[rosie91]

So I'm 20 years old and in college, and in short, I have been on my period for about a month and a half. I've been seeing many doctors and have had many hospital visits over the last few weeks, and it's honestly very stressful. As of right now, I'm anemic and I'm seeing my gyn again tomorrow morning. They're going to test me for PCOS.

However, the advice I am looking for is pertaining to school. Because of my situation, I have missed many, many classes and assignment deadlines. But at college, you have the option to file for a medical withdrawal, which the doctors and school need to approve. I think this would be best for me, but I keep feeling like my doctors and school won't view this as a situation serious enough to withdraw

Do you think I have a good enough reason to medically withdraw from classes until I get better?

[ItsASecret]

Being in University I can tell you schools have no consideration for people who have a rough time IF they do not go into the program advisers to look for opinions. If you do not go in to see the advisers then they will simply assume that you are student #2745364 that is not doing well in school and is likely to fail the classes due to not handing in assignments or taking exams etc. Doctors may not sign off on a simple bleed, or spotting, however if you do have a diagnosis of whatever it may be and it has caused significant life-altering psychological changes that result in the inability to go to school (say incapacitating pain or depression) then you are likely to get a doctor to sign off.

You must see the advisers and they will likely say you can apply for the withdraw as long as the doctors sign off on it. They are often very good at helping students out with options and give their opinions. Schools do understand that life can get in the way and many students do take an absence for a bit to straighten things out, that is why the services of withdraw are offered in the first place. Withdraw is not the end of the world, you will still have your credits and you will still be allowed to come back (I think you just reapply to the school).

[rosie91]

Yes, I called my school today and the Health Center there sent me the paperwork I need to get started on the withdrawal process, but they said that I first need to meet with the Health Center nurses to go over things. So I'll be doing that. I will also meet with my doctor and discuss the situation and see what she says.

It's just that I'm worried about my grades, but I can't do anything about it because I can't attend classes in my condition and I felt that a medical withdrawal would be the best option.

[ItsASecret]

If you are withdrawn your grades will remain 'frozen' until you go back, it is a temporary withdrawal and not a complete college degree withdrawal so everything will still be on file credit and GPA wise since you plan on going back. So when you come back it will be like starting up school as though you were not on a break, you just go about your education normally. However I am not sure how long your school will allow a withdrawal period to go for. I know some schools they say a year or less is no big deal but once you get into the 2,3 years I am not sure if they will let you come right back into the swing of things or if you have to forfeit your degree and essentially start over as a first year undergrad (since the absence period would be too long). It is totally different for all schools though so you will have to find that out.

[rosie91]

Ok, that makes a lot of sense. Thank you