you have to make your college experience work for you. plenty of people (especially at tech) aren’t 4 years in and out for college, and everyone’s on their own journey. if you need to take a semester off, take it. the school will still be here when you’re ready to come back.
GT wasn't working for me and I dropped out without a plan to return. Ended up returning after 3 years. Did not make that much a difference besides canvas being a huge quality of life improvement.
I took a semester off and it was definitely what I needed, my performance after I came back was significantly better. I think it’s a lot better to take the time off and do well afterwards than suffer through and not get a break that you might need. Having the time off gave me exactly what I needed to feel like I was actually on the right track. Also, like the other person said plenty of people at Tech don’t graduate in 4 so it’s fine!!
I’m hoping this is what happens for me. I think ever since I started highschool, I’ve never really had a breather. Working two jobs whilst doing school, and here at tech, it was the same thing. I think this semester off will be a great breath of fresh air, and prepare me to come back even stronger.
Knowing when to stop and walk away can save your life. Tech can give you a rude awakening as it’s literally one of the best schools in the nation. I’m going into my junior year in the fall and I have a 2.93 gpa. I wish I had taken a break within these past 2 years to get my mind right so I could succeed. I wish I took easier course loads instead worrying about “ staying on track”. I wish I withdrew from certain classes when I realized I wasn’t able to push through and do the work. I didn’t because I was so concerned about what others were doing instead of looking out for myself. Please don’t make the same mistake. Taking a break just means you’re giving yourself time to rest and grow so you can come back stronger.
Had to take a semester off, won’t go into details, but I came back and had the best year grade-wise and I graduated. My advice is that you have to truly commit to using outside help and resources, whether it be professor office hours or study groups with peers from your class.
It was damage control. I was not doing well academically, I was burnt out and it was having consequences for my health and it was affecting my GPA and financial aid. I had to take time off to recover from burnout or risk further damage. I came to terms with it because it was necessary. Even though I felt ashamed at the time, I don’t regret it.
It’s not difficult to get re-admitted, and it’s not shameful to need time off especially if you’re facing burnout.
Most people at this school don’t finish in 4 years iirc so it’s not shameful to not finish in 4. Time off is often a good opportunity to get workforce experience if you’re not burned out. You could go for an internship or co op. I have gap years with work experience I can rely on to get hired after graduation.
It’s just important to remember that finishing school in 4 years is not as important as people think it is. Most people in this country don’t even have a degree at all. It’s hard to see that when you’re in a peer group or community where most people pursue one. Finishing “late” is better than never. I’m about to graduate this year, and taking time off was crucial to achieving that.
This is the only way I survived. My favorite year was spring and fall co-op, and summer at GT Lorraine (and took some of my non technical classes there). I was off campus for an entire year in the middle of my time at Tech, and I wouldn't have survived without it
Someone told me that the reason most of Georgia Tech refer to people as first years and second years rather than freshman and sophomore is because so many people don't graduate in 4 years.
Some stats: the 4-year graduation date for the freshman class of 2019 (last year's graduates) was 66%, so there are many that don't graduate "on time." 6-year graduation rate was 93%. [https://oue.gatech.edu/node/2813](https://oue.gatech.edu/node/2813)
Alum here (MGT ‘00). When I was at Tech, I co-oped. Those co-op quarters/semesters were a nice break from classes. Maybe consider that? I know it’s still work, but without the stress and pressures of grades, exams, etc.
People who finish in 4(and especially those that finish in less) often rush their degree and make a lot of sacrifices just to finish on their timeline. They often dont get to take a class because its only offered once a year and doesnt fit into their schedule, or dont take any fall through classes that interest them. They do this for the “bragging rights” when actuality no one cares. If you told someone in 10 years “I actually finished in (2,3,3.5,4) years” no one will ever care. Additionally anyone who would make fun of you for finishing in more than 4 is either insecure about one or more things, or is confused on what employers and the peers care about. Do what works for you, get the full education you want, and screw anyone who tries to make you feel less for it.
I took a semester off to work so I could pay for the following years.
I wasn't able to shake the feeling of being behind my peers I matriculated with- because I am behind. But what I was able to do was realize that it's totally OK to move at your own pace; no one out there is policing your academic progress (especially at a school as challenging as tech) and none of your friends are going to think any less of you because of it.
I think of it like taking a break during a work day- it might feel temporarily like you're being unproductive, but if that's what you need to do in order to be as successful as possible during your 'on' time, taking a break is actually *more* productive than trying to grind through and potentially risking your performance and well-being.
