College Drop Out

I would like to know how all you parents that have a child that dropped out of college dealt with the situation - my youngest is wanting to drop out after ten months of school.

I welcome comments from those that were college drops out as well.

Thanks.

ANYONE? - Parents, Students, Adults
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Well, one of my step-brother's is a college dropout...he doesn't really have a job, besides designing websites (which is what he says he does though I've never seen him) I think he is going back to college though. As far as I know they are letting him live at home but they also try to nudge him to get a/another/a different job, etc.

Well maybe its not for him ? Maybe an agreement he has a year out ?

Over in the UK they have apprentiships which one of my sons is doing, he really didnt want to go full time college so we worked out that with an apprentiship he can have money ..... and learn a qualification...... everyone happy !

He earns a fair wage working in a Company four days a week which does welding, and on Fridays he goes to college to do the paper work on a welding course. The course last for three years and at the end he will be a qualified welder which is a very good job and pays very well.

With the money he earns he pays a percentage to my mum (who he lives with in London) the rest goes on learning to drive (he has passed now) and holidays, so far he has been to Thailand, Sri lanka and is soon going to Amsterdam and Greece. Plus many trips to Scotland to see us (he pays for half of the travling up here we pay the other half)

So all is not bad if they wont go for full time college, I understand my son would of found full time studying hard and worked with him to find a solution to the problem/hic cup in his life, ranting and raving will just drive a wedge between the two of you.

I'm not a college/university drop-out and neither are my parents, cousins, etc... . One cousin though may be a drop-out soon and my friend is failing miserably so he may.

If I were the parent, I'd see what the kid's strengths and dreams are. If they want to be a mechanic or something, then enrolling them in a four-year university program may not be their aspiration and it could just be a waste of your money.

Or, if they want a career that requires college/university, perhaps they're not in the right program for it or they find the program or university/college too hard. You could try getting them into an easier one.

But, since this is after less than a year, the first year or so tends to be the hardest. I'd encourage them to press forward, give them a deal, such as they pass the next year and they get some nice reward.

Does he have a plan Rhapsody? College isn't for everyone.

I didn't drop out, but I flunked out of grad school. (severe depression).

After flopping around in bed for three months afterwards, i got myself a job. I figured out what I truly wanted to do in life. I made the plan, and I have been a Neonatal ICU nurse for about 5 years now.

Ask your kid why they want to drop out. Give them some time to get a job and then move out. But most of all, be supportive. The rift this created with my family still affects us 11 years later.

His plan is to obtain a full time job while still living at home and wait until he is 21 to return to college... this way he will receive a better quality of government grants after being deemed separated from his parents... with this being done it will lessening the financial burden on him when he graduates.

Now - - - I pray that he doesn't become just another statistics and never complete college.

P.S. - he officially signed the papers to withdrawal from school on Friday.

I don't mean to throw another wrench in your plans but based upon my own research into this area your (and hubby's if you're still married, if not it's either or) income will still be taken into account until he's 24 now. They've made a lot of changes in recent years.

Yeah I know (and so does my son) that income is still taken into account, but at 21 years old the government separates a child from his parents and the income is then based only on the adult childs income and not that of his parents that have worked for thirty plus years and that makes a whole lot more money than that of a twenty year old...... we just went through this with our 24 year old son and he only has to repay $17k back from his college loan that he got with government help (he graduated last month btw) - w00t w00t.

Wow! Good to know, I'll have to look into this further!

Five years ago my Aunt asked me to attend the financial aid semenar with her when her youngest child graduated. I was quite surprised to discover how much money in grants he was able to get. My uncle works at the same place my husband does and makes the same amount of money my husband does.

Imagine my surprise when I attended a similiar seminar when my daughter graduated a mere three years later and she cannot get a penny and we have four other dependents. What it boiled down to was there were only four situations that she was not required to use our income 1) If she was married 2) If she had a child herself 3) if she was in the military (either active duty or reserves) and 4) something about legally emmancipated (which according to the FASA website was next to impossible obtain unless you are a ward of the state and born on a Tuesday at 1:13 am).

So if you could share where you're getting your information I'd certainly appreciate it. She's had another legal address for two years now. Scholarships pay for half of her tuition, but we end up oweing 20K a year. Again, according to the FASA website the person has to be something silly like 23 and 7 months (basically 24) before her income alone will be used to determine availability. At this rate we're still on the hook when she enters grad school because she graduated at 17.

FASFA and SALLIEMAE is were we went for our help and we live in Florida so I don't know if that is the reason our age limit is less that yours in a child being separated from ones parents.

And please note that my oldest son met a few of their requirements -

1. Been in the Military - Navy Man
2. Passed the age of 21 and lives in his own place
3. Has a child - my first granddaughter "Kyire Yui" / 10 mths old

* * * * *

Only having to paying $20k a year is a good price -

It's not a bad price but it's getting increasingly more difficult to pay. And I have two more graduating 2011. I've never asked for help before but if there's something out there that will help I'd like to find it. If things continue the way they are now I don't know if we'll be able to afford to send her back her senior year.

Sorry, didn't mean to hijack your thread. If you don't mind me asking, did you get loans for his first year of college? If so, how does his withdrawal affect the pay back schedule?

His payback schedule is still the same..... he must start payments with in six months of being out of school.

Are you having to make payments on your daughters school loan now or did you get the option to wait until six months after she graduates?

For her first two years we started paying them immediately, I think we're going to try have the deferred payments this year. This makes me a bit uncomfortable, who knows how long this recession is going to last and what guarantee is there that we'll be in a better financial situation once she graduates.

College does not mean as much as it once did. Everyone has to find the right path, and to be honest 70% of kids going to a four program are wasting their time. Most of what they learn they never use.

Employers are realizing that all college degree says is that you were good at taking tests. It maybe in your son's case he would be happier going to a 2 year comunity program to learn a specific set of skills.

The most successful college dropout? Try Bill Gates, he left after his softmore year.

I hear you and may my son follow in Bill Gates foot steps.......