i say work too...
usually at schools, there is an option to continue your studies
like i have 2 semesters left till i graduate but i could choose to do one
and then do the last semester another year... it's alright with my teachers
Donna Karan also dropped out to work for Anne Klein and start her own line
and then she went back to Parson's to finish her studies
If you're worried about your classmates, try to keep in touch with them (find them on Facebook?). Anyway you will always meet more people, sometimes even better people, as life goes on