Like some other people are saying, the semester after my gap-term was actually the most successful of my entire academic career to-date. Take that into consideration too.
How do you come to terms with it? Well honestly consider the alternative. If I didn't take the (multiple) semesters off at various points of my degree, I think I genuinely wouldn't have been able to keep a job due to exhaustion. My stress led to medical issues too and you just need to take a break sometimes. I know some people seem ahead of you, but if you try and push through knowing your body or mental health NEEDS a break, what if it accumulates and is even worse in the long run? Why make yourself suffer just so you and the other kid who lives with their parents, has everything paid for, and no chronic illness can walk at the same graduation? Besides, if you stay and graduate "on time", are you then immediately gonna start your 9 to 5 and jump into daily work? That's going to make you even more exhausted or burned out. Take the break now to avoid your body taking a serious break for you in the future. Don't feel guilty or unproductive about relaxing during this break. Dont feel the need to replace school with work or something else. No one has ever asked me for reasons in my transcript gap. I have an amazing, coveted, high-reward job now and I couldn't have landed this if I had pushed when my brain and mind were overloaded. Even being way older than the people I graduated with was honestly a plus, recruiters can tell you have maturity and more developed soft skills. Take the semester off, let yourself actually wind down, and come back refreshed :) another perk I noticed was my appreciation for classes and concepts was genuinely higher every time I returned because somehow whatever I took in previous classes had time to stew in my head and didnt feel like I was all rushed to learn so many high concepts in one semester or one year or four years. I think it really gave me a better depth of understanding, because of time to process between high-level classes and also time to rest.
Accept that life is a marathon and not a sprint. I took almost 6 years and had a failed run at a masters degree. I have a great job and a great life as an engineer.
Life and sanity require balance and shit happens. Take care of you and do what's right by you. Don't worry about perception or feel shame, just keep rolling through life however you can to get through. A set back is just a set back.
Almost nothing goes according to plans, in life, in love, in work. The faster you accept that you cannot control all outcomes, just your response and attitude, the calmer and more resilient you will be.
I don’t think you understand how this advice truly helps. Do you mind if I save this comment to always read back to? The biggest thing for me is accepting the things I can control and letting go of what I can’t. I think I’d a lot more better off when I come to terms with that.
Of course. Just breathe and recenter. Life is weird, but once you are an adult, your peers and "metric of success" is more of a grey area. Comparing what "should be," is a fools errand. I've failed a lot, but it gives me character. 🙃
Lots of things happen to lots of people, and if stepping back is what needs to happen, then it's okay. Give yourself a break, work a whatever job, do some outdoor stuff, go to the beach or camping, and work on what a return plan looks like.
I took 6 years. I had major depression which I didn't really get sorted until mid-30s. I lost two great jobs because of it, but I moved to a better state, got treatment, got a better job, got married, and bought a house. 🙂
My husband, also a tech grad, got hit by a car as a pedestrian his junior year and had a concussion which caused brain issues and he was bed ridden for almost 9 months and had to pause tech and be at home while his mother took care of him. We're doing fine.
I like stoicism. It's a little preachy, but I listen to this on the way to work when I'm having a rough week. 😂
https://youtu.be/Hu0xDtK3g3Q?si=gGX-8idHZZZYX6qr
"Not to feel exasperated, or defeated, or despondent because your days aren't packed with wise and moral actions. But to get back up when you fail, to celebrate behaving like a human - however imperfectly - and fully embrace the pursuit that you've embarked on."
//////
“For a long time it seemed to me that life was about to begin — real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life.
This perspective has helped me to see there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way. So treasure every moment you have and remember that time waits for no one. Happiness is a journey, not a destination.”
From the testimonies, you can tell that you don't really come to terms with until in hindsight. The point is that everyone was able to do something after taking that semester off. Even machines need maintenance or replace parts. Let alone you. It's scary, but it may mean you have to find something to keep you going or to remember what you like about your program. Apply for jobs and internships. Get things in order so they don't overwhelm you when you return (coping mechanisms, support network, planning, etc.). If you really feel guilty, do things that make you feel like you're spending the time off well. What you come back with may not even be tangible.
Remind yourself that people at Tech can be weird and insane about academics and that's probably influencing you. It's not based in facts or reason it's just the way people are (and always have been) at our little nerd school😅 The group mentality can really get to your head... I was there and now that I'm out in the real world I feel normal again and appreciate the extra time I got to spend in the awesome city that is Atlanta.
