A good college schedule MUST include at least one 'fluff’class. This isn’t high school. All classes are rigorous. Being able to balance one’s schedule is what matters. 3hard classes /2 easy classes would be a good balance.
@frazzled2thecore
OP stated that the calc 3 was taken as a gen ed and not a major requirement.
Also, even in majors that you do need calc 3 I doubt it that you have to have it done by second semester freshmen year in order to proceed.
Even schools who strongly push students to graduate in 4 years allow room for wiggle.
I’ve look at many, many schools for environmental science and I can’t remember ever seeing a school that required Calc 3.
^ yes, that class selection makes NO sense.
@Nurse001
OP if you don’t mind can you tell us a little more about the school without naming it? For example is it a flagship, ivy league, LAC etc? Is it one known for its rigor?
My son is a freshman in the School of Humanities taking Matrix and Calc 3, as well as another very difficult elective. At mid-term he was flailing at the three courses. He understood the principles as well as the A student, yet silly mistakes and tough grading resulted in low test scores. After he discussed the best solutions with his advisors, he decided to drop Matrix (he doesn’t need this for his major) and the other very time consuming elective (took the class because it was very challenging), picked up two easier electives to replace the difficult ones, and took his best shot at Calc 3.
By dropping the two difficult, time-consuming electives he was able to put more time into Calc. 3 and expects a 3.5 GPA for the semester.
Lesson for my son was class management. As others have mentioned, three tough courses and two easy courses is more doable than five rigorous courses.
If he is taking Calc 3 as a freshman then he can handle a doable workload. It could be a matter of balance and perspective.
Writing as the parent of a GPA challenged grad who in retrospect lacked an instinct for choosing manageable schedules, I would agree that it is important for students to get a realistic grasp of how much time it can take to get through classes, and drop classes if necessary. I also think it is ideal to plan a four year schedule ahead of time to avoid having to fulfill too many graduation requirements in the last semesters, especially with majors that do not have a clear sequence of courses.
It is my understanding, however, that OP’s S attempted to drop the language class but was not permitted to do so, and that language is a requirement at the school. That seems to me a very tough position if the class is not going well. It furthermore seems to me that it could be very difficult to catch up even with tutoring if a student has fallen behind in either a language class or a math class.
Also, sometimes it is tough for students to know exactly how they are doing in a class, or whether they can pull up their grades, until after the withdrawal date. My kids have taken classes with no graded work returned until after the withdrawal date, in fact, and not just seminar classes with a big project at the end.
I would agree that three difficult classes/two easy classes or perhaps four difficult classes is probably the most difficult course load that most students can handle at some of the schools, many will work hard with an easier course load than that if they want to fit in some EC’s or work, and even so that might be too much for a freshman.
Students who do well with a seemingly impossible load often take classes that overlap in content, or overlap with a long-standing avocational interest, or repeat material they have encountered in previous course work, and that is how they manage.
Thanks for all the comments. No harm in naming the school. He goes to UNC Chapel Hill. Which he absolutely loves. He wouldn’t trade schools for anything. According to their website this is what is says about graduating in 8 semesters:
Students who began their college careers fall 2007 or later have eight semesters of full-time enrollment to complete requirements for a degree program. Under rare and extenuating circumstances, students may request permission to enroll for an additional semester. Students who are permitted to enroll in an additional semester may graduate with only a single major and no minor, even if all the work for the minor or second major has been completed.
Regarding the foreign language here are the requirements here is their policy:
Students are not permitted to drop ENGL 100, ENGL 105/105I, or foreign language levels 1 through 3 being used to fulfill the Foundations requirement at any time during the semester, unless approved by a dean in the Academic Advising Program.
He did try to talk with the Dean but it was not approved.
When he made his classes he didn’t consult the advisor or us. They have a class tracker and it tells you what classes you need to make sure you graduate on time. Now you can take what you want as long as you are completing the requirements. He did not consult anyone. He did pass math and chem in the AP in high school so he didn’t even need the math to begin with but decided he did so well in HS that he would take that as an elective. Without consulting anyone.
The problem with my son is very determined to do things his way 
Not sure if anyone else is kids are a like that. Take no regard for suggestions! He believes he is smarter than his parents haha that what he wants to think but that is NOT the case! Chooses not to go to classes when it is not convenient for him.
That is the point that I am beside myself with. He wants to be an adult but not be an adult if anyone knows what I mean. Only wants to be an adult when it suits him. Now not saying the depression and meds might need to be adjusted but I really think he wants to run his own life but on my dime
Has he touched base with the 3 professors to see where he currently stands in the classes he’s worried about? It might not be as bad as he thinks given curves etc. He can ask what he needs to do to pass hopefully with a C. When are the various finals scheduled for? Hopefully there’s some breathing room between tests. I think you can certainly ask him what his study plans are. Offer to pay for a tutor if he thinks it will help. He probably already had to register for fall classes. Any idea what he signed up for? Assuming he goes back in the fall and the current situation and the fact you’re paying the bills you should have input. Keep us posted and good luck.
