Taking a Semester Off: The Pros and Cons

Article Written By: Andrew Marshall

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.

Maybe you want to take the semester off because you feel stuck in a routine or because you need a change in your life. If this is your reason for skipping the semester, then the change of scene could help you to recharge your batteries and come back to college with a greater zeal and enthusiasm. This would definitely be something positive for you.

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.

Did you ever get the idea to go out and do something to help make the world a better place? If you take the semester off with the idea of doing some volunteer or social service work it could prove to be a very worthwhile use of your time. There are a number of volunteer opportunities available in the U.S.A. and abroad. If you spend your semester in this type of activity then you will pick up valuable life experience and return to college on a very positive note.

Look before your leap. Examine your reasons for taking a semester off. If you are doing it help others, discover something about yourself or learn new skills then it could be a very important step for you to take and you can take the semester off without reducing your chances of graduating.

About the Author

Andrew Marshall is a freelance writer whose interests include online degree programs, online colleges, and distance education.

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