How Do I Dropout Of College

Should I Drop Out Of College

So the first question here is if you should be a college dropout in the first place.

Many successful college grads will tell you:

• That their experience was either very important for their personal and professional development, OR
• That the four years in college felt like a total waste.

This means that you wont find mediocre answers here.

There are many things you should consider before taking your decision.

Many young people find themselves in a very difficult position after dropping out of college and you dont want to be one of them.

College Dropout RateAs per College Atlas, about 70% of Americans enroll in a four-year college.

In addition, about 30% of first-year students drop out of college for various reasons.

So, almost one out of three students dropout of college in their freshman year.

Astonishing, right?

Moreover, as I just mentioned, the graduation rate is not as high as youd expect since less than two thirds stay on college

This really makes me wonder if there is something wrong with higher education in this country.

Because it seems that most people are in a hurry to get out of college in order to do something else.

The question is: What are the reasons that make people want to leave college in the first place?

If you have the same question, read on.

Finding The Right College To Finish Your Degree

Whether attending the same college or a new one, most successful returning students choose to complete their degree through an online program. Finishing your degree online provides a flexible option that makes it easier to balance your work, education and personal life.

Lets look at what makes an online degree program ideal for a working adult with some college credit who wants to re-enroll in college. Look for online colleges that specialize in meeting the needs of transfer students, indicated by the following characteristics:

• Accreditation, which shows the college meets the highest standards of academic quality.
• Policies that maximize transfer credit, including acceptance of non-traditional transfer credits like previous work experience, professional credentials or military credit. The percentage of students receiving transfer credit is also a strong indicator of transferability. For example, more than 90% of Franklin University students receive transfer credit toward their degree.
• Affordable cost per credit hour and one-on-one financial aid support.
• Faculty with extensive industry experience who can translate course content into practical learning experiences.
• Networking opportunities that will help you grow your professional connections.
• Microcredentials and certification qualifications built into degree programs, helping to showcase mastery of in-demand skills.
• Flexible online courses that combine independent study with real-time meetings and individualized support.

Why College Dropouts Are Successful

You can easily fact check reasons why students dropout of college by examining the linked well-known sources.

7 of the 10 Youngest Billionaires in America are College Dropouts

Michael Bolton was the lead singer of a short-lived hard rock band called Blackjack, whose songs were sampled by Jay-Z and Kanye West on “The Blueprint 2” and “College Dropout,” respectively. –

Elizabeth Holmes, a 19y/o college dropout, who created a 10B$ company with nothing but promises, got investors like Walgreens and Robert Murdoch to invest, ultimately leading to fraud charges and criminal investigation –

At 21 college dropout Doug Lindsay was bedridden for 11 years until he found out what was wrong, developed treatments to keep his condition at bay, then developed the surgery that fixed him.

A college dropout was bedridden for 11 years. Then he invented a surgery and cured himself –

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Trails Momentum Is Here To Help

Trails Momentum is a therapeutic program designed for young adults ages 18-25 to support their transition to independence and improved self-awareness. This program uses a combination of wilderness therapy, adventure-based therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and a strength-based approach in order to help your young adult unlock their full potential. Trails momentum teaches young adults valuable life skills focusing on improving their students self-regulation and overall functioning. Trails momentum gives young adults the skills they need to transition into adulthood and live happier, healthier lives with or without pursuing a college career. If you think our program may be beneficial to your young adult or would like to learn more about what we do, please contact us at 877-296-8711.

Forget About Everyone Elses Opinion

What makes this decision scary for people is the thought of what everyone will think. But it doesnt matter.

Theyre not the ones living your life and theyre not the ones paying your bills.

When you look back at your life are you even going to remember the people who you were afraid would think you were a loser? Probably not.

Youre going to remember all the things you did and re-live the great memories.

Without any debt, the amount of money you need to make to cover expenses is very small.

Most people NEED to work so they can pay back the huge student loan bills. If you were to drop out and get an incredible job WITHOUT debt, youre not a slave to anyone.

So whos the real loser?

The point is, you need a plan and you need to make sure youre confident with your decision no matter what people think.

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Plan What Youre Going To Do

If you are dropping out, then you already have an idea of what you are going to do. Some people drop out for medical reasons and they are going to work through that after dropping out. Others drop out to pursue their own business and become self-employed and that is their plan after dropping out. What is your plan?

