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GUEST STUDENT OF THE WEEK: ehales3 is a rising sophomore at Cornell University. As a high school student, she always thought that she wanted to study in a more urban environment, but has grown to love Ithaca and all that it offers. ASK HER ANYTHING!
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College Decision Day 2019 is past. How is everyone feeling? Lessons Learned?
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Replies to: College Decision Day 2019 is past. How is everyone feeling? Lessons Learned?
I doubt anyone on CC has much against grit, resilience, or intelligence (or rigorous schools) but there are many scrappy, persevering, smart kids who worked their butts off in high school who run into challenges in college that can make an anticipated college GPA much harder to obtain that expected. Depression, serious illness, death of a family member, or being assaulted are just a few that come to mind.
Absolutely. D18's scholarship requires a 3.5 GPA to maintain it, but we were told no one has ever lost the scholarship due to falling short of that level and we could view the full distribution of GPA by major and course. So there were no concerns on our part (justifiably as her GPA after the first year is ~3.9).
Enjoy the ride and don't get caught up in the craziness of it. It can easily be a several year process. Make sure your child focuses on the school first and the sport second. They are there to get an education. Remember, coaches come and go quite often and this can really change the landscape for you.
Prepare your child to handle face to face rejection. At the right time, your child needs to be able to respectfully confront the coach whether or not there is a place for them on that team. Be open and honest with coaches. They often work together and share information on prospects
Be realistic about what schools match your child academically and athletically. Focus on those schools while also having a long shot but understand it is a long shot. Everyone isn't playing D1 in the ACC.
If your child is pursuing both academic and athletic dreams/goals there is a tremendous amount of pressure they can put on themselves while feeling isolated since they walk in both circles. Give them the space and down time they need to relieve that pressure.
And for the love of Pete, parents please stay off the field, away from the refs, out of the coach's office and let your children play!
Indeed...Lucky I got some need-based aid not dependent on a GPA when I went to college. I went to a pretty rigorous HS and, shall we say, my first year at college was less than stellar. First taste of freedom has it's price. Nevertheless I graduated on time.
I too was lucky that back in the day my aid was need based as I bombed the first 1.5 semesters.
I think there are plenty kids out there with grit and resilience. I do know my D19 is more ready for college than I was at her age. She is definitely smarter. And she is totally embracing working gig type jobs. It is like a bunch of part-time jobs(which are easier to get) that add up to well over 40 hour work weeks. Some are off book and for cash. She started really getting it going last semester of senior year. It is like the kid is never home. She is also gaining the skills of being a personal assistant with all the scheduling she has to do most of it with adults. She was home one Sunday for like 7 hours straight. I said why are you here shouldn't you be working.
Yeah - well if I'm gonna lose a scholarship, you bet I'll avoid that STATS class or the other dreaded weeder classes. Hello under-water basket weaving. ;-)
For all merit/scholarship and need based aid:
Knox College requires academic good standing 1.3 - 1.7 GPA your first year based on term and reasonable progress in your studies (on track to graduate in 5 yrs). At Knox 1 class = 1 credit. They are on a trimester system and you take 9 classes per year (3 per term). https://www.knox.edu/offices/financial-aid/financial-aid-handbook/responsibilities-of-recipients
Allegheny requires a 1.0 GPA for the first year, then it goes up from there https://sites.allegheny.edu/finaid/current-students/academic-progress-policy/ You need to graduate in 5 yrs. If you're an honors student, you may need to keep a 3.0 to keep all the privileges.(special advisement, first crack at internships and scholarships for special study)