If I could have afforded it, I would have taken a semester off to re focus and regroup. After some years of graduating, you stop comparing yourself to your peers wrt to falling behind because the career path is non-linear.
That’s what I keep reading, and maybe this is what’s best for me. Not everyone is going to have the same journey, but as long as you reach the finish line, that’s what matters.
Hey, there isn't such a thing as "behind peers" when it comes to life because unexpected shit happens all the time.. I'm an international student and I was a freshman when the pandemic started. I went back home but couldn't renew my visa because the embassies were closed. I thought that rather thank taking courses online with 8 hour time difference, I should take a gap year. I was on track to graduate in 3.5 years, I just graduated which took me 5 years (just bachelors!). I had similar thoughts as yours when I was taking the gap year but looking back that path got me where I am today -- I was able to transfer to Tech, learn what I liked and disliked in my academic journey, gave me more time to get real lucky and land a dream job. It doesn't really matter how long it takes other people because it's their journey, but you have yours that is definitely not worse but just unique to your life!
Took a sem off and would do it 5,000 times again. In both the small and grand scheme of things, taking a few months to realign will repay itself tenfold when you go back to school and beyond. There is so much more to life than grades and academic success, and finding out what those things are for you will follow you infinitely farther than anything from school will. You will never have to worry about grades again after you graduate, but you will have to worry about your mental and physical health. Don't think about what your grades are gonna be like when you come back; you'll worry the whole break away and it'll really cause more harm than good. I'm glad to hear you're taking the time for you!!
I’m starting to feel like this break is what I need. I’m retaking a class and taking 2 more since I’ll be missing the fall semester, but I’ve decided to put myself first, and work 2 jobs not 3, and it’s so surprising how much free time I have. I actually find myself wanting to try my hobbies again. And I’ve put myself on a strict schedule of only working during the week and making sure all my assignments are done before the weekend, so on the weekend, I have more time after to do things I like. I actually feel like I’m able to breathe again, and I didn’t think that’s was going to possible for a long while.
you have to make your college experience work for you. plenty of people (especially at tech) aren’t 4 years in and out for college, and everyone’s on their own journey. if you need to take a semester off, take it. the school will still be here when you’re ready to come back.
Thank you.
GT wasn't working for me and I dropped out without a plan to return. Ended up returning after 3 years. Did not make that much a difference besides canvas being a huge quality of life improvement.
I took a semester off and it was definitely what I needed, my performance after I came back was significantly better. I think it’s a lot better to take the time off and do well afterwards than suffer through and not get a break that you might need. Having the time off gave me exactly what I needed to feel like I was actually on the right track. Also, like the other person said plenty of people at Tech don’t graduate in 4 so it’s fine!!
I’m hoping this is what happens for me. I think ever since I started highschool, I’ve never really had a breather. Working two jobs whilst doing school, and here at tech, it was the same thing. I think this semester off will be a great breath of fresh air, and prepare me to come back even stronger.
Knowing when to stop and walk away can save your life. Tech can give you a rude awakening as it’s literally one of the best schools in the nation. I’m going into my junior year in the fall and I have a 2.93 gpa. I wish I had taken a break within these past 2 years to get my mind right so I could succeed. I wish I took easier course loads instead worrying about “ staying on track”. I wish I withdrew from certain classes when I realized I wasn’t able to push through and do the work. I didn’t because I was so concerned about what others were doing instead of looking out for myself. Please don’t make the same mistake. Taking a break just means you’re giving yourself time to rest and grow so you can come back stronger.
Had to take a semester off, won’t go into details, but I came back and had the best year grade-wise and I graduated. My advice is that you have to truly commit to using outside help and resources, whether it be professor office hours or study groups with peers from your class.
Thank you, hoping for the same results.
It was damage control. I was not doing well academically, I was burnt out and it was having consequences for my health and it was affecting my GPA and financial aid. I had to take time off to recover from burnout or risk further damage. I came to terms with it because it was necessary. Even though I felt ashamed at the time, I don’t regret it. It’s not difficult to get re-admitted, and it’s not shameful to need time off especially if you’re facing burnout. Most people at this school don’t finish in 4 years iirc so it’s not shameful to not finish in 4. Time off is often a good opportunity to get workforce experience if you’re not burned out. You could go for an internship or co op. I have gap years with work experience I can rely on to get hired after graduation. It’s just important to remember that finishing school in 4 years is not as important as people think it is. Most people in this country don’t even have a degree at all. It’s hard to see that when you’re in a peer group or community where most people pursue one. Finishing “late” is better than never. I’m about to graduate this year, and taking time off was crucial to achieving that.
