I'm on and F1 - can I drop out before semester starts and change status to a B2 to travel the country?will this affect future F1 applications?

Kindly first understand that USCIS does not make fast determinations, and so any change of status application will likely not be adjudicated until the time that you have left the country. Perhaps if you take this step, you should notify USCIS upon your leaving and request to withdraw the application as of the date of you leaving. As to the impact of your dropping out of school on a future F-1 application, an adjudicator may wonder whether it is a good idea to give another visa to an applicant who has not shown that he or she has been a good student in the US under the previous visa. Due to the limitations of the Lawyers.com Forums, Alan Lee & Arthur Lee, Esqs.’ (the "Firm") participation in responding to questions posted herein does not constitute legal advice, nor legal representation of the person or entity posting a question. No Attorney/Client relationship is or shall be construed to be created hereby. The information provided herein by the Firm is general, and requires that the poster obtain specific legal advice from an attorney. The poster shall not rely upon the information provided herein as legal advice nor as the basis for making any decisions of legal consequence.