<p>I’m familiar with EPGY. Can I ask which class it is? If it’s Physics C or Calculus BC, he can just slow down and take AP tests on a subset of what he expected. For example, if it’s Physics C, he can just take the AP test in Mechanics even if he had intended to do both Mechanics and E&M. If it’s Calculus BC, he can slow down and just do AB. If it’s Physics B and he’s also learning calculus, he can switch to Physics C Mechanics. That’s less of a stretch than you would think.</p>
<p>luchteam: When my now HS senior was in first grade, her teacher was convinced she had a severe learning disability. (Many issues and my husband and I already had our concerns but needed to hear it from an outside person.) My S-I-L, who is an LD teacher suggested we have her evaluated by a neuropsychologist. S-I-L said that neuropsychologists were the best trained to determine if it was a learning disability or an emotional/psychological issue. I remember asking my S-I-L how my husband and I would know if the diagnosis was correct. She told us to go with our gut…if it didn’t feel right it probably wasn’t. And I will say we did not go through the school and it was expensive…$1,200 and that was 11 years ago. Making the decision to have her evaluated was difficult…it really was scary to hear the diagnosis but at least we were on a concrete path to try and help her. I know we were fortunate that she was in first grade and not in HS but it is still better to get help in HS and not wait longer.</p>
<p>We did the private evals when they were young, as issues were raised in early elem. Insurance covered a portion of them. I wanted an external, impartial evaluation. </p>
<p>We never had formal accommodations, though teachers through 8th grade gave extended time and allowed typing in lieu of writing on a regular basis without formal requests. Ironically, the GT teachers were much more understanding of asychrony and ADD/exec function issues than the regular teachers. In HS, they would not accommodate, in part because S2 was in a full IB program and the IBO makes it very difficult to get accommodations for their exams. He does not have any accommodations in college, either, at his request.</p>
<p>Taking an on line course is a whole different scenario than going to class each day. The failure rate for these classes and programs are high because it is just to easy to schloff this stuff off. I don’t think what happened with your son is unusual. </p>
<p>It is also a new experience for kids when they actually go to college to learn that going to class and doing homework is not monitored. Some very bright kids who could just learn things from osmosis in the classroom and doing a little reading, find that without some heavy duty studying and actually doing the homework plus some can put you behind. </p>
<p>A lot of that is probably happening with your son along with senioritus and other issues that brew in young adults. I’m glad that you are looking into the accutane and other health issues, as they should be examined. It is certainly possible that they are having an effect. But that he is doing so well in his high school regular routine and having issues with these new things makes me think that he may be hitting the wall on what he can do without having to work so hard.</p>
<p>I think the Accutane should be stopped asap. I have seen first hand that medications are not for everyone. This one is linked to depression as has already been mentioned. Get him off this med immediately! It’s unfortunate that he only has about one more month to go to his 6 mos. on it, but all the signs point to it. </p>
<p>I would forget about the “lying” and see this as a huge cry for help. This is one time to forget all the erergy you have poured into your dreams for him, and remember that all of it will mean nothing if he’s miserable and broken. I would try to drop the course at this point and got with the W. Think that will be much easier to explain come final transcript time in June. Not idea, but better than an F or D. And it is what it is after that. When you do talk to him, please listen to him as well. Let him do MOST of the talking if he’s willing. Make eye contact and forget you are his mother. And DO get him off that accutane!</p>