I just hired a recent graduate with 2.1 GPA from JMU with a degree in Engineering. I didn't care about his GPA. He has multiple AWS certifications that allow me to build my government clients higher rates. I can't say that about other high GPA graduates.

Even if first semester, clearly indicates serious self control and maturity issues with his newfound freedom. This is a very big hole he’s dug. Don’t fall for that “everyone screws up first semester.” No, they don’t. And this isn’t a one C or one B- screw up, he’s nearly on academic probation.

Anonymous wrote:Our son is pursing a mechanical engineering degree at Clemson. His GPA is terrible -- barely above 2.0. He says that this is not atypical for engineering majors and that their classes are much more rigorous and much more difficult to pass than those of non-engineering majors. We are quite concerned and are wondering if this is at all accurate.

His response to you sounds REALLY immature for an adult in college. My middle schooler uses the same juvenile excuse when he posts a bad test grade — “mum everyone did bad!” Yeah, right. I’d be worried he’s not taking agency for his behaviour and isn’t very worried about modifying his actions or time management issues.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our son is pursing a mechanical engineering degree at Clemson. His GPA is terrible -- barely above 2.0. He says that this is not atypical for engineering majors and that their classes are much more rigorous and much more difficult to pass than those of non-engineering majors. We are quite concerned and are wondering if this is at all accurate.

What year is he? Goodluck getting a job with a 2.0-2.5. They’re going to assume he’s a liability — safely assume, I might add.

He is a first semester freshman! We have no idea where he will finish.

Anonymous wrote:Engineering departments love to take the best and the brightest and flunk out a majority of students. It's such bs saying our country wants to promote STEM.

They purposely cull the heard because engineering depts are EXTREMELY expensive to operate — where as the fluff worthless social sciences, communications and humanities are dirt cheap (read: high margin). It’s purely a greedy business decision.

Anonymous wrote:Our son is pursing a mechanical engineering degree at Clemson. His GPA is terrible -- barely above 2.0. He says that this is not atypical for engineering majors and that their classes are much more rigorous and much more difficult to pass than those of non-engineering majors. We are quite concerned and are wondering if this is at all accurate.

What year is he? Goodluck getting a job with a 2.0-2.5. They’re going to assume he’s a liability — safely assume, I might add.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did some googling around and I'd guess that the average undergraduate engineering GPA is a bit above a 3.0. This shows that the average GPA at UVA engineering is a 3.4 (select by school):

https://ira.virginia.edu/university-stats-facts/undergraduate-gpa

So, "close to a 2.0" is not at all common.

Can you say "grade inflation"?

I checked that link! How horrible!

For liberal arts students, the whole experience is pass-fail with grades like that. No way to distinguish good from excellent. What a rip off! Way to sell the kdsi short.

To be fair, it isn't unique to UVA in any way. But I seriously doubt that the rapidly rising Chinese universities do the same thing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did some googling around and I'd guess that the average undergraduate engineering GPA is a bit above a 3.0. This shows that the average GPA at UVA engineering is a 3.4 (select by school):

https://ira.virginia.edu/university-stats-facts/undergraduate-gpa

So, "close to a 2.0" is not at all common.

Can you say "grade inflation"?

I checked that link! How horrible!

For liberal arts students, the whole experience is pass-fail with grades like that. No way to distinguish good from excellent. What a rip off! Way to sell the kdsi short.

Anonymous wrote:Engineering departments love to take the best and the brightest and flunk out a majority of students. It's such bs saying our country wants to promote STEM.

That is why it is really important to choose your school carefully. They don't all do that. None are easy, and kids do flunk out, but some schools are worse than others.

Read carefully on the school websites when making your choice! Call and ask questions of the department regarding weeding out. Look at the median grade in calc. It varies.

Engineering departments love to take the best and the brightest and flunk out a majority of students. It's such bs saying our country wants to promote STEM.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did some googling around and I'd guess that the average undergraduate engineering GPA is a bit above a 3.0. This shows that the average GPA at UVA engineering is a 3.4 (select by school):

https://ira.virginia.edu/university-stats-facts/undergraduate-gpa

So, "close to a 2.0" is not at all common.

Can you say "grade inflation"?

I think people in DMV area think UVA is way better than it is. Better to just let them think that the people there are amazing.

Anonymous wrote:I did some googling around and I'd guess that the average undergraduate engineering GPA is a bit above a 3.0. This shows that the average GPA at UVA engineering is a 3.4 (select by school):

https://ira.virginia.edu/university-stats-facts/undergraduate-gpa

So, "close to a 2.0" is not at all common.

Can you say "grade inflation"?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did some googling around and I'd guess that the average undergraduate engineering GPA is a bit above a 3.0. This shows that the average GPA at UVA engineering is a 3.4 (select by school):

https://ira.virginia.edu/university-stats-facts/undergraduate-gpa

So, "close to a 2.0" is not at all common.

because we all know that UVA is the only school that matters.

not all schools have a mean engineering GPA that high.

None of us think 2.0 is excellence. It just isn't the end of the world.

I think you are over-reacting. No one is saying it is the end of the world. But it is a low grade. I don't think down playing it helps OP.

- dp

I agree no one thinks a 2.0 is great. On the other hand, the idea and goal is for him to graduate and get a job. Yes, that's it! How does that happen? If he's only a freshman there is time to improve things and many ways to do that. He can get help at the school he is at ,or he can come home go to community college and lose that low GPA transfer to another college again new GPA tons of kids do this. Not ideal, but not unreasonable either. This is not fatal.

A 2.0 ish gpa at his school might be hard to transfer to another major . If DC is bent on staying at that particular school so coming home and going to community college might be the only answer if DC can not matriculate to the Engineering school either.

Lots of choices maybe not exactly what DC or parents would think are ideal.

In the original post OP suggested it was the non engineering courses causing problems. If that truly is the case, ie Psychology,English etc.. have DC take any required courses left at community college over summers to protect GPA. Grades do not transfer only credits and as long as a C is the grade Clemson will count the course.

College is a journey and an expensive one at that which we all know. How does one help their child navigate without them failing out and being completely lost. Not all kids are 3.0 gpa students, it happens. All that said, it's up to op's young adult to figure this out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The level of studying necessary for good grades in engineering is insane. Even with that, some classes will be very hard. Like Thermo.

Funny. Thermo was my easiest class.

it was my fav class but i can certainly understand why some kids struggle

Anonymous wrote:The level of studying necessary for good grades in engineering is insane. Even with that, some classes will be very hard. Like Thermo.

Funny. Thermo was my easiest class.