<p>OP – I would not advocate a transfer at this point; whatever the issue is – be it an academic problem or an adjustment problem – would just follow him to the new school. It’s better to stay at this school, where there are advisors who have more of a vested interest in helping out since they don’t like to see a current student drop/fail out; a new school wouldn’t have that type of vested interest.</p>
<p>Do you think being a student-athlete was part of the problem? What has he said about his team? In college, most athletes hang out together all the time bc their practice/game obligations take up so much time. Also, lots of sports team have a very “party” culture – there are lots of athletes who only care about sports and having a good time in college, to the exclusion of school; they end up being cool with the other kids on the team who are like that, and the rest end up feeling like they don’t fit in. It could be a problem like that with your son – he is an American but he hasn’t lived here since age 6, so things are new to him yet he’s around people who don’t really understand that and may not care to understand bc they’re so busy with sports, college life, school, going home for vacations etc.</p>
<p>If it’s more of an academic/time mgmt problem, any chance he could take fewer classes or even drop down to part time status next semester without hurting his eligibility for the team?</p>
<p>Really sorry to hear that the first year was so tough. </p>
<p>I assume that your first conversation was with your son and that he really wants to return to the same school and commit to doing better. </p>
<p>If this is a small- or moderate-size school, it might be good to contact someone in the dean of students office who deals with academic issues; they have a different perspective than faculty advisers, since they deal with all sorts of academic challenges daily. Such a person will probably know the policies regarding probation and leaves, support programs, and have suggestions for proactive things that you can do. It wouldn’t hurt to have a faculty member from a course (or two) where your son really, “pulled it together” during the second half of the semester as an advocate,</p>
<p>Just a quick update (I’m on here again now as my next-in-line is a senior). The first son did indeed go back his soph year, kicked butt, and got himself back on track academically. However, he just wasn’t enjoying the school. He has transferred to a school in California, is playing ball, doing very well in his classes, and is very happy with his life. The first school just turned out not to be the right fit. The transfer was the best thing he could have done.</p>
<p>Very cool for you to report back. I 'm just a sucker for stories like this with happy endings. I’m one on this forum who always argues for the importance of fit, if the seed falls on rock it won’t grow, if the seed fall in soil it has a chance.</p>
<p>Great to hear this happy outcome. I’m another mom who’s increasingly coming to the conclusion that “fit” trumps just about every other consideration.</p>
<p>cb
just curious if your DS1 is attending a private or public school in ca? As I know transfer to a ca public school oos is pretty difficult and if his first year stats were shot, it should be quite difficult to make the transfer. Just wondering if you would share…</p>
<p>Thanks for reporting back- I was formulating a reply to the original post- about how a " failure" isn’t a failure if you learn something from it- when I noted the date :o & I am glad to hear he was able to make the needed adjustments.</p>
<p>We all have to do that from time to time & it is good to get practice with it, early in life.
:)</p>