Appreciate Advice on taking a gap year

Long story short: I have 29 days to get a tuition refund if I am going declare a leave of absence.

Long story: Here is my exact situation, I am about to enter my sophomore year of college at a great university, (high semi target/low target for IB) and was initially planning to recruit for IB this year. I think I would have a decent shot as I have had an internship in film, one in film financing, and one at a boutique investment bank where I led building CIMs and models and I am very close with partners who would vouch for me. I also have a unique major that maybe would help or hurt depending the person interviewing me and have some cool work experience like nationally recognized photography or working as a welder.

I had the idea for a startup but only really pulled the trigger about a month ago. since it is so young, our MRR is sub 3k. I also just began working on taking a cool tech asset (purchased several years ago for $15mm) to market with a n ultra wealthy individual who is giving me 10% equity, but it is also at $0 in any revenue. While I am optimistic on both, I have to be a realist that both could fail. As of now, my rent will be paid for by my father at a crazy 2k/month (thank the lord im on scholarship) but I would have to cover the rest of the lease if I take a gap year as he sees it as a waste of money (fair). My co-founder is fine with our current revenue just covering my rent, our taxes, and expenses (low because of industry), if I take the gap year. 

My college also lets me return with zero questions asked if I do decide to return after a year. If I took gap year and say it was 10k total profit from the year and I return next year as a sophomore. How much would this gap year tarnish my odds of recruiting? Also, appreciate any other perspective and outlook. Also, the reason I would take the year, is as of right now, I am off social media and having almost zero social  interactions with my friends, as I am normally hyper extraverted. Yet even working 100+ hours a week right now, I can only sort of manage both of these opportunities and ib recruiting, and I know I wont have enough time in the day when I add six classes in two weeks when school starts. Once again, thank you for any advice.

Should I take the LOA?

Yes
78% (7 votes)
No
22% (2 votes)
Total votes: 9
2 Comments
 

Also another note is I am on a half scholarship to go to Uni, my dad's parents pay 1/4 and a college fund my mom has control over pays the 1/4. The fund has enough to finish off my degree but even though the checks for the money in the account were written in my name and the accounts in my name she controls and is will not let me pay my tuition anymore through the account. Trying to fight in legally but obviously I do not have the funds for that.

 

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