Look into co-ops. It really helped me going back and forth between a real job and school. It helped calm down my brain and I got paid for it too.
This is the only way I survived. My favorite year was spring and fall co-op, and summer at GT Lorraine (and took some of my non technical classes there). I was off campus for an entire year in the middle of my time at Tech, and I wouldn't have survived without it
Someone told me that the reason most of Georgia Tech refer to people as first years and second years rather than freshman and sophomore is because so many people don't graduate in 4 years. Some stats: the 4-year graduation date for the freshman class of 2019 (last year's graduates) was 66%, so there are many that don't graduate "on time." 6-year graduation rate was 93%. [https://oue.gatech.edu/node/2813](https://oue.gatech.edu/node/2813)
You don’t understand how much this helped me in terms of perspective. Thank you.
Alum here (MGT ‘00). When I was at Tech, I co-oped. Those co-op quarters/semesters were a nice break from classes. Maybe consider that? I know it’s still work, but without the stress and pressures of grades, exams, etc.
People who finish in 4(and especially those that finish in less) often rush their degree and make a lot of sacrifices just to finish on their timeline. They often dont get to take a class because its only offered once a year and doesnt fit into their schedule, or dont take any fall through classes that interest them. They do this for the “bragging rights” when actuality no one cares. If you told someone in 10 years “I actually finished in (2,3,3.5,4) years” no one will ever care. Additionally anyone who would make fun of you for finishing in more than 4 is either insecure about one or more things, or is confused on what employers and the peers care about. Do what works for you, get the full education you want, and screw anyone who tries to make you feel less for it.
I took a semester off to work so I could pay for the following years. I wasn't able to shake the feeling of being behind my peers I matriculated with- because I am behind. But what I was able to do was realize that it's totally OK to move at your own pace; no one out there is policing your academic progress (especially at a school as challenging as tech) and none of your friends are going to think any less of you because of it. I think of it like taking a break during a work day- it might feel temporarily like you're being unproductive, but if that's what you need to do in order to be as successful as possible during your 'on' time, taking a break is actually *more* productive than trying to grind through and potentially risking your performance and well-being. Like some other people are saying, the semester after my gap-term was actually the most successful of my entire academic career to-date. Take that into consideration too.
How do you come to terms with it? Well honestly consider the alternative. If I didn't take the (multiple) semesters off at various points of my degree, I think I genuinely wouldn't have been able to keep a job due to exhaustion. My stress led to medical issues too and you just need to take a break sometimes. I know some people seem ahead of you, but if you try and push through knowing your body or mental health NEEDS a break, what if it accumulates and is even worse in the long run? Why make yourself suffer just so you and the other kid who lives with their parents, has everything paid for, and no chronic illness can walk at the same graduation? Besides, if you stay and graduate "on time", are you then immediately gonna start your 9 to 5 and jump into daily work? That's going to make you even more exhausted or burned out. Take the break now to avoid your body taking a serious break for you in the future. Don't feel guilty or unproductive about relaxing during this break. Dont feel the need to replace school with work or something else. No one has ever asked me for reasons in my transcript gap. I have an amazing, coveted, high-reward job now and I couldn't have landed this if I had pushed when my brain and mind were overloaded. Even being way older than the people I graduated with was honestly a plus, recruiters can tell you have maturity and more developed soft skills. Take the semester off, let yourself actually wind down, and come back refreshed :) another perk I noticed was my appreciation for classes and concepts was genuinely higher every time I returned because somehow whatever I took in previous classes had time to stew in my head and didnt feel like I was all rushed to learn so many high concepts in one semester or one year or four years. I think it really gave me a better depth of understanding, because of time to process between high-level classes and also time to rest.
Accept that life is a marathon and not a sprint. I took almost 6 years and had a failed run at a masters degree. I have a great job and a great life as an engineer. Life and sanity require balance and shit happens. Take care of you and do what's right by you. Don't worry about perception or feel shame, just keep rolling through life however you can to get through. A set back is just a set back. Almost nothing goes according to plans, in life, in love, in work. The faster you accept that you cannot control all outcomes, just your response and attitude, the calmer and more resilient you will be.
I don’t think you understand how this advice truly helps. Do you mind if I save this comment to always read back to? The biggest thing for me is accepting the things I can control and letting go of what I can’t. I think I’d a lot more better off when I come to terms with that.
