What is this kid’s current GPA? And what courses is he taking?
I will say that executive functioning does vary. A kid who is well organized and knows what to do and when is well ahead in terms of grades. I have one whom I have to let run but ask occasionally if anything is needed. It often is. S/he cannot seem to figure out what to do first. I am the same way.
YalenHarvard Dad: About twenty years ago I drove a late model car with the name of a very prestigious college on the back window. Yes, I went there but I never put the sticker on. The car was given to me with the sticker and I never bothered to remove it. I cannot tell you how many people gave me the finger and would yell at me when I drove. I realized years later, that sticker was making them crazy! It never happened before or since.
I think changing your name might get a better response.
@Happytimes2001 I don’t think changes of screenname are permitted.
But again I ask…what is this kid’s current GPA and what courses is he taking.
OH, I had no idea you could not change your name.
@Happytimes2001 Thanks sad but true , I have those stickers you mentioned and when asked yes I went to both dropped off my kid then back home, I think I will change the name because I’d really like to hang around CC seems like a community I’d like to be apart of Thanks
I don’t wear the sweatshirts either. Won’t even buy them for my kids. Nope.
You say your kid lacks motivation but you have yet to post his current grades and the courses he is taking. For all we know…he is doing just fine…and is taking a great courseload. If that is the case…he has sufficient motivation.
If he is getting B and C grades in mid level courses, maybe…maybe his motivation would be questionable. But I’m betting that is not the case.
And some people are just good at taking standardized tests. My ex-husband, our daughters, and I all scored high on the college, grad, and professional school standardized tests we took. Our college and graduate and professional school grades and our success in our chosen areas of work have varied quite a bit, however.
@Happytimes2001 course load now is calculus, AP Us History , and AP Language GPA 3.4
@Happytimes2001 Woww I really can’t change my name, smh
@YaleNHarvardDad There’s nothing to worry about and your son just hasn’t found his passion (and he will). My DS also didn’t have a passion until half way through his multiple college tours. After he found his passion, he’s been very dedicated and now puts tons of effort into it. He would score perfectly on the ACT and three SAT2’s (all in one sitting) in his first try practically without prep but almost never got perfect scores at his school. There’re plenty of burnouts in some of the most rigorous and competitive colleges. Having the ability to kick up a notch is a good thing in college.
Unweighted GPA?
That is a fine courseload for a junior. But where are the rest of his courses…this is only three. Is this a Block schedule,school?
I think there’s way too much pressure in our society on bright kids to “discover their passion” early in life and become self-driven. History is full of famous scientists who only found out in college or even later that they wanted to do science. If your son hasn’t discovered yet what brings him joy besides friends and games, he might do this later and still have a very successful career. Or he might never find a “passion” and still have a good life and enjoyable job. Or he might keep comparing himself to his brother and other high-achievers and become disappointed in himself to the point of giving up and settling for whatever - this is obviously what you want to avoid and it does sound like you’re doing a good job.
@YaleNHarvardDad and @Happytimes2001
Back to the topic. This student is taking a fine courseload. If this is his unweighted GPA, it’s fine.
But is he really only taking three classes? No foreign language? No sciences? No fine arts (band or something)? No PE?
Is his school on a block schedule? What did he take for the fall term.
@yucca thank you and I can assure you theres zero pressure or comparisons to his brother and there’s no rush to find his passion let see if I can explain it, he’s my rollercoaster kid he will get all excellent grades in a semester then decide to not do or complete say a homework assignment or a project. Or I’ve seen him completing work on the way to school, it’s things like that he will take a test and not do well early in a quarter because he knows he can make it up, but I’m not paranoid or worried about him was merely seeing who else had a child similar
@thumper1 he’s already completed Spanish 3 he also has Drama and computer science
I hadn’t thought of the possibility that he might just be a great test taker. Many would say that doing well on standardiized tests is as much about test taking as it is knowing the material. Its true that some kids have a knack for not being fooled, and when presented with multiple choice can quickly find the answer without knowing subject matter.
So colleges may be looking for concordance between GPA and standardized test scores, as well as rec letters from teachers that can verify a certain intellectual vitality.
@YaleNHarvardDad Sounds very much like myself in high school. I became a straight A student in college but still somewhat relaxed as opposed to some of my classmates. Looking back, I can see possibilities that were not pursued, but that didn’t prevent me from getting a PhD later. I did have a lot of fun in school and college 
@yucca That might very well be the case , we shall see thanks
Ahh the days of doing the honors ( no AP then) work in homeroom before class. Glad we didn’t have the same system then. They would have weeded me out for sure.