unhappy camper

<p>my son has just informed me that he is unhappy at the large school he attends. He has NOT done well academically this year and he seems to think coming home for a semester and attending a local community college to get back on track is a good idea. He claims his adviser tells him that this is not a bad idea, I say it is. I say that the only way out of the hole is to climb out where you are, not try and go around it. Am I wrong in my opinion that raising your grades where you are looks better than hitting an easy school for 1 semester and having a crazy transcript when you apply to transfer somewhere else help</p>

<p>adviser's know best. this is what they do- plus personally, i've heard a lot more success stories of people that take time off then those that try and push through being miserable.</p>

<p>hi dawntom i had a friend who was really unhappy in college and he managed to fail.. he got kicked out and went to a local community college.. he's still as sad but now his ego's zooming because he thinks everyone is below him.. he's dumb the only thing that changed for him were his grades-- now he gets straight a's. </p>

<p>he hasn't really improved and he's going nowhere in his life </p>

<p>for your son, maybe you should tell him to look at where he wants to be and not just blame the school.. like what are his priorities? does he want to transfer to a cc then transfer again to a university? maybe he should stick it out first you know? and not just try to escape it... if he imrpoves his grades and is still miserable then maybe he should go for it</p>

<p>
[quote]
I say that the only way out of the hole is to climb out where you are, not try and go around it.

[/quote]

From what you've posted, it doesn't sound as though that's what your son is doing at all. He's acknowledged that his current university isn't right for him, which is fine. Sometimes your environment can be really stifling in terms of your success.</p>

<p>I think your son is actually being very mature and self-aware about the situation, and is looking for a viable solution rather than continuing down a path toward unhappiness. Sounds pretty constructive to me.</p>

<p>I agree with carwatha because the there is no true correlation between where you go to college and how much you succeed in life. In the success stories thread I see the most unlikely people ending up in the most unlikely places. I also know a few people from MIT who suck at life. So let your son do what he wants and if he truly has the will to succeed than going to a community college should not at all be a hinderance.</p>

<p>Besides life is too short to be wasted, you only get to do your undergrad once, so might as well do it somewhere you enjoy! :P</p>

<p>I think it depends a lot on his reasons for feeling unhappy at his present school. Is it the academics that are the problem or is it more a social thing? Is he homesick and feeling like he wants the support of his family and friends around him? </p>

<p>If it is purely academic and he just needs to hone his organizational skills and adjust to the whole semester thing and college level academics, then maybe he should stay and work on those things and get some tutoring. If it is more the social/emotional aspect to being away at a large university, then he might be asking for help of a different sort. In that case, I would consider letting him come home and go to CC and then go from there.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>