Taking a Semester Off: The Pros and Cons
November 14th, 2009 by Andrew MarshallThe 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 consideration is that you should determine why you want to take the semester off. Do you just want to escape the pressure and would you like to go partying and goofing off? If this is your inner motive, then a semester off could derail your college career, because you may find it difficult to get back into the routine of study once the semester off is over.
Perhaps you feel that you are in a "rut" and need some fresh air and a change of scenery. If this is the case, then a semester off may give you the kind of change that will invigorate you and enable you to come back to college with renewed enthusiasm and energy.
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, examine your motives for taking a semester off. If taking the semester off will help to regenerate your enthusiasm for study, equip you with new skills, help you to find your purpose in life or allow you to serve others, then it could be the most valuable semester of your college years. However, if you only want to take the semester off for partying and goofing around, then it could be detrimental to your academic future. Consider your options carefully and then make a wise decision.
Andrew Marshall is a freelance writer whose interests include programs, , and distance education.
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