Dropping out of college is a big decision. While it's inspiring to hear about college dropouts such as Mark Zuckerberg or Bill Gates, those stories don't reflect reality. Dropping out of college can tank your career prospects. Many students enroll in college to get higher-paying jobs. Dropping out can make that harder to achieve. In this article, we've sorted some of the most important questions to help you weigh all of your options.

Psychological preparation

You certainly need to be mentally prepared to drop out of college. Although many voices are saying that “education is useless” in society, the phenomenon of academic discrimination is still common: when you drop out of college, you don’t have a diploma or a degree certificate, there is not even a certificate of completion (an undergraduate certificate of completion is equivalent to a college degree), the only thing there is a certificate of withdrawal from school. Therefore, if you decide to leave university, you have to be mentally prepared.

How to drop out of a Chinese university

If you want to drop out of college, your parents must first agree. Then tell your counselor about your intention to drop out. The general counselor will tell you the specific process of withdrawing from the school and will also give you a withdrawal application form.

1. You should fill in the "International Student Transfer (Dropout) Approval Form", However, you should note that the parent's signature is generally required to be signed by the parent.

2. The form will be approved by the college in which your major is located and reported to the International Education College for approval. Within 15 days after the approval, go through the withdrawal procedures.

3. Settle the tuition and other related expenses.

4. Transfer the stay certificate to leave China, and report to the exit and entry administration department of the public security organ for the record.

Questions to ask yourself before dropping out of university

University may not feel like the right fit for you, but it's important to understand why. Before dropping out, ask yourself these big-picture questions to get to the root of what you're feeling.

1. Why do I want to drop out?

When making a big decision, it's best to balance emotion and logic, so you don't make an irrational decision. Ask yourself: Is your reason for dropping out based on emotion or hard facts? For instance, are you just not happy with your classes this semester, or do you feel like college isn't helping you reach your goals?

2. What's my plan for the future?

If you decide to drop out, you're responsible for figuring out how that affects your career and life goals. What do you want to do instead of school? Start a business? Travel? Apprentice?

3. What if I take a break instead of dropping out?

There are alternatives to dropping out that will still keep you on track to complete your degree. For example, you can defer college for a semester or take a gap year rather than drop out.

4. If I drop out of university, can I come back?

You can usually return to university after dropping out, thanks to the re-entry programs offered by many colleges. However, it may be hard to find time to go back to university once you've started a different career.

5. Am I in the right major?

It's common for students to change majors. What you want to do when you're a first-year student might not still be true by senior year. Would changing majors for something new make more sense than dropping out?

6. Will I be hired in my chosen career field without a university degree?

Not every career demands a university degree, but yours might. Does success in your career path require a university education?

7. Can a counselor help me?

University can be an emotional rollercoaster, and it's completely normal to struggle. Maybe a college counselor can help. They provide support and tools to help students cope with common issues, including mental health, test anxiety, and academic demands.

8. Would transfer universities help?

Sometimes a particular school isn't the right fit. In that case, you may want to consider transferring to another school where you might feel more at home. Maybe a smaller or larger school is more your style (How to Transfer Universities in China as International Students).

9. Is my workload too heavy?

Dealing with a heavy college workload can be a tough challenge. Would putting less on your plate each semester take some of the pressure away?

Tips for dropping out of university

If you’ve asked yourself the previous questions and you’ve determined that dropping out of college is still the best option for you, consider the following tips:

1. Talk to your family and friends

Share your plans with your friends and families. You might receive some pushback, but you might also get valuable advice from your loved ones. If you are still committed to your decision after hearing them out, then you’ve likely made the right choice.

2. Check university deadlines

Look into your university’s deadlines for withdrawals. Dropping out at the end of the semester or academic year might be the easiest option, but if you’d like to drop out before those dates, then consult your academic advisor to determine when it’s best to drop out of your course.

3. Notify your advisor and university

You need to notify your academic advisor of your intentions to drop out, even if you don’t plan to consult them first. It is also best practice to notify your university in writing of your intent to withdraw.

4. Arrange your moving-out date

Whether you are living in a campus dorm or an off-campus apartment, you need to notify your roommates, resident assistant, and landlord, of the date you will be moving out. If you plan to leave before your lease is up, you may want to look into subletting your place, if your contract permits it.

5. Look for an alternative occupation

Consider what your next step is. Remember, it’s important to have a plan, even if it’s short-term.

Do you want to pursue a new course? Then you could attend online or community classes and see if you are truly interested in the subject.

Or, perhaps, you want to immediately start looking for work. In that case, it’s important to build your CV and start looking for available opportunities.

Dropping out of university can be a scary concept for young students. However, if you need to focus on a loved one or your mental wellbeing, then it’s usually worth it. The good news is that, with proper planning, you can drop out of university without it hurting you. You can also find other methods of success without having a university degree attached to your name.