Maybe, after this false start, you need to let go of asking about the “best school” she can transfer to...and start concentrating on HER unique needs (=fit).

Just an FYI - if your daughter needs aid - most aid goes to freshman. So even if she would have qualified for it if she applied out of high school, it is probably no longer on the table.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it so bad she can't return for spring term?

I would:
Get her home and take a break. Look to see if there were any mental health issues that drove it - if yes, get her the support she needs.

Have your daughter work with the school to create a schedule that works for her in the Spring. Top 10 schools do not want kids failing out. They want to help them be successful.

Does she need a gap year?

Sorry, didn't mean to suggest she won't return in Jan; she will still finish out freshman year. It's just the process of transferring begins basically now with, I think, March deadlines in order to set up attending a different college next Aug/Sept. I don't think another semester is going to make a huge different in gpa, so assuming it's still pretty mediocre, what is the best case? And will they factor in high school stats (which are terrific) or just seize on low current gpa? And is it any hook at all to be applying from a top private?

The HS grades are good in the sense that they show her potential, bad in the sense that they suggest something is going wrong for her now that she hasn't figured out how to address. Can she explain the situation in a way that makes sense? Have you reached out to the HS counselor for advice?

But it also depends on what you mean by "mediocre" (B pluses? C's? D's?). I know of a kid who transferred successfully from a highly ranked SAC to a lower ranked one, but the kid had a girlfriend at the lower-ranked school and spent all his time there, so he was able to make a good case for why it was a better fit for him. That's probably going to be key for her.

I am sorry that I don’t know the answer, but I would agree that you and her have to figure out the problem so it does not follow her to the new school.

And ignore posters telling you to ID the school now. They don’t need that to answer your question. Your daughter has a right to privacy.

Good luck!!

Anonymous wrote:Is it so bad she can't return for spring term?

I would:
Get her home and take a break. Look to see if there were any mental health issues that drove it - if yes, get her the support she needs.

Have your daughter work with the school to create a schedule that works for her in the Spring. Top 10 schools do not want kids failing out. They want to help them be successful.

Does she need a gap year?

Sorry, didn't mean to suggest she won't return in Jan; she will still finish out freshman year. It's just the process of transferring begins basically now with, I think, March deadlines in order to set up attending a different college next Aug/Sept. I don't think another semester is going to make a huge different in gpa, so assuming it's still pretty mediocre, what is the best case? And will they factor in high school stats (which are terrific) or just seize on low current gpa? And is it any hook at all to be applying from a top private?

Is it so bad she can't return for spring term?

I would:
Get her home and take a break. Look to see if there were any mental health issues that drove it - if yes, get her the support she needs.

Have your daughter work with the school to create a schedule that works for her in the Spring. Top 10 schools do not want kids failing out. They want to help them be successful.

Does she need a gap year?

I think it depends on what's going on. If, say, she's in engineering and hates it and realizes she wants to transfer to a LAC and major in French, I think she can make that case. If her grades are a disaster because she is having emotional difficulties, such a bad breakup, or mental health issues, it's going to be harder., and she might be better off taking some time away from school They're going to want to know that she has self-awareness about her situation and is going to be successful at their school.

Do you need to give more details OP. Otherwise you’ll have a huge range of posts that you’ll think don’t relate.

Chicago??

What major?

Try to see if she can switch majors/schools within the university.

I think you should focus on why the grades were bad - solve that problem before worrying about where to send her next.

I hate to say it but community college and then transfer to a state school. She needs to pull her grades up. Otherwise, she is a risk for anyone to take on right now.

With a bad GPA it will be hard. I transferred sophomore year but had a good GPA.

I'd rather not say the top 10. Her grades are awful and she isn't happy. If she remains committed to wanting to transfer, is coming from a top 10 any sort of hook or is she screwed because of awful gpa? Or will they rely on high school stats? I don't know how freshman year transfers work. Thanks.