unique situation and i need advice

[ckd816]

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I'll share an experience that I'm just now getting comfortable telling people about. During the fall of 2008, I was in a really bad living situation and I was in an emotionally taxing relationship that really distracted me from school. I knew I wasn't doing as well as I could have been doing and I was worried I was going to get a D in one class, so I freaked out a couple of weeks before finals and decided to withdraw. I also decided to take a leave of absence from my school to regroup while taking courses at a CC instead. So I ended up moving home (solving problem #1) and relaxing for the month of winter break and jumped back into a full time load at the CC... I think this part of my plan was a mistake. I needed more time to recharge and I didn't take it. Going back too soon wasn't kind to my grades and I really didn't have my head on straight still. By the end of spring 2009 I was left with a semester of W's from the fall of 2008 and a crappy semester of grades from the CC (including a D, ironically)... GREAT! Something happened and I decided it was time for me to join the living (and thinking) again so I returned to my university and registered for a full time load over summer so I could graduate on time. I thrived in the fast paced schedules of the summer classes, so it appeared as though I was making a good rebound. Fall of 2009 brought the solution to problem #2 as my stressful relationship finally ended right at the beginning of the semester... This kind of set me back from the beginning and I only did okay that semester, but it wasn't anything catastrophic. I took classes over winter break to keep catching up from the semester when I withdrew and I got A's in both of them. Now I'm finally in my last semester and it is slated to be my best one ever!! Also, I am happier than I have been in a while. It was an... eventful... time. Looking back, I was dealing with depression and now I can recognize it in myself better and I know how to handle it (and how to handle stress in general) much better. It will be a challenge to address my strange academic history, but I'm glad it's all ending on a positive note. I guess only time will tell if adcoms can overlook my low points and see that I did eventually get it together!

So I guess these were my life lessons and advice I can pass on to you:
Don't be afraid to take time off if you need it. I should have taken more time to recover and end all of my problems at once instead of solving one and letting one linger only to sabotage me again later. Jumping right back into things was not my best decision, plus I'm not even applying until this cycle so I'm not sure why I rushed graduating on time! Luckily for you, your grades seem to be unaffected. However, personal happiness is ultimately worth more than a high GPA or a flawless, leave of absence free academic record, so do what you need to do!

P.S. I hope all of that makes sense... I kind of just wrote it stream of consciousness style and I feel like it was really unorganized, but there you have it. 🙂

 

[sunnex3]

wow thanks ckd816 for sharing your story, i'm sure it took a lot for you to tell it to me.

i'm glad i can see that you are recovering well from your problems in college, it really gives me hope.

i pretty set on taking a year off to regroup and have a change of pace, and knowing me i will definitely go back to finish my education - i would never dream of not going back.

it's really amazing how open everyone is here to sharing their opinions and advice 🙂

 

[sunnex3]

just wanted to update people - spoke with an advisor today AND the dead of admissions at Penn Vet - both agreed that taking a year off sounds like the best option for me. The Penn Vet dean (Mac Keiter, id on't know if anyone has spoken with him in the past) was very enthusiastic for my year off because i have a lot planned for it and i won't be wasting my time. told me it shows maturity that i realized this now and am acting on it. the advisor also told me it might be possible for me transfer some credits from a cheaper university over to my major and graduate in fall 2011 instead of waiting till spring 2012.

all in all, i think that i will be taking a year off next year - and do some stuff that help me become a happier person in life.

if anyone else has any words to share, don't hesitate - i really appreciate everyone's concern and advice, it has really helped me get through this.

now all i have to do is pass my biochem and orgo finals next week!

 

[sunnex3]

i know this is an OLD thread and probably no one remembers it...

but i wanted to let everyone know that i graduated this past May and am finally applying to vet school right now! i pushed thrugh all my troubles at school, went back last fall, and everything was great -- i became much closer to friends who had drifted away from me and i had a healthy social life along with a great job and fun classes.

i just want to credit part of my good senior year to all the support i got on this board -- some of you encouraged me to go back, some of you encouraged me to take a leave of absence, and some of you even said transferring would be OK. in the end, everyone's advice and opinions really helped me to make the right decision for ME and i am so glad that i went back.

i'm only bringing this up now because as i'm applying and going through VMCAS stuff (aka hell) it makes me remember what i went through last year and how grateful i am to have the virtual support of this board.

to say i appreciate everyone's input would be an understatement

 

[spicykimchi]

I am just now finding out about this thread but that sounds awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good for you! The multiple intelligent opinions on the board are great, aren't they?