The time to bring his grades up to snuff was the start of his junior year, not the fall semester of senior year.

Do his grades dip when he's playing a sport?

Slate produced a very good podcast series about the college admission process called "getting in" earlier this year. It should be required listening for parents in the DC metro area.

OP let him play. There are tons of great schools out there.

Anonymous wrote:His grades his senior year won't matter as much for college applications, so he should go ahead and play if it makes him happy. It's a little too late, in my opinion, to get serious about grades. Let him play and concentrate on the SAT or ACT.

+1 having been through the college process, it is too late at the start of senior year to think that much will change to put him over the top for a top 10 college. If he is almost there, he should apply early decision. Those applications will be due November 1 or November 15 depending on the school. His transcript likely will reflect what classes he is taking but not his 1st quarter grades.

Looking back, it was a huge stress inducer focusing on getting into a top school. he will get into the school he earned and if he doesn't like hose schools, he can work hard and transfer after freshman year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think that your son--who is almost an adult and who has to date successfully managed his school and sports responsibilities--has earned the right to make this decision himself.

When he saves up the money to pay for college, then he can be 100% autonomous.

Real nice. You know that it is completely impossible for a kid to save up enough for college in the four or five working years he has, assuming he takes on jobs mowing lawns at 12. It's a specious argument.

And it's not fair to try to control your kids with money when they don't even have the ability to quote unquote save up for college at this point. Jesus Christ. Have fun with the adult relationship with your child

Let your kid make some decisions about his life. Give him some tools to go out into the real world and stop trying to hold money over them. F***

Well if you force him to quit he will likely be pissed at you and miserable. Going to guess that will impact his grades.

Goodness gracious. The varsity sport gives him a leg up. What you need to do is step up your investment so that he gets over the hump from almost to good enough. That means hiring a tutor for each of his subjects, and turning over your evenings and weekends to them.

Make sure the tutors understand that they will be doing all homework and out-of-school assignments for your son, and that they get a substantial bonus for "A" work. Your son's job is to be ready for each and every in-class quiz and test that comes through--where obviously the tutors can't be there.

So your son will still be studying every moment he's not in class, but the tutors will let him leverage his work. They'll step in so that he can prepare most efficiently and effectively, using every moment wisely. Really, he's been behind the 8-ball far too long, given your selfishness as a parent (example: your considering forcing him to quit the varsity sport). It's time you step up to the commitment you made upon his birth, and invest in his future.

His grades his senior year won't matter as much for college applications, so he should go ahead and play if it makes him happy. It's a little too late, in my opinion, to get serious about grades. Let him play and concentrate on the SAT or ACT.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some really bad advice here. Most teens in my neighborhood quit sports junior year.

Most kids quit junior year because they are cut or not getting playing time. That is different than quitting a sport when you are good.

This. Kids quit when they can't hang.

If you were going to force him to stop playing his sport (is that his main extra-curricular? Bad idea, I think, unless there was a really good reason), it should have been before junior year so he could focus on academics that year. Junior year is the most critical; senior year you really just need to keep everything stable and not show a decline in grades or other red flags. Let the kid play. But more importantly, let him decide for himself on this relatively minor decision.

If he already knew the schools he wanted, he honestly should have visits done by now and he can do the applications anytime now. There is also very little time left for testing if going early acceptance. Let him make the choice. If he wants a big name school, he knows what it will take.

Colleges are also pretty clear that they are looking for an extended commitment to activities as well. Ditching his sport in senior year could backfire.

Op never said her DS was good. She said sports are over after HS.

Oh man, let the kid play. If his grades aren't already great, it seems unlikely they'll get good enough this last year to justify making him give up something he loves.

Anonymous wrote:Some really bad advice here. Most teens in my neighborhood quit sports junior year.

Most kids quit junior year because they are cut or not getting playing time. That is different than quitting a sport when you are good.

Some really bad advice here. Most teens in my neighborhood quit sports junior year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:High school athletes do better academically in the seasons they play than the seasons they don't. Let him play -- it's a win-win (and a no-brainer).

That is the excuse every coach gives.

It's not an "excuse"; it's an argument in favor of playing sports -- and a darn powerful one.

Here's another: If OP's son suddenly quits playing his senior year (after previously being a varsity athlete) and his grades drop (even a little) at the same time, that's a HUGE red flag for college admissions committees. It says, "I probably have developed substance abuse problems and/or emotional challenges -- I'm a risk you probably don't want to take."

+1

No guarantee that grades will go up, and it'll look really bad if they go down.