Less than 3.0 GPA, is there a thread? Or hope?

doame
Sat, 05 May 2012 13:07:53 +0000

NPRmom- Our sentiments/relative stuations match.

Our older D worked her butt off in college (taking 10 AP Honor classes - 5 of them her senior year, devoting so many hours and hours of homework on weekends, passing most AP tests with 5’s and few 4’s.) She challenged herself, and was accepted nearly everywhere she applied. She chose a very expensive, academically challenging private & and is loving every minute. She got partial merit scholarship, but we are supportig her nearly 100%(she does have ap/t job) and plotting our debt plan. All of this was achieved by her self-motivation.

I think with lower achieving students - it absolutely depends upon the circumstance of each situation and the attitude of the kid. To say that lower than 3.0 doesing have the “academic ability” is not a statement that was well thought out. Our situation is incidental to us, but my S is very smart. He scores at the top of all state tests. Sometimes I think he’s too smart… He “stays inside his head” analyzing and mulling. He is more emotionally driven sometimes - and made short-sited decisions more out of immaturity than anything else. (like not handing in homework he already completed because “it doesn’t matter” or “he doesn’t care” or he “didn’t liike” the teacher. He’d get blue and just not give a rip. I love his sensitivity…He’s a very caring human being.

We really talked with him about his actions and what his options after high school would be. I don’t think parents can propel a kid into college and “helicopter parent” success. The student has to want it and decide to make it (e.g. a 4-year college) a goal. If the student isn’t all in, then they need to figure out what they might want to do (gap year, full-time job, local cc, trade school, military service, etc…)

We are willing to give our S a chance at the 4-year he chose and worked to get into (I’d never even heard of it.) I’ve learned boys are somewhat slower to mature on a general level. I have faith he will be successful, and we are excited to support him. But if he reverts to the careless behaviour and lack of effort he previously displayed … well, he knows the consequences. (We aren’t paying for him to skp class, party and/or not achieve passing grades.)

There are many, many 4-year colleges that will take 2.5 + students. A degree from an accredited U is an achievement and provides educationed growth that will benefit anyonoe who wants it in far too many ways to list. But there are other good life choices that lead to happy fulfilled lives. It depends what each person wants for themselves…