<p>The scholarship only looks at the GPA at the end of spring semester, so it’s not like it’s a hopeless cause. On the other hand, if he actually winds up with even one low grade at the end of first semester then that just puts even more pressure on him in the spring. </p>
<p>It’s certainly possible that the midterm grades don’t really give a fair picture. One professor didn’t even bother to post grades, and my s said that he hasn’t had much graded work in a couple of the classes. I appreciate that somebody pointed out that possibility.</p>
<p>I also like the suggestion about having an action plan. I think he’s always managed to stay on top of everything without a lot of organizational skills, so maybe I can make some suggestions. I did make him buy an agenda at the book store because I said he’d need someplace to track everything, but that doesn’t mean he actually opened it. :)</p>
<p>I am grateful for all your suggestions. I am also grateful that I have some good ideas about how to approach it when I see him this weekend. </p>
<p>It’s really hard to know what exactly my role is now. It’s uncharted territory. I wasn’t very involved in high school in that he managed his own course work and time and I never really knew what was due at any given time. I didn’t proofread papers or help him with projects; he never asked for that. I did go to conferences, and I’d e-mail a teacher now and then if he got a less than stellar progress report. </p>
<p>I’m hoping that those grades knocked the wind out of him a little bit. I think it’s a different experience when your mom opens the progress report and has a nervous breakdown. In a way it kind of relieves him of some of the responsibility. That’s why this time I don’t want to approach it that way.</p>
<p>Thanks all! Keep all the suggestions coming!</p>