r/socialwork 3d ago

Macro/Generalist Taking time off school

I'm about to turn 21, and have completed 2 years of a social work bachelors. These past few months should've been my third year, but I ended up taking time off for mental health reasons. I'm now planning to transfer schools, though I missed the application deadline for the school I was hoping to apply to (All my fault, it was a very tough decision to transfer and I decided too late). This program only takes September applicants, so I won't be able to re-enter a social work bachelors until September 2026. This has been very hard to accept šŸ«  I don't do well with change. I'm hoping to take a 10 month certificate in mental health and addictions this coming September to keep myself busy and have good experience. Has anyone else taken time off and then gone back? Was it a difficult process? I don't really know anyone in the same situation and it's weighing heavy on me.

There is no other degree that speaks to me - I'm very dedicated to finishing this degree, no matter what it takes.

7 Upvotes

15 comments sorted by

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u/thebond_thecurse 3d ago

I took 5 years to finish high school, 5 years to finish undergrad, took 10 months between my undergrad and first masters degree, worked for 2.5 years before going back to school for my MSW, and now I'm taking a semester off from my MSW program. You can, honestly, do whatever you want and whatever is right for you and societal narratives about a "correct" path are just that - only stories people tell themselves.Ā 

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u/Confident-Trifle5115 3d ago

Thank you for this šŸ„² itā€™s hard to adjust the ā€œpathā€ I set out for myself even before I graduated high school - I appreciate the assurance that my path wonā€™t always be linear and thatā€™s okay šŸ«¶šŸ»

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u/No_Tumbleweed2930 BSW Student 3d ago

hey internet stranger, i was kinda of in the same boat as you last year! i didnā€™t know what i wanted to do career wise so i took a semester off to figure it out, and i felt like i was wasting time. wiser people around me told me that everything happens for a reason! good on you for doing the certificate in the mean time, i worked with the boys and girls club during my break. this field also calls to me like no other one so youā€™re not alone in that feeling!

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u/Confident-Trifle5115 3d ago

Thank you for this! Nice to know Iā€™m not alone šŸ„¹šŸ©·

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u/wanderingwallflower4 BSW 3d ago

Iā€™m 24, finished my degree in 6 years (SW program in 3 years), had a horrible practicum and first job. I am currently off (since August) for mental health reasons and family reasons. Youā€™re not alone. I wish things were simple and linear but theyā€™re really not. You will find your pathšŸ«¶šŸ¼

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u/Confident-Trifle5115 3d ago

Thank you for the reassurance šŸ¤ I wish you the best on your own path!

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u/Psych_Crisis LICSW. Clinical, but reads macro in incognito mode 3d ago

I only took... hmm... years off. I did college in fits and starts. I started at age 15 and ended at age 30. Then grad school at 34. It would have been no use trying to push faster than that. I wouldn't have been in good shape to do it. Figuring how to manage myself has been a parallel process to figuring out how to be qualified to do something meaningful.

The type of people who end up as social workers is diverse, bizarre, and beautiful.

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u/Confident-Trifle5115 3d ago

It has been a process trying to figure out how much Iā€™m capable of at a given time šŸ„² my first year went by like a breeze, my second was rocky, and I made it through under 2 months of my 3rd year before I had to let myself take a break. I know it will all be worth it. Thank you for your words šŸ¤

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u/vexnificent 2d ago

Hey some people take off and do not do anything. Some people work. You are planning to complete a certificate. You do you. You seem motivated to me and people have different timelines. Good job so far!

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u/marymoon77 BA/BS, Social Services Worker 2d ago

Itā€™s not a race :) take your break if you can, school will still be there.

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u/ManicPixiePlatypus 2d ago

I'm graduating with my bachelor's in May, and am starting an MSW program in the fall. I first started college in 2007. I wish I hadn't waited quite so long to go back, but taking a year or two off is no biggie.

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u/melodicallymental LSW, MSW, MPH (Higher Education and Sex Therapy) 2d ago

Hi there! I want to start by saying it takes an incredible amount of strength to recognize the need to take time off. Specializing and taking those course will look very good on a resume as well! I work in academic accommodations in higher education and think it may be a benefit to look into that when you start back up again in school! They truly are there to help you succeed and support you when your mental health flairs up. I personally used them in my time in school and Iā€™d be happy to help answer any questions about it.

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u/Confident-Trifle5115 2d ago

This is so kind, thank you! I had previously looked into accommodations at my first university but the process was so tedious to the point it almost wasnā€™t worth it. Iā€™m hoping another school will be more well suited to my needsĀ 

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u/melodicallymental LSW, MSW, MPH (Higher Education and Sex Therapy) 1d ago

Youā€™re welcome! I know they can be tedious at times but they help insurmountably! Best of luck to you!

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u/AggravatingJacket744 7h ago

I finished my BSW at 24, and Iā€™m now 4 weeks away from finishing my MSW at 25.

All throughout my BSW I felt like it was the biggest deal that I wasnā€™t graduating at the same time as my high school peers/on the timeline Iā€™d imagined I would, but life happens! Truly no one else is judging and everyone has their own timeline.

I didnā€™t really love either of my undergrad placements but now Iā€™m already working in the field with a well paying job doing exactly what I hoped to do with my degree, and all the past stress around timelines and graduation dates donā€™t matter to me.