I would worry if he isn't understanding the basics of engineering how he will move forward. The first year or two weed people out. Engineering includes a deep understanding of math and a basic understanding of how things work for problem solving. If you don't have some of that naturally engineering isn't for you.

This is from a BS MechE and MS Civil that graduated with high GPAs

There’s a lot that might have lead to getting just above a 2.0 his first semester.

He could have slacked off, not gone to class or done the work, etc.

He might have been in a bunch of “weed-out classes” - I was not a STEM major but I remember my friends who were Biology majors were often in Biology/Chemistry/Calculus and one humanities class as freshmen, and those who didn’t have an awesome HS experience with lots of honors and AP classes really struggled adjusting to the expectations and teaching style of large college classes.

He might be discovering that an engineering major isn’t right for him.

I think you have to figure out why his GPA was low. If he’s slacking off at school, maybe he needs to come home and do community college or a college closer to home for a year and then transfer back. If he’s struggling with the material, maybe he needs a tutor or a different major.

Innocuous slacking is a single random C or 2 Bs or B-s.

Near a 2.0 is basically failing at degree mills these days. It’s not a surprise when you get a GPA that low. It’s because for 3 months you ditched classes and blew off practice sets, partied or played vidya all day and night. Don’t buy your kid telling you any different or you’re a gullible schmuck.

OP,

I am an engineer myself. If I were you, I'd be less concerned about his first semester grade but seriously concerned about different aspects - whether he understands what it takes to be one. No matter how smart he is, engineering takes a lot of work. A LOT OF WORK. Understanding that (and willingness to do the work) is probably priority #1. Of course, I am assuming he likes engineering and not just pushed into it.

Anonymous wrote:First semester is usually the easiest courses you’ll ever take. And professors are lenient because colleges want to protect their return rate. Kid is either a drunk, stoner and/or video game addict.

Parent of two engineering students....don't believe this is true at least not at my kids school. Until my kids learned how to study in this new environment, they both struggled. 2.0 is low - so do not be naive. But it's also not time to give up IF he is committed. Be clear re consequences of having another 2.0 semester. what will he do differently? How is he upping his game? That is a necessary conversation before he goes back.

Dear OP - I haven't read all of the above but I do know that you need a 4.0 on a weighted scale to get into engineering at Virginia Tech. DS toured there but got into Georgia Tech. First year courses are very tough. Your son should be really committed to this is you are going forward.

Anonymous wrote:First semester is usually the easiest courses you’ll ever take. And professors are lenient because colleges want to protect their return rate. Kid is either a drunk, stoner and/or video game addict.

That was harsh, and not necessarily true.

OP, you do need to worry about if your kid is doing what he should be doing, but even if those are "the easiest courses you'll ever take" it doesn't change the fact that 4+ science/tech classes is a heavy lift.

It’s a fallacy to think someone with such a low GPA first semester will actually finish their engineering degree. Is it possible? Sure. But I would not bet on this kid becoming an engineer.

First semester is usually the easiest courses you’ll ever take. And professors are lenient because colleges want to protect their return rate. Kid is either a drunk, stoner and/or video game addict.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

It only gets harder. I had a 3.3 GPA my first semester in engineering and slid to a 2.5 by the time I graduated.

That said, I got an engineering job immediately after graduation and now make $140k ten years later.

You were as bad as I was. LOL. Happy Holidays!

Can I just say you two "terrible engineering students" made my day as I think about how to talk to my daughter over break? (I understand it is her life, but I want to parent her well and with compassion through this and I don't want to make my anxiety her problem.)

Merry, happy, joyous, restful holidays to you both.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

It only gets harder. I had a 3.3 GPA my first semester in engineering and slid to a 2.5 by the time I graduated.

That said, I got an engineering job immediately after graduation and now make $140k ten years later.

You were as bad as I was. LOL. Happy Holidays!

Anonymous wrote:

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.

You write terribly. Humanities major?

Anonymous wrote:

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.

It only gets harder. I had a 3.3 GPA my first semester in engineering and slid to a 2.5 by the time I graduated.

That said, I got an engineering job immediately after graduation and now make $140k ten years later.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Not in engineering graduation, that's for sure.

He's a first semester freshman? I'd cut a little bit of slack, even for non engineering kids. I had a 2.4 in my first semester, finished college with a 3.5, and went on to get a PhD in economics. I didn't have the self control and study habits to do well right from the jump. He'll mature, but you have to express some amount of disappointment in a 2.0.