Please Be Kind: 2.6 GPA

[Anonymous]

2.6 in 2020 is incredibly alarming... major red flags, as in depression or drug use.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Plenty of private colleges in VA that might consider admitting him. What about Roanoke, Lynchburg, Mary Baldwin, Randolph Macon? Then there are always usually Longwood, Radford, ODU.

These are strong options. As others have suggested, it could be worthwhile to read CTCL. The first few chapters offer insight regarding the general CTCL philosophy which is very positive and encouraging.

[Anonymous]

Yes, definitely apply to more safeties or better matches, and please ignore the negative posters. There are plenty of colleges that would admit your son, many of which have already been named here. I suggest going back to the college counselor for more ideas as she might be surprised that Eckerd waitlisted. My DS applied to Eckerd too, and from what I have read on College Confidential etc., it is only a pretty sure bet at 3.5 GPA (my DS is below 3.5), so I would not have considered it a match even with good test scores. I suggest having a frank conversation with your son so that he understands and is on board with casting a wider net. Covid-19 is making many aspects of life less predictable, including college admissions, and if he really wants to go away to college next year it is important that he sees this as helping his chances. Good luck and try to stay positive, lots of us are stressing now so you are not alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:2.6 in 2020 is incredibly alarming... major red flags, as in depression or drug use.

Oh jeebus xmas stop with the dramatic BS. You are not qualified to make this outrageous and possibly dangerous claim. In fact you are an idiot. See I can make judgements based on one data point also. But I bet mine is more accurate than yours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2.6 in 2020 is incredibly alarming... major red flags, as in depression or drug use.

Oh jeebus xmas stop with the dramatic BS. You are not qualified to make this outrageous and possibly dangerous claim. In fact you are an idiot. See I can make judgements based on one data point also. But I bet mine is more accurate than yours.

OP posted earlier that child does have anxiety/depression and is getting treatment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2.6 in 2020 is incredibly alarming... major red flags, as in depression or drug use.

Oh jeebus xmas stop with the dramatic BS. You are not qualified to make this outrageous and possibly dangerous claim. In fact you are an idiot. See I can make judgements based on one data point also. But I bet mine is more accurate than yours.

OP posted earlier that child does have anxiety/depression and is getting treatment.

Right but the poster wrote that the 2.6 itself was incredibly alarming. It isn’t. Believe it or not many kids are just lousy students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:2.6 in 2020 is incredibly alarming... major red flags, as in depression or drug use.

OP noted on first post that his GPA in core classes is even lower.

What about doing a 5th year of high school at a boarding school to work on organizational skills?

[Anonymous]

Honestly with depression and anxiety community college near home may be the best option. A bunch of my friends kids are at college and it's very isolating. That may not be a good idea for a kid struggling in school now and new place, no friends with anxiety and depression.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:2.6 in 2020 is incredibly alarming... major red flags, as in depression or drug use.

OP, please don't listen to the crazies of DCUM. Yes, a 2.6 is not stellar but you have identified your child's issues and are working on them. I graduated high school with a 2.8, went to a top ranked STEM program and ended up with a PhD and now make over 300k a year. It isn't hopeless.
There is something to be said for a big school with a lot of choices of majors where your child can find a passion and hopefully move out of the rut s/he is in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2.6 in 2020 is incredibly alarming... major red flags, as in depression or drug use.

OP, please don't listen to the crazies of DCUM. Yes, a 2.6 is not stellar but you have identified your child's issues and are working on them. I graduated high school with a 2.8, went to a top ranked STEM program and ended up with a PhD and now make over 300k a year. It isn't hopeless.
There is something to be said for a big school with a lot of choices of majors where your child can find a passion and hopefully move out of the rut s/he is in.

This is me too, OP. I barely got into a good college. Once there, and after a somewhat bumpy first year, I took off academically once given the chance. I graduated with honors and got into a top 15 law school. I, too, make over $300K and have sizable assets and investments. Getting ready to send my twins to college. My son is more like me, and your kid, at their age. I’m just trying to pass on the wisdom that helped me survive and thrive in college. Stay hopeful and don’t listen to the alarmists. They don’t know anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2.6 in 2020 is incredibly alarming... major red flags, as in depression or drug use.

OP, please don't listen to the crazies of DCUM. Yes, a 2.6 is not stellar but you have identified your child's issues and are working on them. I graduated high school with a 2.8, went to a top ranked STEM program and ended up with a PhD and now make over 300k a year. It isn't hopeless.
There is something to be said for a big school with a lot of choices of majors where your child can find a passion and hopefully move out of the rut s/he is in.

This is me too, OP. I barely got into a good college. Once there, and after a somewhat bumpy first year, I took off academically once given the chance. I graduated with honors and got into a top 15 law school. I, too, make over $300K and have sizable assets and investments. Getting ready to send my twins to college. My son is more like me, and your kid, at their age. I’m just trying to pass on the wisdom that helped me survive and thrive in college. Stay hopeful and don’t listen to the alarmists. They don’t know anything.

This is important perspective! and as a fellow lawyer, I can attest to that there are many lawyers who excelled academically and now are piss poor lawyers because they have no common sense. Big law is full of these types and they wash out and take a big ego hit because they are used to "succeeding" ... This is my tangent to echo that high school performance isn't everything - in fact it is one measure - and your child has great potential ahead!

[Anonymous]

I'm starting all 3 of my kids at Montgomery College. Unless they get a scholarship somewhere some day. They'll move to a 4 year college, graduate with zero debt, and by golly...skills to have a job. And not spend their 20s debts slaves or unemployed...or both. Hopefully. One can hope.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your kid hasn't earned college. If he wants to go to college, he should now work hard in community college. Or he can try a trade. I personally, wouldn't waste money if he can't hack it.

"Tough guy" parent! You know what we call "tough guy" parents?

Assholes.

Also, if you made more money maybe you'd be more open to giving him time to figure out life instead of having to choose when he is 17.

Tough guy.

He's not getting in anywhere with a 2.6 so paying for college is a moot point. That said, if he did get in somewhere with a 2.6 would you really want to toss 40-80K a year out on someone not prepared for college? Community college allows him to figure his stuff out without wasting money. He's not ready for college. A 2.6 in high school = failing in college.

DP and what the PP says has merit. It's possible that the student just won't be prepared for full time college. I wouldn't suggest community college but I would suggest Part time for the first semester or two at a regular university.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm starting all 3 of my kids at Montgomery College. Unless they get a scholarship somewhere some day. They'll move to a 4 year college, graduate with zero debt, and by golly...skills to have a job. And not spend their 20s debts slaves or unemployed...or both. Hopefully. One can hope.

Maybe. But community colleges have a massive drop out rate and many students attend to take a class here and there as opposed to being full time students. It's possible they will start and then never finish out those 2 years. They will get a job part time, go to class, etc. It's easier at community college to just drop the going to class part. So while you think you have it all sewn up I have a feeling your smug attitude will come back to bite you.

[Anonymous]

I know he wants to go away, but as a school admin I highly recommend a year of CC while you figure out the right meds and what sounds to be some executive functioning issues. Does he want to be successful or just get a way? This is a great opportunity to work on those skills. Are you in nova? Do. you have access to the pathways program?