I haven’t been going to class lately and I think it’s because I’m not motivated to continue at a four year college because of the major. I don’t know if it’s depression or not. I’m just lacking motivation when it comes to school work not other hobbies that I have. I have my appetite, sleep well, etc. What is the difference between depression and lack of motivation? Can I just withdraw saying that a community college would be a better fit for my career goals or would I have to get more evidence that I NEED to drop out? Even if i do have depression is it worth staying just so that my money isn’t wasted this semester or is dropping due to a medical withdrawl an exception? The problem is that I dont know if I have depression or not.
Depression or not, go to class. Attendance and completion of work are based on calendar not your feelings that day. Depression or not, avoidance does not help.
As for depression, if you are floundering and think you might have depression, then see a counselor at your student health center. It is free and confidential. Get some reliable input.
Based on your comments I assume you are a freshman. When you started the school year you committed to at least a semester of best effort. Self-doubt after a few weeks is unhelpful. Do what you can to complete the semester and then decide. If a professional person advises that you are truly unable to complete the work, then take his/her advice. Include your parents.
As for money, you might have more to lose by dropping out than by sticking it out with a middling performance. Get advice from your school counselors.
See a counselor to assess your mental health status. They will be able to determine whether or not you have depression.
You are correct that lack of motivation does not always mean depresion, and the lack of other typical symptoms may rule out depression. However, you probably need to also assess the reason for this lack of motivation. Is it a change in behavior? Did you have parents pushing you to study and now without that push you don’t know how to do it on your own? Are you uninterested in your major? Are you ready for college? Do you even want to go to college? A counselor may be able to help you to explore the reasons underlying your lack of motivation, and help you to come up with a plan to overcome it, depending on the reason and if in fact that you want to change it.
You should find out what the rules are for withdrawing, what the costs will be financially for your family as well as academically for you. Failing all of your courses will take a long time to recover from as you will have this transcript dogging you. If you do not have clinical depression, it is unlikely that you will be able to get a medical withdrawal. So for the time being you should assume that you have to finish the semester and find some way to put some effort into your classes and do the best that you can. Go to class, do your homework, take your tests, write you papers, and get through the term, even if you end up withdrawing at the end of the semester.