I need help. Cal Poly student about to be disqualified.

<p>I really need help. My story is very long, but if you care enough to read it, I would really appreciate it.</p>

<p>I'm currently a 22 year old transfer student at Cal Poly SLO. I attended a community college for two years after graduating high school (2008), getting mostly A's and a few B's. I could've transferred then, but I started slacking and couldn't decide whether I wanted to go to Santa Clara University or elsewhere. After 3 years at cc (2011), I got into Cal Poly SLO as an Economics major in the school of business with about a 3.2 average. That year, my parents got a divorce and I chose to live with my mom. Shortly after, I moved to SLO for school.</p>

<p>My first quarter, I got put on academic probation because my Cal Poly GPA was below 2.0. My second quarter, I did a little better but messed up in one class and got put on academic probation again. This is my third quarter now, and I'm about to be put on academic probation again, which means disqualification. The biggest reason behind my poor academic performance was going home (3 hour drive) pretty much every other weekend. I live with severe anxiety and a little bit of depression. So does my mom. I had to be there for her for support after her divorce. It has been extremely hard on me as well. Another reason is my lack of motivation. I believe it's my anxiety/depression. My days consist of constantly worrying about homework/studying, procrastinating til 3am, going to sleep without even doing any homework, missing class in the morning, repeat. Sometimes I won't even go to class or open my book all quarter until the day before the midterm, but I'll end up getting a high B, so I know I have a good brain. The effort just isn't there. I don't know what happened. I tried so hard in community college, and now it just seems like I don't care.</p>

<p>I'm not truly happy here in SLO. I have plenty of friends here, but I miss my friends from back home, my family, the food, not being a minority, and just a whole bunch of other stuff you can't do over here.</p>

<p>I'm planning on appealing my disqualification when it comes. Do you think the divorce would be considered as an extenuating circumstance? But what I really want to do is just move back home and go to San Jose State University. I know that Cal Poly is a much better school, and getting a job from here would be a lot easier. But I believe that if I try hard at SJSU, go to graduate school at Santa Clara University, I could still get a good job. I also have an internship at NASA on my resume that could help me out.</p>

<p>If I were to attend SJSU, would I have to wait til October/November to apply and then wait another year to attend? By then, I would be OLD already >< What are my options?</p>

<p>I know I brought this upon myself, but I'm really struggling right now and would appreciate any advice and help. Thank you.</p>

<p>1) Go to a college close to home until you are certain you can live away from home. At this point, you can’t afford to mess up your gpa again.</p>

<p>2) I don’t know if divorce of your <em>parents</em> is enough for the appeal. Especially since what the committee probably wants to see that you CAN handle the next quarter of classes…and I don’t see that your real issue (anxiety) is handled and I am guessing the committee would sense that as well.</p>

<p>3) Your age thing is not a big deal–a year or two added is not going to change much at all and is the least impactful of everything that is going on. A year off from school probably would be a good thing in some respects–time for you to resettle, get a job, get help for your anxiety, gain perspective and life skills before going back to classes. You are better off taking the time you need and succeeding when you return to college than crashing and burning again.</p>

<p>You are never too old to finish college. </p>

<p>It looks like you would be much happier, and much more successful, if you move close to home. It doesn’t matter, in the long run, what school you go to. There are jobs out there for everyone, and you will find your place.</p>

<p>Focus on getting home, where your heart is. See if you can find a good counselor to help you work through your anxiety/depression. </p>

<p>Hang in there. This is just a bump in the road.</p>