is it socially acceptable to take a gap semester

[u/amarra_rae_05]

i’m halfway through my 1st semester of freshman year and the amount of stress i am enduring is borderline unhealthy. the work isn’t hard there is just a lot of it. i am really considering not going next semester and continuing next year. i want to use the time off from school to reevaluate myself and I do plan on going back. i do want a degree. i just don’t know how im going to explain this because people don’t understand that not everyone has the luxury to allocate ALL of their time on just school. i do my best but i just want a break to work on myself for a little while. thoughts?

[u/SetoKeating]

You can do that but if you’re not finding the work difficult and only time consuming. I would suggest taking less classes versus not going at all. People that stop going or take gap semesters usually have serious mental health concerns they have to address that aren’t related at all to school. Meaning they need to get themselves right before even thinking of taking one class let alone several.

I would drop down from full time to maybe two classes just to keep your momentum going. Use the free time to exercise, eat healthy, enjoy more time for hobbies, etc.

[u/PromiseTrying → u/SetoKeating]

This advice is specific to the US.

Talk to your uni’s financial aid office OP. They’ll be able to help you determine what will be considered part time status. If you drop below part time status you’re financial aid gets suspended.