Find Out Before You Drop Out
Consider Your Alternatives to Withdrawal
AND make sure you double check any information you get, and then discuss it with someone you trust or someone who can be objective but also is well-informed:
The most appropriate people to start with are:
- your tutor or the lecturer in charge of the subject,
- the program convenor or academic adviser in your school
- Director of Undergraduate and Postgraduate Studies in your Division
- Student Administration staff
- The Dean of Students
For specific program and career concerns:
The Careers Centre provides careers Counsellors who can talk you through the career implications of your decision. If you wish to change programs, obtaining accurate information about selection into other university and TAFE courses is vital for weighing up your options.
For other concerns:
Personal, relationship, health and a range of practical problems can arise in your life that can impact on your study. The University provides a range of services to assist you at such times. Check out these services to learn more about what is available.
- Welfare and Advisory Service 9850 6496
- Counselling Service 9850 7497
- Medical Service 9850 7497
- Equity Support (disability issues) 9850 6494
So, what should you be considering?
Look at what's not working for you
Ask yourself- what do I like about being at university? Then look at what you don't like about being there. Are the good things outweighing the bad? What sort of things don't you like?
Is it:
- The course itself
- The content or the way it's taught
- The teacher
- The other students
Is it:
- Having to start studying again
- Having to travel to uni
- Having to make new friends or not having friends
Is it:
- Where and how you live
- How much it costs to live
- What your family/friends/intimate friends etc think
- I'm just not ready for this
- I just don't want to be here
- It's not what I thought it'd be …
Your answers to these should tell you a lot about where you are at the moment, and once you've clarified your reasons-if you can- then you can look more objectively at what needs to work to keep you here. Or it may simply mean that withdrawing is a good decision for you to make at this stage of your life.
You can talk with your academic adviser, someone from the Welfare and Advisory Service, the Counselling Service or The Dean of Students
Look at your life load and do some life planning
If not here then where, if not now then, when? We can only cope with so much at any one time. Now could be one of those times to look at your life and work out what your priorities are. Ask yourself how much you can cope with and how much do you want to cope with. These sort of issues benefit from being discussed about with someone you trust or someone who you know will be objective.
Talk with The Dean of Students, someone from the Welfare and Advisory Service, someone from the Counselling Service, or your academic adviser
Take a break from study, but do it right
Sometimes just taking a break from study is what's needed. The University allows this , but you must follow the appropriate procedures. Check the regulations on the web or see below.
Talk with The Dean of Students, or your academic adviser. Check on the University's regulations on the Macquarie University web site
Ask for an extension
If you are going through a crisis and are finding it hard to cope with your academic workload, you could ask your lecturer for an extension to finish your assignment. A few more days or weeks might be sufficient to put you back on track. Most lecturers are sympathetic, provided such requests are infrequent, genuine and are made prior to the due date
Talk with your tutor or lecturer
Drop a Unit or Go Part-time
If you are not coping with your workload or if you have too many work or family commitments, why not withdraw from a few subjects and continue part-time? In most courses, you can take as little as one subject per semester. You can always go back to full-time studies later when things are easier for you.
Talk with your tutor or lecturer, your academic adviser, or The Dean of Students
But be aware that:
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If you drop below 9 units per semester, you may lose your Youth Allowance, Austudy, Abstudy or Pensioner Education Supplement entitlements - check with Centrelink for further information;
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You will need to withdraw before the HECS cut off date to avoid academic or financial penalty. For more information please visit the HECS Web site:http://www.goingtouni.gov.au/
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Withdrawing from a core or prerequisite unit may impede your enrolment in further units (see your course coordinator);
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You will need to withdraw formally from the units you decide to drop
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International students' visa obligations do not normally allow part-time studies.
Talk with your academic adviser or Macquarie International if you are an International student
Change your course
If you are unhappy with your course or some of your subjects, you may be able to change your enrolment. Forms are available at the Registrar web site. International students should check the restrictions imposed by their visa.
Talk with the Academic Adviser for the course/subject you would like to change to and also about the implications of withdrawing.