Anonymous
01/21/2026 16:37
Subject: Where can a C student go?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:maybe he should get a neuro psych eval
it's odd for a kid with two parents that smart to do so poorly and be so unmotivated
NP and I hadn’t read the whole thread, but it doesn’t surprise me. I envision a kid who is rebelling (whether intentionally or not) against parents who set very high expectations for grades/engagement/success. The whole fear of failure, effort is a sign of weakness thing.
Well, if you had read the thread, you would have learned the reason grades are low bc the focus more on their part-time job
OP here, I don't think it's because of his job. I think it's more what PP said. Also, he just hates school and prefers hands on things.
Look really seriously at the Newport News ship building program.
You will set him up for a lifetime of success doung something he is good at.
Anonymous
01/21/2026 16:35
Subject: Where can a C student go?
Anonymous wrote:Some of the suggestions here are bizarre. Next, someone will recommend he join us ICE for the generous signing bonus!
The military and trade school suggestions are spot on.
Bizarre suggestions include the 70K-90K out of state schools and private librral arts college for a C student not really interested in school who is really hooked on video games.
Military enlistment, trade schools, communuty college, police academy, firefighting, welding, are all really honorable and practical options for a kid like this.
Just don't do a gap year. He won't likely come back from that.
Anonymous
01/21/2026 16:30
Subject: Where can a C student go?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:What is his part-time job that he loves?
I don't want to give too many details for privacy reasons, but it isn't something that could be a career.
So my kid has an EC he loves to do that could be a (maybe low-paying, not stable) career. There are careers that use the similar skills-plus others- with a BS that lead to careers that give health insurance & can support you.
He’s very hands-on & practical & uninterested in learning for fun. The opposite of my spouse & I! Honestly, he’s very intrigued by proper polytechnic schools (ones that are all hands-on degrees, career focused). Depending on weighted GPa , maybe Purdue’s Polytechnic Institute (an AAK with I think a 3.2 & 1100 SAT just posted admit to mech eng technology in that school)
If that’s your kid, maybe focus in on those schools (AAK suggestions would possibly be Missouri S&T, UWis-Stout, & there’s another I’m blanking on)
Thank you, this is useful. Looking into Purdue Polytech.
Anonymous
01/21/2026 16:29
Subject: Where can a C student go?
Anonymous wrote:Absolutely consider what it is about the job that he likes to help him think about different paths.
He might like the idea of a school with a co-op program so he can alternate work/school. Some have high admit rates, like U of Cincinnati or Wentworth Institute of Technology (Boston).
If he can't find a 4 yr school he's interested in then, sure work + CC while he figures it out. It works for some kids but I've seen others in my family flounder in CC because they spent too much time working or didn't get good advising and took classes that ended up being a waste of time. Plus you miss out on extra time at the 4-yr school to build faculty relationships, ec involvement, friends, etc.
I agree. CC is good for some kids, not for others. It can actually make the problem worse for the unmotivated, because it doesn't offer the vibrant college life that a 4-year does, leaving it just more boring coursework that the kid didn't like to begin with.
Anonymous
01/21/2026 16:26
Subject: Where can a C student go?
Anonymous wrote:I wish OP would share the nature of the part-time job her child really enjoys. That seems like a core detail that may help with brainstorming some out of the box ideas. For example, if he’s really into the outdoors or working with his hands, a college like Warren Wilson or Paul Smith’s may be worth exploring.
OP here - I don't want to share for privacy reasons, but it's not something that could be a career. Think like fast food or some typical teenage job. He just likes that he has friends there and he's been there a long time. The work itself is boring. He does not like the outdoors. He has never liked any subject at school, and his main interests are a sport he does fairly well and could do in college depending on where he goes (it might even help his application) and cars. But he does not want to be a mechanic.
Anonymous
01/21/2026 16:22
Subject: Where can a C student go?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:maybe he should get a neuro psych eval
it's odd for a kid with two parents that smart to do so poorly and be so unmotivated
NP and I hadn’t read the whole thread, but it doesn’t surprise me. I envision a kid who is rebelling (whether intentionally or not) against parents who set very high expectations for grades/engagement/success. The whole fear of failure, effort is a sign of weakness thing.
Well, if you had read the thread, you would have learned the reason grades are low bc the focus more on their part-time job
OP here, I don't think it's because of his job. I think it's more what PP said. Also, he just hates school and prefers hands on things.
Is he open to trade school? Could make a good living as an electrician. The training is not easy but if he's taking advanced STEM classes if might be of interest.
Anonymous
01/21/2026 16:21
Subject: Where can a C student go?
Are you in NOVA? I'd look at community college and transfer to VT or UVA. Or look at GMU and have him live at home for some structure.
Anonymous
01/21/2026 16:18
Subject: Where can a C student go?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:maybe he should get a neuro psych eval
it's odd for a kid with two parents that smart to do so poorly and be so unmotivated
NP and I hadn’t read the whole thread, but it doesn’t surprise me. I envision a kid who is rebelling (whether intentionally or not) against parents who set very high expectations for grades/engagement/success. The whole fear of failure, effort is a sign of weakness thing.
Well, if you had read the thread, you would have learned the reason grades are low bc the focus more on their part-time job
OP here, I don't think it's because of his job. I think it's more what PP said. Also, he just hates school and prefers hands on things.
Anonymous
01/21/2026 16:16
Subject: Where can a C student go?
Anonymous wrote:2.5 GPA from NOVA public was accepted by
ODU, Radford, WVU, ECU and Ga Southern
Thank you! Op here. WVU is one we were looking at.
Anonymous
01/21/2026 15:55
Subject: Where can a C student go?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:maybe he should get a neuro psych eval
it's odd for a kid with two parents that smart to do so poorly and be so unmotivated
NP and I hadn’t read the whole thread, but it doesn’t surprise me. I envision a kid who is rebelling (whether intentionally or not) against parents who set very high expectations for grades/engagement/success. The whole fear of failure, effort is a sign of weakness thing.
Well, if you had read the thread, you would have learned the reason grades are low bc the focus more on their part-time job
Anonymous
01/21/2026 15:51
Subject: Where can a C student go?
Anonymous wrote:maybe he should get a neuro psych eval
it's odd for a kid with two parents that smart to do so poorly and be so unmotivated
NP and I hadn’t read the whole thread, but it doesn’t surprise me. I envision a kid who is rebelling (whether intentionally or not) against parents who set very high expectations for grades/engagement/success. The whole fear of failure, effort is a sign of weakness thing.
Anonymous
01/21/2026 15:16
Subject: Where can a C student go?
Elon
Anonymous
01/21/2026 14:02
Subject: Where can a C student go?
With rampant grade inflation, a C student makes up the bottom quarter of a high school graduating class. However, there are lots of schools you could get into, unfortunately most of them you probably would not want to pay for.
Anonymous
01/21/2026 13:53
Subject: Where can a C student go?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:One of the many colleges that take everyone who can pay tuition.
Not helpful. Was hoping for specific recommendations of not awful schools that are affordable.
Utah State University. They typically accept around 95%.
Double check me, but I believe Utah makes it fairly easily to get residency by just staying in the state for 12 months, which can make it really affordable
Anonymous
01/21/2026 13:41
Subject: Where can a C student go?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:One of the many colleges that take everyone who can pay tuition.
Not helpful. Was hoping for specific recommendations of not awful schools that are affordable.
Utah State University. They typically accept around 95%.