<p>Also here to add sympathy and support! So much good advice above. I think it is like a bucket of ice water in the face that first semester for all these high-achieving kids who had things “all figured out” in high school. </p>
<p>The only tiny thing I have to add is that a 3.0 is a great goal, but at USC a 3.0 also a bit tough. You might modify that to “We expect you to pass your classes.” He is a freshman, so he/you might not yet have discovered USC’s GPA system (it was a surprise to us): An “A-” will receive 3.7 GPA points… a “B-” will get 2.7… So he could get “straight B minuses,” and receive only a 2.7 GPA.</p>
<p>Best of luck, and keep us updated. We will all be thinking about him and hoping he does well.</p>