First - take a breather. No, seriously! You have been through an extraordinary amount of pain whether you acknowledge it or not, and though the pain may not have ended, please take care of your well-being, whether that means removing yourself from stressors and mental health triggers or staying in contact with friends. After all, the decisions ahead are vital and need to be made in a place of emotional stability.
Classes
Unfortunately, you cannot finish your classes from your current semester, and you will be withdrawn by your academic advisor without receiving credit (no vouchers are used, however). It’s no doubt soul-crushing and I wish it didn’t have to be like this.
In the meantime, your professors will not automatically be notified that you have withdrawn, so please reach out to them to let them know about your leave.
Tuition
The amount of tuition reimbursed depends on how far into the semester you left. Please refer to this page on CMU’s website for tuition adjustment rates based on which campus you attend and the official start date of your LOA. If you would like to submit a tuition appeal, you will need to submit the Tuition Appeal Form to the Registrar. In addition, refer to this document (specifically pages 3 and 4) to figure out your LOA’s official start date, which will play into the exact tuition return amount.
Financial Aid
If you receive any financial aid from CMU, this will also impact how much tuition you can be refunded, though again, it also depends on how much of the semester you had finished before leaving. Generally, the HUB will look into your specific situation to see how much tuition can be reimbursed when financial aid is considered, and in the meantime, they will pause your aid until you have returned.
Note that whether you have financial aid or not, you will need to pay CMU any owed unpaid fees (e.g. housing fees from a previous or current semester) before you can be cleared to return (Anonymous).
Housing
As stated earlier, if you live on-campus, you can schedule a pickup time with your housefellow to retrieve anything in your dorm that you might not have brought home when you left originally. Make sure that you do this before the current semester ends.
In addition, you will have the option to cancel your housing for next semester for a $200 fee anytime before the day the dorms close for the current semester. If you don’t, you will have to pay the housing fee for the next semester whether you’re enrolled or not.
My suggestion?
Unless you know for sure before the current semester deadline that you are returning, cancel your housing. Yes, having to pay $200 is not ideal, but by doing so you’re at least protecting yourself from the worst-case scenario of losing $5 - 7K if you cannot return next semester.
To cancel your housing, watch out for an e-mail from Housing Services 2 - 3 weeks before the semester ends. There, find and fill out the Housing Cancellation Form (it will look like this) and e-mail it to rmassign@andrew.cmu.edu. If you still have items in your room, let them know in your message, and update them again once you have removed everything so they can officially finalize your cancellation.
Deciding Whether to Return
This is the first and most important decision you’ll need to make, as it carries real ramifications for how the rest of your college experience will play out. Take some time to reflect on whether being at CMU has been healthy and productive for you, and whether you feel like attempting to return is worthwhile. Consider factors such as:
Cost
CMU is expensive, and even with financial aid there’s a chance that much of the tuition from your incomplete semester will not be returned. If your parent(s)/legal guardian(s) help to finance your tuition, talk to them about whether continuing to invest in CMU is feasible, and if there is any additional aid you may need to seek. If cost is an issue, consider taking a semester (or longer) off to work before returning.
Academic Pressure
The work culture of this school, as you probably already know, is notorious for its extreme rigor. Ask yourself: are you ready to commit to such an intense school environment once again? Are you able to take care of yourself while keeping up with classes? Again, consider seeking accommodations from the Office of Disability Resources.
Social Supports
Do you feel like you fit in with your peers at CMU? During times of hardship, do you have friends you can lean on for support? Having a strong network of people who care about you is invaluable at such a tough institution, while feeling ostracized or mistreated by others can significantly worsen your well-being should you return.
Decision-Making Strategies
Weigh the Pros and Cons
Maybe you’ve consistently struggled with your mental health while at CMU, but you trust that you can find a way to succeed regardless. Perhaps your family is torn between valuing education and the reality of student loans and CMU’s inconsistent aid. There’s no clean choice you can make regarding whether to return that ensures a perfect outcome, but knowing your priorities and what you’re willing to sacrifice can guide you greatly as you decide.
Do You Have to Return Right Away?
As an undergrad, you can remain on LOA for up to two years before you are no longer guaranteed re-enrollment. This gives you a bit of leeway in figuring out the timing of your return. If you intend to eventually re-enroll but do not feel ready to immediately come back, could you wait a semester or two? You are also able to take classes during the summer via the Tartan Summer Grant.