[scrumper]

Your point about free time in college is especially relevant. YC might require a full-time commitment, but college is the absolute perfect time to try and bootstrap something. Never again after college will there be such a perfect confluence of available, talented co-founders, ample time and low cost of living.

On a more flippant note, dropping out to launch a startup isn't that much different to dropping out with a band: it's the same 'take a wild shot at the big time' thing, only with fewer girls. Even if you hit the really big time there's still value in a degree: Brian May from Queen went back to finish his.

Good luck to the OP of course. I hope he's one of the successful ones.