I'm in my third year of university, but I'm feeling depressed and directionless. Should I take a year off?

Question

I have no idea what I want to do with my degree but I'm feeling and really depressed. I'm very lonely and my grades have been slipping (A- first year, B+ last year, B to B+ this years depending on how my exams go). I feel as if there is no forward momentum in my life. I'm $7000 in debt with student loans. Exams are almost over and I'm considering my future. I have to start applying for grad schools next year and I don't feel prepared. Would taking a year off to work or travel be beneficial or should I fight it out?

Answer 1

Do NOT take a year off now. If you loose the momentum you do have (even though you say you don't feel as though you have any) you will never go back. Try doing a study abroad as a break and change of pace.

Answer 2

I'd go talk to someone in your Psychological Services or Student Health Center. I'm not sure if your depression is due to some circumstances, or if it is chemical, but you need to figure out why you feel this way before you know whether taking a year off will help. "Fighting it off" won't help unless your depression is due to some event that is now over. I can tell you that when I was in college, I fell into a deep depression too, and I hoped that travelling would help, but instead I spent the entire trip crying and feeling lonelier than ever. What a waste! I got help later on, and it helped me to go back to school successfully.

Answer 3

If you are just applying to grad school becuase it is what follows your BA, yes - take some time - work.

If you can't see a future in where you are going, quit going down that road. Take some time - find your muse. I flunked out of academics three times, went to a VoTech program, did great and seven years later went back and got my BS. and my MA. and my PhD.

Sometimes you just need time to figure out where you ned to go. Plowing down a road just becuase its easier than turning, or turning around, will usually just get you into deeper snow!

I racked up $40K, payments suck now, but I don't regret it. You obviously regret yours - follows the signs.

But beware of the 'golden handcuffs' - getting locked into a job becuase you need the salary. Same theory - just different situation, and consequences.

Try some time, but don't build up debt - leave yoursewlf options for going back to school for a while!

Answer 4

well that all depends on how many years study u think u have left, if ots 2+ take a year out if not go the whole hog chin up get out and about skile and laugh and let all ur worries take a back seat for a while, ps i hope u do great and get to where ever ur going

Answer 5

i've got merely began on the college of WA. i'm an Australian pupil, yet i'm boarding at a residential college removed from residing house. I delight in on my own time, yet I do discover I omit my kin. Plus i'm nonetheless underage so i'm caught at residing house mutually as everybody else is going out partying - so sometimes i'm getting slightly lonely. in case you opt to talk to kin and additionally you the two have information superhighway, then get skype. it extremely is thoroughly unfastened no count how long you communicate, and in case you have a webcam you will discover them as nicely. Its astonishing - merely obtain it off the internet. have not gotten depressed so a techniques - and that i understand what that sounds like because of the fact i replaced into depressed for a reliable deal of time final 3 hundred and sixty 5 days. you will possibly be able to desire to continuously pass to a councilor. My uni delivers a councilling provider for unfastened to scholars. it would desire to be sufficient to have the capacity to talk to somebody approximately what it incredibly is you're dealing with and get some reassurances. you're no longer on my own in thinking you're in the back of. i think of i'm in the back of in each and everything, and yet everybody else in my classification has the comparable perception so it can't be that undesirable. i stumble on examining up on what you would be coping with in lectures works great for shielding on top of issues, so which you actual comprehend what they are happening approximately. i'm fortunate i'm in arts. I purely do approximately 3 hours of artwork daily, if that. I even have have been given friends doing commerce nonetheless - international ones - who seem coping ok. maximum suitable advice could be to maintain human beings around you once you are the style who needs organization. And, once you're doing homework, forbid your self from clicking on the fb hyperlink or regardless of different web content you pass to for entertainment - I even have lost countless helpful learn hours to the temptation of fb. additionally, get your self a interest. i stumble on writing and drawing are great techniques of removing the experience of lonliness, because of the fact i'm being effective and having the flexibility to particular myself. I additionally do a interest, and connect in with college-arranged activities.

Answer 6

No, I dropped out for supposedly a year and never went back. Hang in there and everything will work out. If you drop out, you may not want to go back.

Answer 7

yes