Another vote for the CLEP! DS avoided having to retake Chem 101 due to passing the CLEP. Granted there is some Chem 102 in there, but he self taught the stuff over Xmas break and only a few questions cover 102…best money ever spent!
Biggest issue I’ve seen is time management. There are MANY top students out there who in hindsight did not have to work as hard in HS and have trouble with time management, procrastination and just the newness of the new college environment. I don’t know what it takes to get this thru our kids’ heads that “college isn’t HS” but it is distinctly different and even the smartest kid could have trouble. Stay on top of any issues and get help IMMEDIATELY instead of trying to get GPA up on your own or trying to raise your grade in class. Put the date on your calendar for the last date to drop classes. With some merit scholarships you don’t need to be a full time student although federal aid may be impacted…know what the rules are for your school as some folks mistakenly assume you need to be full time. Some kids even have an easy A class as a buffer in case they do need to drop something else.
Especially if your child came from a high school that offers credit for late assignments or extra credit, this will NOT be the case in college! Some kids don’t understand that college professors/TAs can be BRUTAL. No second chances and no room for screw ups. Follow those assignment deadlines. Start the work EARLY. Use a calendar. Prioritize your time. Don’t study in the dorm. Stay organized. Use a computer you are familiar with (so don’t go PC or Mac if you’re not already totally used to one system regardless of what anyone tries to talk you into) These are the things that will keep you on top and ahead!