He wants to study civil engineering, which I heard is relatively easy (no offense). He hasn’t been accepted into anything but the school. I gather if you are placed in precalculus, it is hard to finish engineering in 4 years, as the classes depend on calculus. Obviously, failing precalculus is worse. I don’t know much about this sort of thing, as my degree is in math, and where I went there was no placement test, and any engineering major started at Calculus I or higher.
I was sort of taken aback when I was asked about it, as it didn’t sound good. The kid is probably under pressure and should switch to something he can be successful in.