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Among the major changes which have led to a reappraisal of the importance of education in French society, two are of particular interest from the perspective of research into dropping out: the acquisition of qualifications, which is now the norm, and the questioning of the anthropological process of transition to adulthood. The interrelationship of these two changes reflects an experience of youth structured around a long and gradual acquisition of independence. This process begins when young people leave the family home, but more often than not it is delayed due to a lack of qualifications and difficulty in finding a job. In addition, dropping out actually leads to dependence on the family circle, and makes it hard to break away from it. By studying these two fields together –which has rarely been done so far– we hope to provide a deeper insight into the unique experience of those who are dropping out –or have already done so– and are out of a job, yet still choose to leave the family home. Such a choice is a first step towards a life on the street. This article firstly seeks to add to knowledge of a population about which little is known because of the difficulty in defining it, and secondly, to ascertain how these two processes are connected and identify the ensuing consequences.