<p>So far things are going very well, but as we grow, I am finding it difficult to concentrate on classes and the business. I am strongly considering taking next year off just to give all of my effort to Jebbit.com and see where it takes me. </p>
<p>Does that seem crazy to anyone? We really want to get into TechStars or Y-Combinator (two highly regarded startup accelerators) but there is no way that will happen if we are still in school. </p>
<p>Thoughts? Has anyone had a similar choice to make? It doesn't necessarily have to be because you wanted to pursue a business, but have you thought about taking a year off in the middle of your college career?</p>
<p>Yeah, mildly considering it right now. Some days the last thing I wanna do is write a paper or sit in a lecture. There’s not much I could do besides joining the military though.</p>
<p>I think you should go for it. Follow your heart.</p>
<p>My backup plan would just be to come back to school. I would only have 1 year remaining. Honestly I don’t see much of a downside to taking the risk, except that I’m worried I will never want to come back to school!</p>
<p>Do you think y’all could stick it out for one more year? That way you’d have your degree and also be able to pursue the start-up.</p>
<p>If not… well like I said… I think you ought to do what you REALLY wanna do. Trust me, if any band I love asked me to play bass for them, I’d drop school in a heartbeat. I love learning and all that, but it’s always been one of my dreams to tour around the country/world, play music, bring that experience to people’s lives, and get paid to do it :P</p>
<p>go for the year off man. seriously, you’re 20(21?); at NO other point in your life will you get the chance to throw caution to the wind and pursue something because eventually you know relationships, families, kids will tie you down. </p>
<p>but you’re young so…just do it. take a year off and come back if it doesnt work out. worst case scenario: you gain some extraordinary business experience (how many people can say they’ve ran a start-up?) and best case scenario it legitimately becomes a viable career option.</p>
<p>don’t even think twice. just checked out the website and it looks like you have a solid support group as it is (the business team) so go for it</p>
<p>I’d take time off and see where the startup takes you. There’s no rush in finishing college (unless maybe you are on an academic scholarship that you would lose if you took a break) and the start-up sounds like a super exciting opportunity! I wouldn’t want to look back and think, “I wonder what would have happened if…”</p>
<p>biogoal123 has a good point that it will get increasingly more difficult to take risks the older you get.</p>
<p>Assuming that you can take a leave of absence and easily return to finish your bachelor’s degree (may require filing some paperwork, rather than just dropping out without notice), consider your startup as being like a co-op job opportunity, which is commonly done by engineering students at many schools (though usually for a semester + summer rather than a whole year or more).</p>
<p>Be aware, though, that taking a leave and then returning may have some other effects:</p>
<ul>
<li>If degree requirements change, you may have to fulfill the new ones.</li>
<li>Tuition is likely to be higher.</li>
<li>Scholarships and financial aid may change (but possibly more favorably if you turn 24 and are considered financially independent of parents for financial aid purposes).</li>
</ul>
<p>Looks more like an advertisement than a question. Definitely clever posting this as a dilemma and asking for advice, but still a recruitment advertisement.</p>
<p>^ Well, agreed, but somehow this particular instance doesn’t bother me as much as a lot of other advertising messages posted on this site, which is why I haven’t reported it myself yet. If it bothers you, you can report the post and ask an admin to remove the link to the website.</p>
<p>Don’t forget that if you have loans, those will start having to be repaid about 6 mos. after you leave school. Is your start-up making you some cash yet? You’ll need cash to live on for a year or however long you take off; it’s not just about getting to work on your passion in the “real world” outside of school.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice, biogoal. You brought up some very good points. I think I’m going to do it! I really don’t see a downside, so I may as well give it a shot. </p>
<p>Vladdenschlutte: This is not a made up situation at all. I have my leave of absence form in front of me as I type, but I haven’t filled it out yet.</p>
<p>To be honest I have a competition going with my two co-founders to see who can get the most referrals. That was not the point of my posting here though; I wanted to get some advice from you guys and obviously if you are going to go check out the site you may as well go through my link ;)</p>
<p>As someone currently at an early stage startup, I have this to say: you will know when it’s the time to drop out.</p>
<p>Let’s say your startup is worth dropping out for. If you are truly startup material, you will both be able to recognize the opportunity and be risk tolerant enough to actually go ahead with your decision. Suppose it’s not worth dropping out for. Then, you will have doubts about the company and not drop out.</p>
<p>What this comes down to is basically: when the time to drop out comes, you will drop out and have no regrets about it. This even applies if your startup ultimately fails, in which case, it’ll be a lesson and experience that’s well worth the pain.</p>
<p>Only you know the right decision. And, if you let people on this forum actually influence your decision, you most likely are not startup material.</p>
<p>Just take a leave of absence. College will always be there and you can always return if it doesn’t work out. You’re still young and you have your entire life to finish later.</p>
<p>I also don’t think it means you’re not “startup material” if you decide to seek some advice. Everyone needs advice at steps in their lives, and most 20 year-olds aren’t business geniuses even if they have the tech know-how to create something awesome.</p>