<p>I am an international, and I will be leaving my country to go to college in the USA. My parents, however, are quite old and their health is frail. I can’t help but get morbid thoughts of what would happen if something happened to them. </p>
<p>Is it possible to get a semester off in the middle?</p>
<p>Crap. Why am I thinking like this?</p>
<p>maybe becuase you watch that show house too much? take a break from it, gupta</p>
<p>But to answer your question: yes, most colleges will allow you to withdraw in the middle of a semester and take a personal leave of absence, and then come back for the next semester.</p>
<p>Your concerns sound realistic, and yes, most colleges will allow you to take time off with no penalty if one of your parents dies.</p>
<p>That sounds fair. It won’t come to that, it won’t. Thanks. :/</p>
<p>welcome to the world of “worst case scenario” thinkers. </p>
<p>it really sucks.</p>