Thinking
of Dropping
OUT?
Don't drop out . . .
Drop in to see someone
who can help!
• Be sure you know your options
• Don't struggle with these issues alone
• Drop in to see a counselor: Walk In Clinic
(no appointment needed), 1:00-2:30 p.m.
daily during the academic year, or call
(914) 773-3710 for an appointment
Counseling Center
Westchester Campuses
WHY Do Students
Think of Leaving?
• Wrong course or major choice
• Cannot keep up with the workload
• Missing family and friends
• University feels unfriendly and student feels alone
• Personal problems interfere with study
• University is disappointing
• Not used to doing so much work with so little help
• Financial problems
Of course, for some, leaving may be a valuable option,
e.g., to pursue another course or degree or to sort out
personal problems.
Read on to find out more about your options.
Thinking About
Leaving - STEP PLAN
The
6
1. CONSIDER carefully what you want to do and why you want to do it.
2. TALK with an appropriate person about your intentions. Talking to someone
will ensure that you have considered all of your options and enable you to
make a decision, which works for you, not against you. Remember the staff
psychologists at the counseling center are always available.
Other people who might be helpful include:
• One of your professors
• Your academic advisor
• The Dean for Students
• Staff from Co-op and Career Services
• Staff from the Center for Academic Excellence
• Staff from Residential Life
• Staff from the Center for Student Development and Campus Activities
• Staff from the Financial Aid Office
• Staff from Student Accounts and Registrar Services
• Staff from the International Student Advisement Program
• Your athletics coach
Do not drop out until you have dropped in to see at least one
of the above people.
3. Then list your OPTIONS—every possibility without pre-judging them.
4. Next, DECIDE and be confident in standing by your decision
5. KEEP your options open to resume study here or elsewhere in
the future.
that you complete all the formalities and paperwork in the
6. ENSURE
appropriate offices (e.g., leave of absence or withdrawal forms) if you
decide to leave the University.
PROBLEM
WHO
SOLUTION
• Speak with your advisor
Academic Advisor, School of:
Arts and Science........................773-3924
Computer Science......................773-3592
Education ..................................773-3571
Business ....................................773-3660
Nursing......................................773-3373
• Undecided about school or major
Academic Resources Staff ..................773-3849
• Speak to a Counselor at Co-op and Career Services
Contact Co-op and Career Services ....773-3415
• Speak to a CAP Counselor (if you are a CAP student)
CAP Counselor....................................773-3666
• Speak to a Counseling Staff Psychologist
Counseling Center ..............................773-3710
• See your professor or academic advisor and seek
extensions, and/or special consideration
• Faculty/School/Department
• Difficulty with English? See your international
student advisor
• International Advisor ......................773-3447
• If you think you qualify for ADA (disability)
accommodations—contact Disability Services
• Coordinator of Disability Services....773-3710
• Learn study, time management, and test-taking skills
• Counseling Center ..........................773-3710
• Seek tutorial services and utilize Center
for Academic Excellence (CAE) resources
• Center for Academic Excellence (CAE)....773-3721
• Withdraw from 1 or more classes
• Academic Advisor (see list above)
• Speak with a Financial Aid counselor
• Financial Aid ....................................773-3751
• Go to Co-op and Career Services to investigate
part-time employment opportunities
• Co-op and Career Services ..............773-3361
• Speak with a Counseling staff psychologist
• Counseling Center ..........................773-3710
• Get involved with clubs, organizations, and other
University activities
• Student Development
and Campus Activities ....................773-3767
• Speak with the Dean for Students
• Dean for Students Office ................773-3351
I think I have made the wrong
choice of a major
to Contact?
I feel unable to keep up with
the workload
I have financial problems
I feel overwhelmed by the university,
feel alone, and/or the university has
not lived up to my expectations
CONTACT
• Form a study group with some of the people
from your class
I am not used to doing so much
work with little help
I have personal problems which
interfere with my study
I have difficulty with my residence
accommodations/roommate, etc.
• Speak with the CAE
• CAE..................................................773-3721
• Speak with a counseling staff psychologist
• Counseling Center ..........................773-3710
• Speak with professor or academic advisor
• Faculty/School/Department
• Speak with a Counseling staff psychologist
• Counseling Center ..........................773-3710
• Speak with your academic advisor
• Academic advisor (see list above)
• Speak to your residence hall
advisor/residence director
• Residential Life Office......................923-2791
• Speak with the Dean for Students
• Dean for Students Office ................773-3351
Thinking About
Leaving - STEP PLAN
The
6
in detail
1. CONSIDER what you want and why you want
it. Consider and become aware of the costs and
benefits of leaving.
