Dropping out of college?

Question

I don't know if asking strangers is the best thing but I need opinions but I know i have to make this decision on my own. I have a chance to maybe go live with my Aunt in California. Live there for a year or so and then go to Academy of Art where I wanted to go when I graduated high school. I go to a Community College that doesn't really offer much in what career I want to go into. I really don't know if I should drop out or not and go to this school but I am afraid that maybe my Aunt might say no to liviing with her or I will fail but if I do go I might get my best friend mad at me because we are supposed to go into an apartment together. I am very confused because my original plan was to wait two years and go to this community college and then go to Academy of Art but I am afraid I will not go when the time comes and I feel now would be best. I really don't know wha to do and I would love to have some ideas from others about how I should make this decision.

Answer 1

Talk to your advisor at your current school. There is a difference between dropping out and taking a leave of absence. If you drop out and decide to come back, no matter how remote that chance may seem, you'll have to reapply and pay fees again. Most schools let you take a leave of absence for a semester, usually two, for free, and you can come back at the beginning of the next term just by registering.

Don't quit school here on a "maybe" change to go live with your Aunt. Why not wait until this summer, and take a vacation to her house. See if you get along, if you like the neighborhood, and the commute to your potential new school. Get all the information about starting at that school. More information may make you decision for you. Your aunt may be a flake, the school may not take you, the commute may be unreasonable, etc. It sounds like you still have too many maybes.

You'll probably regret it if you do nothing, so make some calls.

Answer 2

I certainly can't tell you what is best for you, but from what you say, I can tell you the following:
I work at a university, and have often had students tell me that they are "afraid" that they won't do something (usually grad school) later, so they are trying to rush it and do it now, before they are ready for it. This doesn't make much sense, because you have control over your own life, and if the Academy of Art is something you really want, you will find a way to go later too. If you don't go later, it is because somewhere along the way your priorities changed, and perhaps it wasn't the best thing for you to do after all.
With regard to your friend, I would be open about your decision process with her. You shouldn't restrict your own life because you and she had talked about getting an apartment together earlier, but neither should you lead her to believe that you still want to do this and make plans behind her back for something else. Just be honest, and if she is a real friend, she may be disappointed, but should support you.
Finally, you are talking about going to live with your Aunt as if it were a career choice. What will you do while you are there, if it happens? Is the plan to work and save money for the Art Academy, or to go to school at a different school in California? It sounds like you see living there as a goal in itself, and if I were your Aunt, I'm not sure I would want you to do this unless you had other plans too.
You say that your Community College doesn't offer much in your career area. Most colleges and universities require you to take a couple of years of courses outside your career area anyway, before you get to the more directed courses. Knowing more about the world, about how to think, about how to solve problems can be helpful, even if it isn't directly career-related. If you have completed at least half your A.A. program, I would finish it before taking the next step, as opposed to taking off for no particular reason.

Answer 3

It seems that your choice is between two schools, and not school or doing nothing. If you're in community college (CC) just to occupy your time, but you're not studying what you want to go into, then you may be wasting your time at CC. Life is short; you follow your passion -- at least your vision for how you want your life to look like.

First, find out if your aunt will agree to you living with her. Then you'll know if the plan is do-able, or whether you'll have to arrange for living quarters (how to pay for it, especially --- don't overlook these practical aspects).

As for the matter with your friend, you must manage your own life first. A true friend would understand. Maybe your friend would like to give California a try? You could bring her in on the adventure. Just a thought. Otherwise, you'd be holding yourself back for another person's interest. And where would you be, years down the line, doing something that you don't want to be doing, wondering "what if?"

Keep asking questions. Keep looking for answers. Then act. (Best way to decide: list 3 pros of going to Cali / Academy of Art, list 3 cons, then choose which matters more, pros or cons)

Good luck -- best wishes.

Answer 4

While the community college may not offer a degree in EXACTLY what you want to do, if you get an Associates Degree in ANYTHING, you're going to have a head start.

What if you don't get accepted into the Academy of Arts?

Before you jump ship, talk to the Academy of Arts. What is the tuition going to cost? How easily will you be accepted? Will there be any scholarships available? Do you have to live on campus?

Don't just jump ship because it's hard or because you're afraid of failing. Failing is ALWAYS an option--you just have to chose to avoid it.

Personally I would finish the community college and get a degree before moving on. An A.D. is only going to take 2-3 years, not a lifetime.

Answer 5

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Answer 6

Don't put your aunt in a rough situation. If you have not asked her yet then you are moving to fast. Listen I am someone who knows I dropped out of college to come to Disney world as an intern and now I am stuck it was the biggest mistake of my life. I owe a lot of money to my first college and can not enroll in another until it is paid off. Do you know how hard it is to take care of yourself, then pay for college, while living with someone and going through the enrolling process. that is a lot to ask. wait a little while get a degree in anything and at least when you get to cali you will be guaranteed a job it is hard to find a job in this economic state as it is and not having a degree to back you up is even worse how will you support your self get a degree in anything then go

Answer 7

Seems like the aunt is the pivotal factor here. You can ask, but you should phrase it like a business proposal, tell her why you want to go to Art school, what career plans you have and why the current situation is not aligning with your goals. Be prepared for her to say "no' though and have backup plan. Good luck.

Answer 8

Apply to the academy of art to see if you could get in. If you can and you feel its what your real aspiration in life to go there then do it. One thing that stands out in this question is that you say that you are afriad that after you graduated you would not want to go to the academy of art. I don't understand why you would not want to go, you make it sound like it is your goal. I think you need to just brainstorm with a piece of paper and write down what you want to accompolish and go from there deciding what the best things for you to do would be to accompolish those goals. If you need to drop out of college to achieve your real goal in life then do it.

Answer 9

My best advice is for you to finish your 2 yrs at the community college. Then do whatever you want after that. Trust me if you wait good things will come your way. And besides you will already have an associates.

Answer 10

Do what you feel is the best for you. It if it dropping out, then that is your choice. If it is to go teh Academy of Art that I would suggest doing that.