You might not have every detail planned out on what you are going to do next, but once you are officially out of college, there is no better time to plan out your life than then. You can work out details on what you are going to do, where you are going to go, and so much more.

Most importantly, dont let other people stop you! Go out and do what makes you happy during this next phase of your life. Go travel, look for a job you want, go help out others in need, do the thing you desired to do while in school. Because now that you are out, you can make time for the thing you want. But be strategic, make money, and really try to establish yourself in your new life.

Talk To The Alumni Office

You don’t have to graduate from an institution to be considered an alumnus. If you’ve attended, you’re eligible for services through the alumni office. It’s a good idea to stop by the alumni office and introduce yourself before you leave campus.

When you visit the alumni office, leave a forwarding address and get information on alumni benefits which may include everything from job placement services to discounted health insurance rates. Even if you’re leaving school without a degree, you’re still part of the community and you’ll want to stay informed about how your institution can support your future endeavors.

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Choose Whats Right For You

Unless you dropped out with a very clear goal in mind for example, say you have a business idea you want to get off the ground its worth putting some time into considering your options. See our recent post about the top College Alternatives for some ideas.Often people are overwhelmed by the number of choices available because everything looks so cool and interesting! To help with this sense of overwhelm, theres a Japanese concept called Ikigai that roughly translates as reason for being. Sitting down and mapping out your Ikigai can help you figure out your long-term goals.As the meaning of the name would suggest, Ikigai helps you to identify your purpose in life or raison detre, as the French call it. The framework consists of four basic elements that incorporate what youre passionate about, what your strengths are, what the world needs, and what you can realistically be paid for.These overlap in a Venn diagram, as seen below:

that

Be Aware Of The Consequences

Your parents will likely have a lot of questions for you about what’s going to happen if you drop out:

• What are the financial consequences?
• When will you have to start paying back your student loans, or can you put them on deferment?
• What happens to any loan or grant money you’ve already accepted for this term? What about lost credits?
• Will you be able to re-enroll at your institution at a later time, or will you have to reapply for admission?
• What obligations will you still have for any living arrangements you’ve made?

If you haven’t thought about these things already, you should. Having answers to questions such as these before you have “the talk” can be a big help in putting your parents’ minds at ease because they will see it’s not a decision you’re making lightly.

Remember, your parents can be great resources for helping you keep your focus on what’s most important in this difficult time. The key, however, is to fully engage and work in partnership with them to make the transition as painless as possible for everyone involved.

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College Dropout Rate: Institutional Demographics

Two-year colleges have the lowest completion rates of any category of educational institution. While a fair number of students enrolling in these schools go on to transfer to another college for graduation, the dropout rates are still sobering. The demographic for most community colleges includes first-generation college students, low-income students, and students who may not have been able to meet admission standards for 4-year schools.

• Only 5% of students in 2-year colleges graduate on time with a 2-year degree.
• 15.9% of students pursuing a certificate program graduate on time.
• Less than 25% of high school graduates who enroll in 2-year colleges complete a degree in three years.
• 37.5% of recent high school graduates who enroll in a 2-year college complete a degree within six years.
• Only 14.7% of recent high school graduates complete a BA degree within six years.

Talk To The Financial Aid Office

The official date of your withdrawal will likely have a major impact on your finances. If, for example, you withdraw early in the semester, you might need to pay back all or part of any student loans you received to cover school expenses. Additionally, any scholarship funds, grants, or other monies you received might need to be repaid.

If you withdraw late in the semester, your financial obligations might be different. Therefore, meeting with someone in the financial aid office about your choice to withdraw can be a smart, money-saving decision. Let the financial aid officer know your intended withdrawal date and ask how this will affect the money you have paid or loans you’ve received so far. Your financial aid officer can also let you know when you will need to begin repaying loans you received in prior semesters.

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Balancing Work And College

If youre working in order to afford going to college, think about whether or not your hours are affecting your college life or work. If its a struggle to balance the two, try talking to your manager about changing your work schedule. You could also try to find another job better suited to your college timetable.

Institutional Wise Dropout Rates

5. Students pursuing full-time courses are 55% less likely to drop out as compared to those who exclusively attend part-time school.

