<p>my 23 yo son was academically dismissed from college twice then finally not let back in. problem was severe depression and not able to attend classes though very bright. now we're between a rock and a hard place. he's getting help so when he's ready to go back would any school accept any of his classes or would he have to start as a freshman? also, would there be any possibility of appealing the schools final decision because his low gpa was due to a medical issue and not partying etc? not saying he's ready to go back anywhere yet, just want him to understand the reality of things. just as a side note, his school was listed by Moody's as one of the colleges whose credit ratings have gone down (i.e. do they need the money, just a thought).</p>
<p>When the time comes…I would strongly suggest that your son start by taking one class at a time, then adding to that…at a community college. He can then prove his ability to deal with college courses, and if he does well, he should be able to transfer to a four year school to finish his degree. </p>
<p>This is a journey, not a race. Let him do this at a pace that will give him success.</p>
<p>A family member flunked out of college twice, and his relationship with his college was “severed” (that is what is on his transcript). Years later, after working full time successfully, he decided to return to college. He enrolled at the local community college which ad an articulation agreement with a specific four year university he wished to attend. He went to the CC for a full year, and completed his gen ed requirements. He then applied to the 4 year school as a transfer, he DID have to send is (pathetic) transcript from college number one, and he did get a couple of courses of credit. The 4 year school accepted him, and he graduated. He has been successfully employed as an engineer for 30 years.</p>
<p>There IS life after flunking out of college.</p>
<p>I agree going back slow… one class at a time… community college with a goal of maybe an Associates to start. You don’t say how many units he passed but many colleges require you to finish half the total units required to graduate before transferring. For your son, that might be a collection of classes from different places and that is OK. One thing he can’t do is not report his past college work. </p>
<p>That’s what i was wondering He’d have to start over as a freshman. He does have a few cc credits where he did fine. I know he didn’t pass enough to transfer from his original school though. Thanks to all for confirming what i thought. It’s just sad that he’s made things harder for himself and delayed the prospects of doing what he really wants to do.</p>
<p>Utzy. Your son will be required to send the transcript from his first college when he applies to his next four year college. The community college won’t request this. Even if your son failed every course at college number 1, his transcript will be required.</p>
<p>If he hasn’t completed enough courses, he will still BE a freshman…but that transcript must be sent!</p>
<p>Class status (Fresh, Soph, Jun, Sen) is determined by how many credits a student has earned. When transferring, the receiving school likely would accept only courses/credits for which a student earned a C or higher grade. Roughly, students become sophomore with about 30 credits earned (not “attempted,” but “earned”). Thumper1’s scenario is rather common. If your son’s depression gets under control and his study skills and habits are likely to be up to the challenge, then starting back with a full load at community college might not be a problem. If the depression or unsuccessful academic habits are still getting in the way, then the one-course-at-a-time is likely the better route. Good luck. </p>
<p>Make sure he registers with the disabilities office with documentation of his depression. It can be hard to appeal or get accommodations retroactively but registering with that office will provide some protection and support in the future.</p>
<p>And if and when he is at a 4 year college again, pay for tuition refund insurance if offered.</p>
<p>Things can turn around but I agree with those who counsel patience. it helps if you try to view the situation constructively yourself and convey that to him, rather than focus on any delay in achieving his goals.</p>
<p>With treatment, his goals may change, too…as they do for many young people anyway.</p>
<p>utzy, if you can prove that your son had a previously- un diagnosed condition, his school might give him a retroactive withdrawal. That, at least, would give him a clean academic record, and could make him feel better about the whole school situation.</p>
<p>He might get credit for classes he passed at the college he failed out of depending on the “new college’s” transfer policies. But, he can just cross that bridge when and if he gets there. At 23, he may never return to college as a conventional full-time student or he might start my taking enrichment classes or any potential scenario since he’ll be considerably older and it might not matter as much what happened between 18 and 23. </p>
<p>In my opinion, Katalia, the time to try and clean up a record with a medical issue would have been after the first probation. The college in question gave the OP’s son a second chance already. The OP can give it a shot, but I think that is low on the priority list. I think the OP and her son should just set aside college for abit. I’m not sure the son is thinking about college at all. </p>
<p>Just to add, don’t consider that he may slide in because of the school’s credit rating. That’s not going to be a consideration.</p>
<p>momofthree, you may be right, and a lot of it depends on the school/situation. My own son got retroactive withdrawal after we showed a doctor’s statement of his undiagnosed condition. He’d been put on probation after first semester, failed out during second. However, we did this shortly after he flunked out, so at least we had that advantage. A retroactive withdrawal meant he had a clean record, academically. But it also meant he lost credits for the classes he did pass. </p>
<p>But I also agree that now is not a time to worry about OP going back to school. He needs to get medical help first. In our case, it took my son almost two years to try college again. And he did not go back full time. </p>
<p>It is worth looking into the retroactive withdrawal: one of my kids did that with epilepsy and depression is no different. She lost an entire term of work and the withdrawal was 2/3 the way through; but her record was clean. You should probably try to deal with that asap, though. Did they give him any incompletes? Did he tell anyone at the school that he was depressed?</p>
<p>It can feel better moving forward with messes cleaned up, so to speak, even if he never goes to school again- at least for some.</p>
<p>True compmom, it might make the OP feel better, not sure at this point the water under the bridge is important to the S. The son has been working at college since about the time my first went off to college so the kid has been trying for around 5 years or so. I think the best thing is to give this young man time to get his issues under control and time away form the educational system which clearly isn’t a good environment for the S. Chances are if and when he finally makes his way back to college it won’t matter much what he did in 2009 or 2010 or 2011 etc. Time heals all wounds and if he’s been in the workforce for awhile a uni will consider that more important anyway.</p>