The 8 semester requirement does not include summer school. Your son will the option of taking classes in the summer if needed to catch up. It is not uncommon to drop a class if a semester’s load proves to be too much. Summer sessions provide an opportunity to stay on track. Yes, it adds costs, but it is an option. Most schools will accept limited number of transfer credits from other schools. I suggest you research UNC’s policies, as taking some classes at a local community college or local 4 year college may be something to consider.
@Themclos. We live very close to UNC Charlotte as I will def have to try to research this. Sometimes its hard to find things on the website but I might place a call into Advising next week just to ask some general questions. They are very helpful.
Say that you won’t sign off any bill for the Fall until you’ve discussed his Fall schedule.
Check with the university to see if retaking Foreign Language 1 and Calc 3 at an approved CC over the summer would “repair” his two grades (either the “repair” consists in averaging the two grades, or in keeping the 2nd grade only - depends on the university).
If it doesn’t, see if he could take those during the summer session (he could take 2 classes during Summer Session 1, then go home and work to pay you back the costs?? OR, take one during Maymester and work the rest of the time? Tuition is due May 5 for Maymester and May 6 for Summer session 1.)
Now, you know which classes can’t be dropped and thus should be taken very seriously.
This would be a non-starter for me. If my child was not attending class when it wasn’t convenient AND not doing well, he would be done until he matured enough to appreciate and take advantage of the education that was being provided to him. Depression, freshman adjustment, failure to understand the material after putting in a lot of effort - those I could work with. I could live with missing classes as long as the grades were stellar. But lack of attendance/lack of effort and poor grades? Not on my dime.
Seems like he has no issue making his job a priority if he still has it. I still question where that money is going and why that is a priority over attending class and studying. I’m all for supporting my kids but I’d need to have serious talks about causes and changes to put forth tuition dollars for another year. Personally, I don’t dictate what courses my kids take but we always discuss their plans for the coming semester before they commit to them.
Saw this on UNC website. Might be something to look into if your son does go back in the fall: https://campushealth.unc.edu/services/counseling-and-psychological-services/academic-interventions/bounce-back-retention-program
@Nurse001 - I will only add not to panic. There is time to right the ship. Reading a bit between the lines, I sense that you provided a good deal of support during high school, which is understandable. It appears too that your son began to stretch his legs and exert his independence in his senior year, as you mentioned some slippage in his academics late in high school. After allowing him some time to decompress once the semester ends, I would find time to sit with him and listen, listen, listen, then talk a little, then listen, listen, listen some more. He likely is motivated to be successful and to graduate on time. Few kids want to fail. Ensuring his meds are optimized (I’m sure you know that dosage needs can change over time) is important, as others have noted. This is not a time for yelling and/or threatening (I am not suggesting you have done this or will be doing this) - as a parent I can understand the frustration. Helping him understand you are there to support him, and provide guidance to map a plan to be successful is important. Good luck to you and your son - I’m sure you can get through this.
On the 8 semesters, without researching independently, my guess is the administration wants to discourage the practice, common at some flagships, of “Victory Laps” where students stay an extra year to finish up.
But as others noted, that probably does not exclude summer classes at regional campuses etc to get requirements out of the way, or to do some gpa protection.
And, especially in the Calc, that hopefully is before the curve and his final grade – if he has turned in the rest of the assignments – could be better or even much better.
Hang in there, it’s a big transition.
OP you should realize that high schools provide a wide spectrum of readiness for college. My English major child took linear algebra and Calc 3 and knew the majority of the material before the class started. My children have done group projects with their peers that still write five paragraph essays. Even at top schools readiness it not consistent.
I really don’t think you should send your son back to college next autumn. His school has extensive help for students.
http://learningcenter.unc.edu/
Free peer tutoring. He doesn’t seem ready to help himself. I found study groups to be very helpful for my hardest classes.
He really doesn’t seem ready for college.
^ This x100. If your child has never struggled with depression or medical-level anxiety, honestly you have no idea.
@Snowdog I totally agree with you. We have been dealing with his depression since 11th grades. Switching meds x2. Changes does at least 4 times, up and down. It can be quiet challenging with a teen with any mental disability. Always made me sad because I just wanted to fix him and I always wanted him to happy. But unfortunately that is not always possible.
@MaterS - My son went to a magnet school and he studied engineering for 4 years. He was quite advanced in Math. The only reason he took it as an elective as it showed up under Environmental Sciences a possible course to take. He was on math’s team during high school. President of Robotics and built robots for the high school and went to state competitions and all required high level of math to get the robot working, so I do believe he has the capability to do well in that class. Now why he did not I cannot tell you until I sit with him and talk. UNC does have wonderful learning centers, writing centers and tutoring. He is just not using them. That is another issue we will be discussing.
I am going to do everything in my power to make sure my son gets back on track. As I have not discussed with him what might have been the issue it is hard to say but well get to the bottom of this during the summer. Like I said in the earlier posts were getting him reevaluated in May for depression. If its truly that he just was plain lazy then we will set rules on how the next semester is going to go. I would never give up on him as of yet. The first semester lowest grade was a C-. We will get through this. Just going to pray a lot that by a miracle he passes these classes
hi Nurse001. following this thread with interest and sympathy. similar issues, attitudes, puzzlement, and the rest. it’s going to be a looooooong summer.