I need outside opinions, I can't tell anymore.20, third year at a small Massachusetts state school doing sociology. CNA on the side, about 24 hours a week. First gen. Started college at a bigger state school until a manic episode my first semester wrecked everything (I'm bipolar). Lost most of my friends from that. Medical withdrawal, 8 months off, came back at this smaller school, hit honors list my recovery semester.Tried to transfer to Brown and BU for fall 2026. Brown rejected me Wednesday. BU still pending but I'm expecting a no, financial aid at BU for transfers is rough.I have two real projects: a music tech app with working code, and research on how music platforms code class as authenticity through fan verification systems. Also run a bilingual podcast under a pen name.Plan: stay enrolled through fall, use summer and fall to build income (online consulting and prediction market trading) and a project beta. If both work, drop out before spring semester and move to NYC.Why NYC: more artists per capita, more VCs, in person beats online for what I want to build.Why it might be right: I don't want to coast to a diploma. My current school has no founder infrastructure. My best output came during pressure periods, the projects all came from my recovery time at home.Why it might be stupid:* My parents are Haitian and strict. They'd say no. The plan involves telling them I'm going to NYC for a fake job. I know how that sounds.* Bipolar plus pressure I put on myself is a known bad combination. Haven't told my psychiatrist yet. Therapist Wednesday.* Haven't run NYC rent numbers. Income plan is a sketch.* Plan A was Brown, plan B was BU, this is plan C. Adapting or running, I genuinely don't know.Tell me the strongest case against. I'd rather hear it now than in 6 months.
>>34541675You can get a grade-A education from a grade-C school and a grade-C education from a grade-A school. At this point, get that degree. It may not mean much intellectually, but it will open doors that will be otherwise closed to you.
>>34541675NYC is sinking into a financial black hole. It's been getting worse the last 10 years and it's only going to get worse. Unless you already have money lines set up, do not move to NYC because you will just be moving right back out. I don't see how sociology relates to a music app or a podcast or how that results in stable income. I would just stay and lean into your CNA because that's more likely to help you anywhere you go.
