I like Pickone1’s advice to spend a good deal of time this summer reviewing and learning the material that was covered this year. I think that’s time better spent than hand-wringing about MC tests or trying test-taking strategies for MC tests. Engineering IS hard, and the grading can seem unfair compared to cushy partial-credit grading that kids are used to in high school. I remember our math mid-terms and finals in calc back in the day had no partial credit. If you forgot your + C when you were integrating, you lost all the points. We students knew the rules and we adapted by being as well prepared as we could be. And I had a similar aha moment as anomander about understanding a problem deeply and reviewing throughout the term.
On a different note, congratulations to your S for bringing his grades up. He deserves recognition for the up-turn.
Your son brought his grades up that is great! My son is in engineering major too and it’s HARD. Homework and projects are always easier grade wise than the tests that he has plus there is more time to figure it out… Usually they bring his grade up. And just because he gets A’s on the homework and projects doesn’t mean he can get a A on all the tests…You can’t really compare the two.
@runningmom2,
I haven’t read all of the posts, so I apologize if this is a repeat on what has been said.
So your DS got a 3.0 the second semester of frosh year, a 2.0 for first semester of frosh year and now has a 2.5 cumulative GPA, right? Sounds like he’s slowly course correcting and that sounds fantastic!!
Since he is going the right direction, you might want to just let him take care of everything. You can provide support and maybe organizational tips, but this is his thing to do, including if he should continue in the major. Just make sure that is not partying and socializing too much. I’ve told my kiddos that it would be easy to socialize and party 100% of the time in college, because there is always someone around to hang with (this is spoken from direct experience from my college days.) So one of the hardest things to learn is how to pull yourself away and really carve out time for studying.
Glad he is doing better. Figuring out what is going wrong is the first step.
Can he take more project based classes? Even in his engineering classes? Can he forego some AP credit and take classes a step back from where he tests? Did placement get him into trouble to start with? Like did he take that 5 in AP Calc and let himself be placed in a more advanced math class? That could have been part of his problem if so. Maybe he had a hole in his preparation. Would it make sense to take something at a CC over the summer to buttress his prep? Or even to take a course at CC to help his GPA, to get some grade point killing course done at CC?
@runningmom2 First, I sounds like you did a good job in a difficult parenting situation. It also sounds like your son took the path to improvement instead of dropping for an easier major, which is to be commended. That shows a lot of resilience that many do not have. going from a 2.0 in one semester to a 3.0 the next is a big improvement.
I would just keep moving forward. If he is motivated to further improve his gpa, consider having him take 4 classes instead of 5 for a semester. That can have a significant impact. Also, see what he can do to get his fall books and course information in advance. Getting a head start over the summer can really be helpful in the fall.
There are only 3 options that I see:
- “Live” with the lower GPA
- quit
- adjust to a higher college standard
I am not sure at all if any talk will be helpful. Basically, it is up to a young man to decide what route he wants to pursue at this point.
you asked for opinions…as suitable or not to your situation, this is my opinion.
@Shrinkrap, I HOPE I am 2 years behind you (as in, I hope “we” stay on the rails through to graduation date). Congratulations on your son’s admittance to his “Reach” school, his perseverance in sticking with his major, and his graduation in 4 years (plus a summer here and there)! You can be justifiably proud! Each of those three events separately is an achievement for any student, much less one with learning differences. BRAVA!
@Shrinkrap – Thank you so much for posting the link to your thread. That’s incredibly encouraging to hear about someone pushing through and getting to graduation day. Here’s hoping we and @ItsJustSchool get there as well … onward and upward!
Also remember that gpas are generally lower for engineering students, so a 3.0 this semester may be around the midpoint. I would want to know what the average is for his school.
When comparing a student’s GPA to other engineering students’ GPAs, it’s useful to know what the graduation rate is for engineering students. It’s no good to say, “My GPA is 2.9, but no problem, the median engineering GPA at my school is 2.9, half of engineering students have a lower GPA than me” if half the engineering students don’t graduate. If you want to graduate, compare your GPA to other engineering students who will graduate.
Usually, just a 2.0 GPA will graduate. But it may be significantly more difficult for a just barely over 2.0 GPA student to find the first job at graduation than for student whose GPA is comfortably over 3.0. Some employers use a GPA cutoff (apparently most commonly 3.0) to screen applicants, and low GPA applicants may be less likely to answer technical questions in interviews well.
The key question is not whether at 2.0 can graduate, but whether a 2.0 does graduate.
I’m not sure I understand either, why not?
This thread is scaring me, especially the talk about freshman Chemistry. It certainly seems like a weeder course. I’m going to start studying that soon over the summer so I can come in prepared. Best wishes for your son, OP.
Post 134, Chemistry is not hard. Most kids have problem with Physics.
Post #135, yeah, that’s what I’ve heard. I’ve studied Physics more than Chemistry, though.
Studying over the summer for the fall semester is NOT a good idea at all. The good idea is to seek help when have slighest doubt in understanding the concept in any class. Help is widely available at colleges, it is paid by your tuition, why not use it? Many do not realize that and their grades suffer. There are supplemental sessions lead by Supplemental Instructor leaders, there are prof’s office hours, there are informal study groups, there are paid tutors. Do not hesitate to use them ALL if needed.
@albert69 - whether freshman chemistry is a weeder class depends on the university; at some places it’s definitely a weeder class (or at least a shock to the system), while at others it’s really not so bad. At most places, the real chemistry weeder is organic chemistry, but at some schools (UMIch, I’m looking at you), organic chemistry IS freshman chemistry.
I know that I was stunned - STUNNED - to make a C on my first chemistry test in college. I was valedictorian in high school, National Merit scholar, all that, and I still struggled with college chemistry at first. I actually think it’s a good idea to review the material during the summer because the class can move very fast.
I say all this as a chemistry major and current chemistry teacher…
@MiamiDAP When did I say that I was going to rely solely on my own knowledge and not ask for help? Of course I intend to ask for help and find extra instruction if I need it. I’m not stupid. I got an A in Calc I and part of the reason is that I visited the teacher’s office hours every week to ask for help on homework, quizzes, etc. It isn’t an either/or proposition - I can both study in summer and still ask for help there.
My dad’s a Ph.D chemist, so if I cover some stuff in summer, he can help me understand it. 
Thanks, @scout59. Nice avatar.
