Hi guys. I would love the advice from anyone who has been/is in college.

Right now, my mother is deceased, my dad is facing financial difficulties, and my sister out of the picture doing her own things. I have rent to pay, bills to pay, and food to pay for. I work 4 days a week, and I hardly find enough time to study as well as enough money to cover myself. And when I do have time to study, i am too stressed with the fact of work, bills, bills, and my father, that I can hardly concentrate.


Is it such a wrong thing to do to temporarily drop out of college for a year to work and save up money? Nowadays guys don't graduate until they are mid 20s any ways. My father is on the verge of having no money, and no car, and I NEED to help.

I am sure, as a vietnamese community, that we all understand the difficult position I am in. We all understand what family means to each of us.

Another question I had was for the others that are IN college. Is it possible to withdraw from all of your classes past the drop deadline date? Without taking a F?

Thank you guys

If you decide that the right thing to do is to withdraw, try to arrange a leave of absence way before you register for your classes. If you are already registered, then withdraw while you can get a good refund. If it's too late for that, then arrange an appointment with the dean of your school and with the financial aid office of your school to explain your situation: you are not the first student nor will you be the last to be in such a predicament, so be frank and straightforward. Lay out your situation, and ask them what are your options: who knows? The school might be able to arrange some extra financial help for you. However, if you don't ask, you don't get. The worst that happens is that they say no to any refund, but you already knew that coming in, so you did not lose anything.

No matter what happens, do keep in mind that the most important thing to you is that you be able to withdraw without taking any F's but for that to happen, you need to convey your situation to the dean so that he makes an exception for you due to your hardship situation. You need to come across as a responsible, mature young person who is facing a tough situation not of his or her own making, and who needs to know what the options are. The desire to save money so that you can have some home stability while you study is perfectly legitimate and puts you in the "responsible person" category - In this case, you are not dropping out but taking a leave of absence.

In the meantime, I wish you good luck. And do feel free to ask for advice. We'll do what we can.

one of my old roommates had to leave school for one semester to work to help his parents. he said he regretted it but he had to do it since his family were in bid money trouble. i wish u luck in anything u decide to do

My condolences. I think it's okay to drop out to work for a year. I actually did this last year.. however I didn't drop out so much as took a leave of absence for a year. I don't know about your college/uni but they tertiary institutions usually allow for a leave of absence (deferral) for up to two years while being still enrolled in your course so that when you return, you will not have to deal with attaining academic credit if you were to re-enrol.. unless you transferred to another university institution, that is. Please note that you should do this BEFORE the census date or else you will be under threat of getting academic penalty. Because of your circumstances I think that the board would review an application to withdraw or defer without academic penalty but just doing it early would ensure you would run into these things. Family is very important and I think you're very mature for taking up such a responsibility. Good luck.


edited:

Just read blacklight's advice and I think his is more sound. I'm not very familiar with the using the Financial Aid office but it sounds like a good idea. Due to your circumstances, they may allow you to defer your fees and such to a later date or you can apply for monthly installments which makes things alot easier than paying all upfront. I'm not certain about this but yeah, you'll have to display a certain amount of maturity and commitment to your studies for it to go through.

MOst people who dropped out of college realized that it's harder for them to return to college. Once you're out in the real work making money, things will come your way unexpected that will delay your return and maybe you will be caught up making money instead to studying.

Yes, you can. It is called "GAP" year but you can use 1 gap year only. Good luck...

i knew a guy who did that...he asked the university and they let him drop for a while to help around like swatus said

thank you for the kind words guys. And especially thank you to blacklight and halexlee for the incredibly informative posts.

*copied from my post in the korean forum to help enlighten people of the situation*

My father lives all the way in Denver while I live in Iowa. Hes a Vietnamese POW of EIGHT years and has a mental disease. He is in the University of Colorado right now studying Architect. In regards to his age, a year for him is much more valuable than a year for me. I hope you understand the meaning of this.

I will never forget the importance of education and I do not doubt myself for one second that I will not go back to school. It is a MUST. Thank you all for the opinions and i would appreciate more. And mostly, thank you for being understanding.

___________________


The bills that I am having difficulties paying are not of the University's and that is what makes it harder. But I think I've made my choice right now. I will be asking for absence of one year. Thanks ya ALL!!!!

Sirius_GTO:

You are confirming again in your own words that you are fine, responsible person who deserves better than this misfortune. Again, if you need advice (or a sounding board) or you need to bounce ideas off, don't be shy about asking. You have already taken the most basic step in helping yourself, and that is: networking with us. Be friendly (but not naive), and build over time networks of acquaintances, friends and colleagues and fellow students around yourself: be open to the possibility that you will get help (for example, a more decent job) from the most unlikely people. Information is free, but it can be your most invaluable asset.

Again, we all wish you much better luck than you have had.