if it was a good decision for me, but I'm feeling good about it in the moment. I think it definitely comes down to knowing your own limits and being able to weigh pros and cons.

[kirra]

Yes, I did, but I probably should have taken that semester off anyway. It was after my car wreck, and we were planning on at least one major surgery the next month. I was told there was a high risk of complications, and even I things had gone perfectly I would have missed at least two weeks of classes. I ended up not doing surgery because of a second opinion, but instead I ended up driving two hours each way for physical therapy that left me wiped out instead. I relearned to walk, and went back the next semester.

In your case, if at all possible I would finish out this semester. It's paid for, and you're roughly half way through. If you're really that close to burn out, though, I might consider taking this summer off.

[redwino]

I quit mid semester in my first masters program. It was a good decision for me but I completely let go of the idea of working in that field. I eventually finished a masters program at another school in another field.

It worked out for me because I didn't want to work in that field. It was a wrong choice to begin the program in the first place. If you are working towards a degree in a field you really want to work in, I'd tell you to stick with it. You'll be so glad that you're done with those classes at the end of the semester and you won't have to deal with them again. Maybe next semester you can take a lighter load.

[Deleted]

It is a horrible idea. I would cut class for a couple of weeks if you need a break, but would never just drop midway through.

[wise_rita]

You're talking about dropping courses and taking W's, right? Not just ditching the classes and taking F's?

It would kill me to pay for courses that count for nothing. Taking F's would be the dumbest thing ever since you wish to transfer to a university.

[Deleted]

Yeah, this person. At my first college I withdrew due to personal issues.

A couple of years ago I was taking a photography class that I wasn't taking for credit and I didn't like it, so I didn't continue.

[simplyinpenguin]

H had to walk out on his final semester of college before completing it because his father got hit by a car while stumbling drunk home from a bar one night. It killed his parents' income for a while so he started up his business, realized it paid more than a Philosophy degree, and kept at his business. He's talked of going back, but this was 16 years ago. He would have to start all over again. His parents' were pieces of shit for forcing him to drop out his final semester (they were paying his tuition).

[onomatopoeia]

Mar 1, 2014 23:09:17 GMT -5 simplyinpenguin said:

H had to walk out on his final semester of college before completing it because his father got hit by a car while stumbling drunk home from a bar one night. It killed his parents' income for a while so he started up his business, realized it paid more than a Philosophy degree, and kept at his business. He's talked of going back, but this was 16 years ago. He would have to start all over again. His parents' were pieces of shit for forcing him to drop out his final semester (they were paying his tuition).

That's awful.  I know families need to pull together, but I think it would take a whole lot of tragedy for me to ask my kids to drop out of college.  It sounds like he's been fairly successful with his business though?  Just curious, has he looked into what it would take to get his degree? It might not be as much as he thinks (I know plenty of schools are trying make it easier for mature students to go back).

OP, I feel your pain.  I'm 2.5 months way from graduating with my masters and this has been the roughest semester ever.  I'm done - physically, mentally, emotionally, logistically (I have 2 little kids and a FT job as well).  My dad died last summer and then I was diagnosed with Lyme disease, and I felt like dropping out then but stuck it out.  I keep thinking though that when I finish, if I can do this I can do ANYTHING.  Good luck!  

[Deleted]

I did about 8-9 years ago, about a medical withdraw. I was battling unmedicated depression/anxiety/bipolar. I went through a lot of failing semesters still trying to figure out medication, too. I am finally back and doing well. It's taken a long time.

[mcsangel2]

Mar 1, 2014 22:31:27 GMT -5 wise_rita said:

You're talking about dropping courses and taking W's, right? Not just ditching the classes and taking F's?

It would kill me to pay for courses that count for nothing. Taking F's would be the dumbest thing ever since you wish to transfer to a university.

Well, I'm not actually talking about dropping out at all. I just want to feed these burnout fantasies in order to soothe my frustrations. I'm not failing anything. I *am* taking 2 classes, one of which is taking aaalllllll my free time with homework. I'm just tired after going for 4+ years, after next spring I'll only still be halfway through. Will take another 4 years or so to finish after that. Even if I somehow decide not to complete my BS, I am for sure going to finish this associate's degree.

[shell24]

I know someone who did when we were in college.  It was first semester our sophomore year.  I think it had a lot to do with being away from home.  She did eventually come back but all her friends were getting ready to graduate and it was difficult for her to make new friends.  That is a bit different from your situation though.  

I know you said you're just venting.  Hang in there!  It seems tough now, but you'll be so happy when you come out on the other side.