New 3.0 to 3.3 (GPA) Parents Thread - Page 114

yabeyabe2 · 11-02-2009, 09:33 PM

mom, I don't know the school's programs in engineering, but, in general, Pitt is a fine school, less expensive than most even out of state, close to Ohio and Pittsburgh should offer some good job opportunities. It also has Early Admission, with kids already being notified. Your son would be a strong candidate.
Have you looked at Purdue and IU?

momnipotent · 11-02-2009, 09:45 PM

I would say we have slim to no chance of any $ assistance from Purdue or IU. Actually have looked at IUPUI.

mom2sons · 11-02-2009, 10:35 PM

If your son is truly interested in engineering, he should take a look at Rose-Hulman. They have pretty good merit aid, and its a great school.

nightchef · 11-10-2009, 10:54 AM

Just had to share some good news--my son texted me from homeroom this morning about 10 minutes after I dropped him off. He had just gotten his first term report card and couldn't wait to tell me: two A+'s (one in an honors course), three A's (two in APs), and one B+ (in a third AP). That brings his GPA up an entire tenth of a point in one term, from 3.21 at the beginning of the year to 3.31 now. Another term like that would bring him up to an even 3.4 at midyear and make me an emeritus contributor to this thread

.

This time last year he was looking at a 3.09, struggling with all kinds of organizational and procrastination issues, and with his confidence at an all-time low. It makes me so proud to think of the progress he has made both academically and personally in the past year. I knew he had it in him, but I was beginning to wonder if he would ever find it.

To anyone with a similar kid who hasn't turned that corner yet: hang in there. And thanks to the community at CC and particularly here on this thread, which has helped me keep my perspective and not make things harder for him.

rodney · 11-10-2009, 10:57 AM

^^nightchef: lucky you that even with his issues last year, they permitted him to challenge himself in three AP courses; that would never happen around here....congratulations!

yabeyabe2 · 11-10-2009, 11:45 AM

Fabulous news, Nightchef!

mamom · 11-10-2009, 11:56 AM

Nightchef,
Good for your son! I can only hope my S will turn himself around like yours.

gweeta · 11-10-2009, 11:57 AM

nightchef, that's really terrific. You had me laughing about your emeritus status.

foolishpleasure · 11-10-2009, 02:51 PM

"This time last year he was looking at a 3.09, struggling with all kinds of organizational and procrastination issues, and with his confidence at an all-time low."

^^So, to what do you attribute the change? How did he manage to turn the corner? Any words of wisdom for those of us whose kids continue to struggle with organization, procrastination and confidence?

Shrinkrap · 11-10-2009, 02:56 PM

That IS good news!

We have had improvement here too, but we are just trying to make it INTO the 3.0 demographic...my son texted me too...and got his phone taken.

I'm off to retrieve it!

PackMom · 11-10-2009, 03:39 PM

Prob. not what you want to hear but my S2 who fit this thread did not make the turn around until he got to college. He had about as bad of a first sem. as was humanly possible BUT he really liked it there and really did not want to come back home to live with us....what better motivation

During h.s DH and I discussed many times that maybe S2 was not cut out for college.
We would have had no prob. with him going to CC but after getting two college acceptances, S2 wanted to go so we decided to give him a shot.

The thing that changed was that he went from doing as little as possible to maintain his B/C grades in h.s.(also very low SAT which he refused to take more than once) to figuring out what it took to make those grades in college and actually doing some work. He really didn't know how to study because he always just skimmed by in h.s. He's a soph. this yr. and is on track to have his best sem. thus far. He's no Einstein and still does dumb things sometimes (got a zero on something in one class because he skipped class to work on paper due that day in another class..ugh) but he seems to finally be taking ownership of the whole thing and becoming much more responsible.

He actually sends me emails now with good news about sch..would have never happened a yr. ago. I can tell his confidence in his ability to succeed is growing which thrills me.

Here's today's email:
"Just thought I would let you know that I got another 100 on a Poli. Sci. quiz...also I tried some pimento cheese today and it wasn't that bad."

That was the entire email..two lines of totally unrelated info. I laughed out loud.

It's those random emails that make my day...never thought I'd live to see it.
There is hope people!

MaryAnn C · 11-10-2009, 04:00 PM

Thanks to all for the encouraging words of hope. I don't expect the first quarter to be much of an improvement, just hoping he holds steady at an 85 average.

nightchef · 11-10-2009, 04:25 PM

foolishpleasure--I wish I had any words of wisdom. Looking back, the good things that happened to him--good scores on the March SAT, and winning a big musical competition he had entered--were definitely catalysts, but the change had already begun by that point, I think, and I don't know how or why it happened when it did. Certainly not because of anything we did or didn't do. I keep thinking of the end of the Wizard of Oz: He always had the power to go back to Kansas, but he had to learn it for himself. ("Kansas," in this case, being the state of being a confident, competent student.)

Focused · 11-11-2009, 02:30 AM

I gather that you're from NC, but I can't tell from your original post. From personal experience, I grew up in NJ and went through things in high school that led to horrendous grades my first two years (which I detailed in another post) and pulled it together to graduate with an 81.82 (probably a 3.1?). I wrote an honest and heartfelt essay to Rutgers and Lafayette, and got into both schools. Colleges are looking for students to own up to past failures and to prove that they've matured. PM me if you have any questions.

2daughtermom · 11-11-2009, 09:27 AM

I am so confused. My daughter, a senior, just got the results of her ACT- it wasn't good,22
She is devastated. I am upset too, but have done my best to be encouraging - these scores are better that her SAT where she didn't break 1000. She really worked hard with tutors and self practice- but the reality of the situation is that she has never been a good test taker. She is however a hard worker. She has a solid 3.3 GPA and has been very involved in EC's and CS.

We are facing the need to revise/decide on where to apply now that we have this critical piece of information. I really need advice/feedback. I want to steer her toward schools that she both has a chance to get into and to recieve some scholarship money- she definately has some reaches on the list. Need to make a final list- scratch off the impossible and add the possible -

Her list:
U Scanton, Marist, Loyola (MD), Providence, Siena, Albany, New paltz, Roger Williams,
St Josephs (PA), West Chester (PA)

HELP - she wants to go to a school where kids are happy and involved with some school spirit-