In any of the categories of educational institutions, two-year colleges have the highest dropout rate. Though it is a fact that a high number of students enroll in these colleges, they transfer to other colleges.

6. The average completion time for a 4-year degree course at a private college is 4.2 years.

For a public college, the average completion time for a 4-year degree is 4.6 years, where the enrollment rate is 44%. While 70% of Americans study at a 4-year college but less than two-third are able to graduate with a degree. Among the dropouts, there is a fair percentage of students who have not been able to meet their admission standards for a four-year school. The type of courses also impacts the average dropout rates.

7. The average completion time for a two-year degree at a public college is more than 2 years.

Only 5% of students graduate on time. 69% of the college dropouts were enrolled in a public community college. 13% of college dropouts prefer going back to community college.

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What Happens If You Dropout Of College

College Graduation Rate Vs Dropout Rate In The Usa

16. The average college graduation rate is 59%.

There is a great variation in college graduation as compared to dropout rates. But a higher graduation rate is very important as no student wants to lose money. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average college graduation rate is 59%. Most of the colleges are truly committed to their students graduation on time.

17. The on-time graduation rate is 36% at selected universities.

The on-time graduation rate is 36% at selective universities, while it is 17% lower at public or non-flagship universities.

18. 5% of students graduate on time at a 2-year college.

Though students pursuing a 1- to 2-year certificate programs have a graduation rate of 15.9%, only 5% graduate on time at a 2-year college.

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Is Dropping Out Of College For You

Dropping out of college can be suitable for some students based on their personal situations and their educational goals However, for other students it may hinder them as they may not be able to pursue the career that they wish to take up. For instance, if you want to be a paediatrician, staying in college is essential so that you obtain the qualifications you need to be a paediatrician.

However, if you want to be a hairstylist you dont necessarily require a college course as you can still train to be a hairstylist through practical work, therefore in this instance dropping out of college is more suitable. Certainly, you should still consider remaining in college as it will provide you with more context and potentially policies which arent explained in such detail when doing more practical work.

For some career prospects your college course is required whereas, for other career prospects your college course isnt always required it is essential to check and do some research regarding the Job you wish to take and what is required for that specific Job.

Youre Having A Hard Time With Academics

In college, youre expected to learn more complex subjects, score high on your exams, and write a brilliant thesis. All these demands can take a toll on your mind and body. A lot of students get accepted to colleges, expecting that they can handle the workload easily. Most of the time, theyll find it a struggle to pass courses. Why? Around 60% of American students are ill-equipped for higher education.

Its not uncommon for undergrads to have a hard time keeping up with the academic demands of colleges. You have to juggle multiple classes and sometimes even have a part-time job. Its definitely not easy. Stressors like these simply cant be avoided during this time.

SOLUTION:

You have to accept that stress, scheduling, and making sacrifices are a part of life. Thats why stress management is a necessary tool to learn in college in order to cope. Lets say youre struggling with some of your courses. You can tap into the resources available to you. You can consult a guidance counselor, pay a tutor, or get advice from a career center.

Professors also usually provide their office hours. Take this time to drop in with them and get some extra tutelage if theres something that you dont understand.

If you want to go the social route, you can form a study group. Study groups are excellent for deep learning because you have peers to consult and encourage you. Sometimes all we need to know is were not alone in our struggles.

Helpful Study Tips

• Avoid cramming.

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Talk To Your School Or Academic Advisor

Now you have made your decision and you decided you want to drop out. What should you do to accomplish this? Start by talking to your school. You can schedule a meeting with your academic advisor and tell them you want to drop out. They will help you get any paperwork you need and they can walk you through your schools process.

If you are in the middle of a semester, decide if you are going to finish the semester or drop out now. Your academic advisor will ask you the same question. Dropping out after finishing classes is easier than dropping out during a semester, but both can be done.

Basically, talk with your advisor as soon as possible and if you are going to drop or withdraw from classes, do that as soon as possible. Then you can worry about the other to-dos you have left on your agenda for dropping out.

Your academic advisor will explain the process for dropping out and will tell you the thing you have to do and complete. They will also let you know that there are financial aid changes when you drop out. When you are given or awarded money for grants, scholarships, some of it will be taken back and you will have more to pay for out of pocket. But your school can also give you some of your money back if you dont finish a semester depending on their policies. Well cover more details on this later.