Taking the semester off- opinions?

Question

My due date is set for November 16th, which is right in the middle of my college semester. Personally, I want to take this semester off, and quite possibly the one following it to be with my baby. My family on the other hand, thinks I should stay actively enrolled for fear that I will never go back. I am an adult and responsible for my own decisions, but I do value my family's input. Has anyone else dealt with this? Should I take the semesters off or just bite the bullet and stay actively enrolled?

Answer

I have not personally dealt with the situation, but I have attended college, and I have had a child. At my university in Ohio, if you disenrolled from your classes after so many weeks into the semester, you still had to pay for the classes but you didn’t get credit for them. I’m guessing for you, if your college is anything like that, November is way too late to disenroll without penalty. And having had a newborn, adjusting to the new schedule and routine and way of life is chaotic - I would have NEVER been able to finish a semester of college with a newborn, especially attending classes and taking finals with a clear head. 
If I were you, I would take the semester you are due off for sure. Don’t waste money on a semester you won’t get to finish and get credit for.  Then try going back for Spring semester and see how that goes the first couple weeks. If it’s too much, you can withdraw from classes before the penalty-free window closes; hopefully, though, you’ll be used to the new routine and “new normal” of having newborn and will be good to go back to classes. Good luck!

Answer

I would probably take the one semester off and see how that goes before planning to take 2 semesters off- but I’d definitely take the one off. That way you can focus on your baby and your family and not be super stressed and get behind in school while you’re trying to get into a routine with the new one. In the end it’s completely up to you.

Answer

My son was born on October 13th and I only missed a week of classes. Honestly they sleep so much that it wasn’t a big deal at all. I started my student teaching that following January when he was three months. It would have been way harder to finish school with a toddler running around. I nursed and typed out papers to multitask:)

Answer

I'm due in May and I was not about to try to work, go to school, and have a baby during finals week. So I took this spring off and am taking the next year off minimum. My parents don't like it but it's not thier decision. My loans are in my name now and I'm the one who will pay them back, not them. But my mother also held school loans over my head my first 2 years when I wasn't old enough to have loans of my own. So I don't have much patience for families who try to pressure thier children into college and then treat them like shit when it doesn't work out. My kids come first, my education can wait.

Answer

I’m taking the semester off and the semester after doesn’t start until my baby will be about 2 months but I already registered for that semester and fall in order to prevent me from taking more time off than I need. I definitely wanted to take the semester off that he’s due in, with a NB you’re not going to get much sleep and the classes I’m taking are very important for me to pass (pre-reqs science core classes) in order for me to get into the nursing program. I don’t want to risk being under so much stress and lack of sleep. Also I’m going to try breastfeeding so I want to be able to build my supply and avoid any stress I don’t need at the time.

Answer

I didn’t take time off because I knew I wouldn’t wanna go back... so I did online school for 2 semesters

Answer

If you’re due in the middle of the semester there’s no point in starting it unless it’s an online class

Taking the semester off- opinions?

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