Deferring a Year for health reasons.

Cytokines

Hi all,

I'm a third year undergrad and unfortunately have had some reoccurring health issues (bad anxiety) throughout my degree. Despite attending the student counseling service on and off since first year I'm not much better off than when I started. In order to sort out my health I've often toyed with taking a year out from my degree but have no idea how I'd go about even looking into it. Has anyone ever done it? Is it difficult to do? If yes, was there much resistance within your department to do so?

Thanks,

Cytokines.

Ahoyhoy

It's a complicated process but it's not difficult to do. College are actually really understanding, especially when you've got the counselling service to back you up. I've a friend who was suffering from depression and was given a medical repeat for a year which he really needed. He had a really good tutor who was great for it and the welfare officer at the time helped him out too. If you've got a good tutor get in touch with them, it's probably a good idea to get onto the SU about it as well just in case. I think either the welfare officer or the education officer will be able to help you out.

djcervi

Hi Cytokines,
Your situation is not far off from mine. I suffer from anxiety, which has made College/life quite hard for me at times. Similar to you, I went to the Counselling Service but didn't find it much help. I talked to my tutor, and she referred me to the Unilink service through which I can see an Occupational Therapist. I've only seen him once but it sounds promising. At the very least, we can tackle it by trying to see what changes I can make to my current lifestyle to help deal with it.

Same as you, I have toyed with the idea of taking a year off books. For me, it's not really an option (I'm in 3rd year btw). I'm just gonna try my best and hopefully come out with a decent degree in the end.

Do contact your tutor ASAP to discuss this. Even the senior tutor if your tutor isn't contactable/helpful. Best of luck!

Cytokines

Thanks for the advice guys. It's really appreciated.

djcervi wrote: »

Do contact your tutor ASAP to discuss this. Even the senior tutor if your tutor isn't contactable/helpful. Best of luck!

Ah perfect! I'd always wanted to email my tutor but he's in my department (which is kinda small) and I'd rather be somewhat anonymus

Gae

If you don't feel comfortable speaking to your tutor because they're in the same department, you could always ask the Senior Tutor to assign you a new tutor.

On taking a year out - do you think that will help? If you come back in a year and have the same problems, will you not feel even worse?

I think getting the advice of your/a tutor is the best bet and take advantage of whatever supports the college can provide - that's what they're there for!

Darkglasses

I wouldn't know anything about the specifics of what you're dealing with, but a friend of mine took a year out from college to deal with his mental issues too. Probably the best thing he ever did, he came back better than ever actually. It was a very hard time he took out, but it was honestly essential for his happiness. But again, that's just him, I don't know the first thing about what you're going through!

Pet

It's doable but requires some careful thought.

Firstly, there's the issue of momentum (and lack thereof). You're probably fully aware of how mentally "out of shape" one can get between the end of exams in May/June and the full-on start of college in October/November when you settle down. Now, imagine more than a year's break - it's quite a daunting thought.

There's also no guarantee that you'll be better off after a year - would you be willing to give it your absolute all to get to a healthier place? What is your plan of action for tackling the problem? Can you afford it, and do you have the supports in place to succeed?

OP, I'm absolutely not aiming to be harsh or condescending. I am suggesting that you need to look at this as a strategic move, rather than grasping at it as an escape or a lifeboat from your current situation, because the former perspective will lead to far better and more reasoned decision-making.

As other posters have said, it is definitely possible from a College point of view, so if you've already thought about all the above and it still sounds like the best move for you, then by all means do it, and don't look back. Best of luck.

ArnoldLayne

Go to tutor ASAP, if you have been to the counselling office its not a problem really, but traditionally the senior lecturer's office takes forever and a day to make a ruling, but I think that might change with Patrick Geoghegan taking over in the last few months, the office is a lot more open it seems. Don't stress over it you'll be fine... expect to pay fees to repeat though

Truman Burbank

Hi OP!

I took a year out, as did a number of my class along the way for various reasons, some of which included health. It's common, you're not alone. I just wanted to say that whatever you decide the process for all of us was relatively easy. There was no 'big ta-do', we all: discussed with out tutors; offered our reason(s); received advice; sought advice etc. Then the tutor let us know and no-one had a prob., we were very well supported. I didn't have to do anything else and just joined back as previously. If fact, my experience was seamless. College are very open to life events/changing circumstances. We were 'off books', so had access to libraries, not computers. All the best to you, get well soon, there are lots of supports for you.

Truman Burbank

Cytokines wrote: »

Thanks for the advice guys. It's really appreciated.



Ah perfect! I'd always wanted to email my tutor but he's in my department (which is kinda small) and I'd rather be somewhat anonymus

I would stay with your assigned tutor who knows your course and the workload etc. They are trained to do this = help you. They don't want you to be anonymous. My tutor was my department too.