<p>My son just finished his 1st semester at college. He goes to an expensive school but received a nice scholarship so it is now affordable. He went in with a 3.48 HS GPA and I understand he needs to maintain a "minimum" GPA to maintan his scholarship. His grades posted today and he is at 2.58! I'm the first one to tell him that it is his 1st semester and that he is doing the right things (study groups, writing workshop, etc,) but on the inside I'm freaking out! He loves his school and knows he can't go there without the aid, so he's already feeling the pressure. How can I help him?</p>
<p>What’s the minimum GPA? Is it attainable with a better second semester.</p>
<p>I really don’t know what to say about how you can help because I’m not sure you can. He is probably aware of campus resources and very aware of the financial consequences is he doesn’t maintain the scholarship. Reminders and discussions might help. They might also serve to hammer home what he is already aware of and make him resentful.</p>
<p>The GPA to keep the scholarship is … ?</p>
<p>Go and re-read the scholarship requirements first of all. Those minimum GPAs vary school to school. My oldest needed a 3.0 to keep the scholarship AND a 3.0 to stay in his major and my second only needed a 2.5 and has never told me that he had a minimum GPA for his major and he’s a rising senior at college. Many scholarships get reviewed during the finaid cycle at the end of the year. Depending on what that is can govern “how” you guys talk this Christmas. Definitely take a look at what he signed up for next semester and make sure he’s got balance in his schedule. Does he know what he wants to major in yet? Does he have curriculum he must take? Maybe help him plot out the next couple semesters. Many kids (mine included) got better GPAs second semester freshman year than 1st semester but your son will need an honest self appraisal of what he’s finding difficult and what he’s not finding difficult.</p>
<p>What is the major? For example, engineering GPA first semester is notoriously low. Some schools allow one semester grace period before loosing a scholarship.</p>
<p>Yes, read the fine print. Look for the minimum GPA, when the GPA is evaluated (often after spring semester each year), and if there is a probationary period after this to bring the GPA back up (sometimes one semester). What you find may not be as bad as what you fear right now. He may have more time to make this right then you think.</p>
<p>I am not sure if your son is doing all the right thing if his GPA is 2.5, unless the school is too hard for him. If that’s the case then he should change his major or transfer to another school. But the fact he had 3.85 in high school it must mean he is pretty capable. Were you aware of his low GPA before now? If you did, maybe you could have offered him some help. There is nothing wrong with him feeling the pressure. It is part of growing up.</p>