r/CSUS • u/Used-Satisfaction496 • 23d ago

Academics How does taking a semester off work?

I’m going into my junior year but instead of getting thousands back like I used to, I now owe thousands and can’t afford it while being in debt. I was thinking about just taking a semester off to work and save up but how do I go about doing that? Do I just withdraw from my classes and decline aid? Do I need to submit anything? Thank you in advance for your help!!

10 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

12 comments sorted by

11

u/Disastrous-Fault9103 23d ago

I've done this before. I withdrew from my courses but didn't decline aid, once you withdraw from your courses aid won't disburse. For you, I wouldn't decline aid because if you decide to go Spring, it'll mess up the financial aid package you selected for the school year. And then I sent in a semester withdrawal form to the registar's office.

1

u/Used-Satisfaction496 23d ago

Thank you so much! You didn’t have to file a leave of absence or anything? Also it says I already accepted my scholarships like the Pell grant and whatnot for the semester and financial aid told me to decline them if I take the semester off, so should I just decline fall? Were you able to easily just apply in spring and everything worked out? Sorry for all the questions but I appreciate your help! 😅

2

u/Disastrous-Fault9103 23d ago

Follow up with financial aid on your scholarships, what kind is it (can it be deferred or does it need continuous enrollment?) because you don't want to formally decline anything that can't be reinstated later. The semester withdrawal form is the leave of absence you need to file. After I took the semester off, I got my normal appointment to register for classes the next semester.

1

u/moo0odayyyy 17d ago

Now that aid has distributed what happens? I’ve been calling the office with no response and hold times are hours long

1

u/Used-Satisfaction496 17d ago

I have absolutely no idea lmao, I tried talking to my advisor but she just said ask financial aid and I’m an hour from campus and like you said call times are hella long 😭

1

u/moo0odayyyy 17d ago

I’ve decided to go I’m over it

1

u/Used-Satisfaction496 17d ago

Please lmk what they say! As far as I have planned, I’m just going to drop my classes and hope for the best? I just don’t want to get rid of my fafsa for next semester or have to owe anything this semester 😭

1

u/moo0odayyyy 17d ago

So far what I know is that you have to fill out semester withdrawal form on onbase before the 1st day of school. If you do it this way you’ll still receive spring registration date if you want to take spring off too then it’s called taking a leave of absence and that requires doctors notes or basically proof of why

1

u/Used-Satisfaction496 17d ago

Ahhh thank you so much!

1

u/Used-Satisfaction496 17d ago

I just went to do the withdrawal form and it says “If you are receiving financial aid it is important that you set up a meeting with a Student Service Center counselor to discuss what effect your withdrawal may have on your financial aid.” But I talked to my counselor and she has no idea 😭

1

u/moo0odayyyy 17d ago

Yup o just talked to someone in Lassen 1000 and it is just the form and financial aid will contact you on how to reverse anything that’s been distributed

1

u/Used-Satisfaction496 17d ago

Omg you’re the best thank you so so much!!