More and more students are taking a winding path through their college career. Many students still take the direct, traditional path – enter college and graduate four years later. A few students take the fast lane and graduate in less than four years. Still others take the slower route and take longer than four years, adding an extra semester or finishing in five or even six years. For a large percentage of students, taking a break – withdrawing from college – is part of their journey.

If your student is one of those considering a break – deciding whether or not to withdraw from school, it can be a scary time. You wonder what your student will do, whether they will return to school, and you wonder whether your student is making a wise decision. Even if you know this is the right decision for your student at this time, the situation can still be scary.

Withdrawing from college – leaving school before completing your degree – is a serious decision and for many students, it is not an easy one. But your student is not alone. According to the Education Data Initiative, approximately 23% of first-year students withdraw from school. It may help to try to understand why so many students leave, what to consider if your student is leaving school, and why this can, indeed, be a very brave decision.

Why do students choose to withdraw?

There are many reasons your student might withdraw from school, and it may be difficult to pinpoint just one. You know your student best, and you know their specific situation. However there are some common reasons students may choose to leave school.

• Finances – The most common reason students say they leave school is finances. Nearly 42% of students say this is their primary reason for withdrawing.
• Lack of time – Some students are attending school while working full-time jobs and/or juggling family or personal commitments.
• Lack of support – Some students do not find the additional academic, physical or emotional support they need.
• Academic standards – 26% of students discover that they are not prepared for college level work and are not progressing toward their degree.
• Family reasons – 32% of students cite family commitments or family emergencies as an important factor in their decision to withdraw.
• Mental health – There is growing concern for student mental health and 22% of students say this affects their decision to leave.

If your student is considering withdrawing from school, work with them to identify their reasons so both you and they will be secure in their decision and will understand better how they may use their time away from school.

What should you consider?

If your student says they want to withdraw from school, you may feel at a loss. What do you do? Where do you start?

• First, you listen. Try to hear what your student is telling you, understand their feelings, and be clear about their “why.”  Is this something that can be fixed or is withdrawing the clear path forward?
• Know your options. Understand the difference between Withdrawing and taking a Leave of Absence. Does your student just need a break or is this something more permanent?
• Know the process. Each school may have a different process for withdrawing. Help your student make a wise departure.
• Finish the semester if possible. If your student can complete the current semester, they may leave school with some credits. This will make a possible return later easier.
• Leave with a plan. Leaving may feel less scary if your student has a plan for what they will do next.
• Remember this is your student’s decision. When times are difficult it is not easy to step back. Share your feelings and opinions, but then let your student take the lead.

Why this can be a brave decision.

Whether or not you agree with your student’s decision to leave school, it is important to understand – and to let your student know that you understand – that this is a brave decision.

• Your student has recognized that something is wrong and has made a conscious choice to take action.
• Your student is willing to take a risk, defy expectations, and brave the disappointment and reactions of family and friends to do what feels right. (Yes, there will be naysayers.)
• Your student is showing personal responsibility – taking control of their life and personal goals.
• Your student will have to begin repayment of loans within six months and is willing to take this on or ask for help.
• Your student will likely need to participate in “exit counseling” with the school. It may be hard to talk to strangers about their reasons for leaving.
• Your student may not be sure what they will do next, but they are willing to take a risk on the unknown and accept uncertainty.
• Leaving school and moving back home can feel like a step backward but your student may realize that a step backward now will mean more solid footing later.
• It is brave to do the work to know yourself and to do what you need to do to move forward.

Whatever the reason your student may be withdrawing from school, however you feel about the decision, whatever work you know your student needs to do to move ahead, consider that they have made, in many ways, a brave decision. This doesn’t mean that there may not be hard work ahead to find the right path, but you’ll know your student has the courage to face whatever they need to do to succeed.

Related articles:

What’s the Difference Between Withdrawing and Taking a Leave of Absence from College?

How to Drop Out of College (the Smart Way)

Help! My Student Wants to Drop Out of College!

Should My Student Withdraw from College?

What is “On Time” Graduation? Four Years is Becoming a Myth