Taking a year off in the middle of undergrad?

Question

Greetings. I am a 20 year-old third-year Psyc student at Queen's University. In two and a half years, I have switched programs twice and am still not entirely sure if I want a degree in Psychology. I have recently been considering taking next year off to spend time away from school to consider my future and to make money, which is a big issue right now. Since I switched into Psychology in second year, I still have two more years left of the undergrad degree. My only real fears in taking a year off are no wanting to return to school and leaving a great group of friends, but I will still be able to see them from time to time.

Now that I've explained the basic situation, I'm looking for unbiased opinions on my situation from people who don't know me

Answer 1

That is a tough one, since you think you might not want to go back.

I took a semester off in my third year because I was feeling burnt out and depressed. I know my parents (esp. my mother) were afraid that I wouldn't go back, but I knew I would. I just needed a break.

A degree will help you a lot in your future. I have seen people who aren't even considered for jobs because they didn't have degrees, even though these jobs were not especially technical. These were jobs they absolutely could have done, but because they didn't have a degree, forget it.

However, I am a big advocate of not being in college unless you want to be there. Sometimes time off, especially spent working full time, makes you appreciate being in school more. Not taking time off doesn't preclude you from dropping out later, and it might give you the break that you need to figure out what you need to do. You could always start out with taking a semester off, and see if that is enough.

Whatever you do, you should make sure that you can go back easily with minimal paperwork. In my case, this was taking an official leave of absence. Good luck!

Answer 2

This is deja vu all over again for me. Although a couple of decades ago.
I went from H.S. to college with just the summer break. I took an art major and english minor. I thought vaguely of teaching. After 1 1/2 years I was not motivated and felt like I was in a higher version of high school. I quit to join the Air Force. Best decision I ever made. Four years in the A.F. are memorable - loved it. When I neared the end of my four years, the last stationed at the National Security Agency working analysis of radio intercept, I applied to the college of my choice, renewed and hot to trot. When I returned to college I had so much worldly experience that I knew I wanted to get a degree in sociology and did so. I got the job I wanted, Child Protective Services, and years later got a Master's degree - with credit for experience. Took a break from CPS to write a book with a co-worker and that was quite a ride. Book was published and became well known in the genre. Sequed to a newspaper where I was a reported for two years before trying teaching for two years. Then, returned to CPS investigations and finished out 20 incredible, fun, highly successful years before taking early retirement. I am pondering my next career which will be a combo of parttime work/parttime volunteer.
Had I not taken the time off and joined the AF I would have remained socially immature and probably been drafted. Best move I ever made.

Answer 3

Don't take a year off. You'll likely never go back. If you absolutely must take time off, take a semester off ONLY. Talk to your undergraduate advisor about your options. See if maybe changing schools will agree with you more.

DO finish your degree. Mix up your courses so you have a good variety of interests. See if one really heightens your interest. If it does, change majors or pick up a minor.

Also, talk to the financial aid office. If money is getting tight, fix a budget, get some OSAP, talk to your parents about co-signing a loan, look into scholarships and grants and bursaries.

Good luck.

Answer 4

i don't know why everyone seems to think that once you leave school you won't want to go back. After my first year of college, I decided to transfer and took a year off in between - and frankly, I've had no negative 'side effects'. I enjoyed my year off, made some money, got accepted to a better school and was in the right frame of mind when I did go back. If you don't know what you want to do and you think a year off will help, then by all means, go for it and enjoy.

Answer 5

If you stop now, you'll probably not return.

Stay in.

Get A degree. Any degree. Employers like a college degree better than none, even if it has nothing to do with your eventually chosen field.

The real money comes from graduate level degrees anyway.