<p>weenie, That is very fair, and at least a freshman who did not get the required gpa, for whatever reasons, isn't going to cause parents to either say, "Leave the college, or we will have nothing left for our retirement". None of the schools that gave merit aid to my son offered a "consolation prize". Only one offered a semester grace period to pull up the gpa. As you know, my S opted for the oos choice based on preference, and pressure from us to keep that merit money.</p>