Exploring options through talking with the appropriate people is a valuable
early step in making the right decision.
Some questions to consider might be:
• If I am leaving because of personal problems, am I further disadvantaging myself? Can I learn to manage my studies and my personal
problems by seeking help from the Counseling Center and thus avoid
having to leave?
• If I am feeling that I am not able to cope because of personal stresses, can I arrange to alter my course load and seek help in learning
how to more effectively manage stress from the Counseling Center?
• If I am not sure if I have made the right course or major choice, have
I considered all other possibilities, such as changing majors, transferring courses, gaining credit for subjects already completed, or speaking with an advisor or career counselor?
• If I have not registered for accommodations for a disability, have
I considered contacting the Counseling Center's coordinator of
Disability Services to discuss eligibility and available accommodation?
• If I am having financial problems, have I considered talking with a
Financial Aid Counselor to discuss options regarding loans and/or
managing my financial pressures?
2. TALK—So Whom Do I Talk With?
This will largely depend on the circumstances related to why you are thinking
about leaving. Appropriate people to talk to within the University include your
professors, an academic advisor, a financial aid counselor, a career counselor,
the Center for Academic Excellence (CAE), the Dean for Students, the Student
Development and Campus Activities staff, the Resident Life staff, and/or the
Counseling Center staff.
If in doubt about who to speak with—whatever the issue—see a
Counseling Center staff psychologist. The Counseling Center services are
free and confidential.
3.
OPTIONS AT A GLANCE
Drop subjects
Withdraw from one or more classes before the deadline. Check the class schedule—available at Student Accounts and Registrar Services—for deadline dates.
You can withdraw from one or more classes. This means completing a drop/add
form available at Student Accounts and Registrar Services.
• You should contact the Financial Aid office to determine the implication
of dropping classes on scholarship and loan status.
• You should contact your academic advisor for a conversation about dropping your class(es) and its implication on your academic standing and
your ability to remain in residence, if you are a resident student.
If you are an international student, dropping classes may have a visa implication
so you speak to your advisor in the International Program and Services office.
If the deadline for withdrawal has passed, you should contact your academic advisor.
Finish the semester before you leave
If you are able to get through some or all of your classes, you will have gained
credits towards your degree. If you return to school or transfer to another school
later, in most cases, these credits may be counted towards your degree and you
will not need to repeat them. If you change schools and/or major, credits you
have completed at Pace University may be able to be credited toward your new
course of study. Transfer credits depend on grades, equivalencies, etc.
Internal transfer of classes between campuses
and/or schools
You may think you are in the wrong major or school of study. There is nothing
unusual or wrong with that! Usually you will need to finish at least one semester in your current classes. At Pace University, core courses are required for all
majors. A good established academic record is a definite advantage when you
apply for a transfer. If in doubt, see your academic advisor.
Applying for leave of absence
If you believe you have genuine reasons to take time out from school due
to financial pressures, personal reasons, ill health, etc., you need to contact
your academic advisor and the Dean for Students or the Director of Counseling.
Retroactive withdrawals may be granted for medical reasons after consideration
of attending physician and University services. Leave of absence can be for one
semester or one year. Your contact person (advisor, dean, or counselor) can
advise you about the application and re-entry process.
Leaving (withdrawing) completely
Be sure to withdraw officially with Student Accounts and Registrar Services
in the Administration Center. This will keep your options open to return to
the University to study in the future. If you do not withdraw officially your academic record will show that you have failed your classes. Check with Financial
Aid to determine any ramifications regarding loans and/or scholarships.
4.
5.
6.
DECIDE and be confident in standing by your
decision. Once the decision is made, it can give
you a sense of relief and certainty about your
academic future.
KEEP YOUR OPTIONS OPEN to resume study
here or elsewhere in the future.
ENSURE that you complete all the formalities
if you decide to leave the University.
Your academic advisor can assist you in completing all the formalities
related to withdrawing from classes or leaving the University. Failure to
withdraw from classes prior to leaving the University will result in failing
grades. Appropriate forms must be submitted for any official changes to
your administrative records. Forms are available at the Student Accounts
and Registrar Services Office in the Administration Center.
• Withdrawal from class(es) form
• Withdrawal from the University form
• Application for Leave of Absence
• Application for internal school transfer
Counseling Center
Westchester Campuses