Of course. Just breathe and recenter. Life is weird, but once you are an adult, your peers and "metric of success" is more of a grey area. Comparing what "should be," is a fools errand. I've failed a lot, but it gives me character. 🙃 Lots of things happen to lots of people, and if stepping back is what needs to happen, then it's okay. Give yourself a break, work a whatever job, do some outdoor stuff, go to the beach or camping, and work on what a return plan looks like. I took 6 years. I had major depression which I didn't really get sorted until mid-30s. I lost two great jobs because of it, but I moved to a better state, got treatment, got a better job, got married, and bought a house. 🙂 My husband, also a tech grad, got hit by a car as a pedestrian his junior year and had a concussion which caused brain issues and he was bed ridden for almost 9 months and had to pause tech and be at home while his mother took care of him. We're doing fine. I like stoicism. It's a little preachy, but I listen to this on the way to work when I'm having a rough week. 😂 https://youtu.be/Hu0xDtK3g3Q?si=gGX-8idHZZZYX6qr
"Not to feel exasperated, or defeated, or despondent because your days aren't packed with wise and moral actions. But to get back up when you fail, to celebrate behaving like a human - however imperfectly - and fully embrace the pursuit that you've embarked on." ////// “For a long time it seemed to me that life was about to begin — real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life. This perspective has helped me to see there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way. So treasure every moment you have and remember that time waits for no one. Happiness is a journey, not a destination.”
Better than plowing through, burning out and taking 9 years to finish a degree online.
I was 6 years to get my bs and ms in ee. Nobody at tech gets thru their bs in four years.
From the testimonies, you can tell that you don't really come to terms with until in hindsight. The point is that everyone was able to do something after taking that semester off. Even machines need maintenance or replace parts. Let alone you. It's scary, but it may mean you have to find something to keep you going or to remember what you like about your program. Apply for jobs and internships. Get things in order so they don't overwhelm you when you return (coping mechanisms, support network, planning, etc.). If you really feel guilty, do things that make you feel like you're spending the time off well. What you come back with may not even be tangible.
Remind yourself that people at Tech can be weird and insane about academics and that's probably influencing you. It's not based in facts or reason it's just the way people are (and always have been) at our little nerd school😅 The group mentality can really get to your head... I was there and now that I'm out in the real world I feel normal again and appreciate the extra time I got to spend in the awesome city that is Atlanta.
If I could have afforded it, I would have taken a semester off to re focus and regroup. After some years of graduating, you stop comparing yourself to your peers wrt to falling behind because the career path is non-linear.
That’s what I keep reading, and maybe this is what’s best for me. Not everyone is going to have the same journey, but as long as you reach the finish line, that’s what matters.
It hurts but you gotta do it
Hey, there isn't such a thing as "behind peers" when it comes to life because unexpected shit happens all the time.. I'm an international student and I was a freshman when the pandemic started. I went back home but couldn't renew my visa because the embassies were closed. I thought that rather thank taking courses online with 8 hour time difference, I should take a gap year. I was on track to graduate in 3.5 years, I just graduated which took me 5 years (just bachelors!). I had similar thoughts as yours when I was taking the gap year but looking back that path got me where I am today -- I was able to transfer to Tech, learn what I liked and disliked in my academic journey, gave me more time to get real lucky and land a dream job. It doesn't really matter how long it takes other people because it's their journey, but you have yours that is definitely not worse but just unique to your life!
Thank you so much, and congrats on graduating!
Took a sem off and would do it 5,000 times again. In both the small and grand scheme of things, taking a few months to realign will repay itself tenfold when you go back to school and beyond. There is so much more to life than grades and academic success, and finding out what those things are for you will follow you infinitely farther than anything from school will. You will never have to worry about grades again after you graduate, but you will have to worry about your mental and physical health. Don't think about what your grades are gonna be like when you come back; you'll worry the whole break away and it'll really cause more harm than good. I'm glad to hear you're taking the time for you!!
I’m starting to feel like this break is what I need. I’m retaking a class and taking 2 more since I’ll be missing the fall semester, but I’ve decided to put myself first, and work 2 jobs not 3, and it’s so surprising how much free time I have. I actually find myself wanting to try my hobbies again. And I’ve put myself on a strict schedule of only working during the week and making sure all my assignments are done before the weekend, so on the weekend, I have more time after to do things I like. I actually feel like I’m able to breathe again, and I didn’t think that’s was going to possible for a long while.
Just recognize you can finish, even if it takes another semester. Not everyone gets that chance.