Options after being academically dismissed

Applying to College
1

I’m a sophomore and was dismissed from a local university after the Fall 2016 term for my low cumulative GPA (< 1.5, I’ll just leave it at that). This was due to severe depression that compromised every aspect of my life, esp my academic life. Towards the end of that fall semester, I was hospitalized for one week in a stress management center. I was perfectly competent as far as learning content, taking exams, etc. I just had a really hard time showing up for class, socializing, asking for help, and had great difficulty finding motivation and focus. Since then, I’ve been on medication and have kept up with therapy.

My university has a policy that allows a previously dismissed student to place an appeal after one calendar year, which I plan to do this spring. In the meantime, since I can’t afford community college (I’ve exhausted my options), I plan to take and pass as many CLEP exams as possible.

Assuming I earn some credits through CLEP exams, what would my chances of getting back into school be, in your opinion?
I don’t mind sharing some more info: I attended Kent State, a decent school, but not very competitive (acceptance rate is something like 96%).

Any ideas besides CLEP to demonstrate competence and all those other things the admissions office wants?

2

You’ll need to contact Kent to see how they would use any CLEP info. Talk to the admissions office about any other options they can suggest. They are there to help answer your questions.

3

Sorry for your setback. You can overcome it, though, and make it just a bump in the road of life. You are taking a positive approach and asking good questions, which is terrific.

Generally schools want to see that you’ve grown during your time away from school and are ready to come back and succeed.

I would like to offer one possibility. I think one reason college can be difficult to successfully navigate today is that students often just go as a matter of lockstep. They’ve finished high school, and people say now go to college. College requires a lot of motivation and discipline, which might not be there because the student does not really kow why they are there and why meeting distribution requirements etc. is important.

How about if you work for one year and then return fall 2018? That would give you a chance to grow, to think about what you like doing, to get to see what some sort of company and institution requires of employees, to see how what one learns in college intersects with that.

If it would work best to do that where you live, that is great, and would be the best option. Sometimes I think it can work best to try something new. There are lots of possibilities. Here’s one: what about working at a National Park. One can do it through the National Park Service or through one of the park concessionaires, like Delaware North or Xanterra. These companies staff the hotels, restaurants, shops, etc. in the parks.

A big advantage is that they often offer housing at a low, subsidized price. For example, Xanterra employees at the Grand Canyon, live in dorms/cabins at a very low monthly rate. Food is subsidized as well. This is a great way to be independent without assuming the full responsibilities of a lease, utilities, etc. A huge added bonus is that one has great access to nature, which I think is important. We don’t get enough of that today. It also allows one to unplug and get away from video gaming, social media, etc.

There are lots of other similar opportunities that might allow you to reflect on what you want to do and what it will take for you to get there. That is invaluable and can be helpful in motivating a person. Good luck!

4

Since your low grades were due to a significant health issue that is now in treatment, I think that, if your treatment is working and you can get your doctors to back you up on all this, your chances of being readmitted are good.

Before you pay for CLEP exams, ask Kent if they accept credits from CLEP. If they do not, then don’t take them. Instead, do something of value during this time. If the #1 you should be doing is working on your health, then that’s what you do. If you, your parents and your doctors feel you can work (or if they feel you can six months from now or etc.), then get a job or volunteer. Then, when you reapply for admissions, you can point to these positive steps you’ve taken while you were out; as evidence that you’re ready to return.