<p>Like limni, I also sense that CC parents over-value intelligence in their children. And that’s fine, as long as those children are on a path toward success. Some children exceed the potential they showed in childhood … some don’t. I’m sure most adults have known promising children who made peculiar choices and ended up not fulfilling their potential. And yeah, I think it makes CC parents a little crazy to think an intelligent child with caring parents might end up “like one of those.”</p>
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<p>You must be ■■■■■■■■, he already qualifies for Oregon, which is a good school, and it’s up to him to do well there.</p>
<p>And only on CC would someone say that someone’s ruined his life with a 3.33. I turned my study habits around on my own and lots of other people did too without needing military service. Are you a recruiter for the marines?</p>
<p>Look at the UC transfer forums people, a lot of people with bad high school records do well in college.</p>
<p>IMHO, I think that its great thathe can go to the University of Oregon. I do agree with many people on this forum that your son- genius as he is- has to work hard to go to good places. Even though you have solved the university problem-you should be seriously worried about his future if he cant stop slacking. But I also understand that an injury and moving really change everything esp. if its to a place you don’t want to be. I moved and I hated it but now I’ve had to get used to it.
Main point is: I am sure there are a lot of options for your kid but
eventually he needs some motivation of his own.</p>
<p>You miss my point, LogicWarrior. Getting into a college is one thing, but how well do you think he will fare with his present attitude and work ethic?</p>
<p>He’s headed full speed for a cliff. Sugar-coating the danger won’t change things.</p>
<p>The University of Oregon website says that the automatic admission cutoff will change to a 3.40 for Fall 2010, so while your son will likely be able to get in, you should still try to find a safer school.</p>
<p>By the way, LogicWarrior, it is far more spiteful than logical to accuse someone of “■■■■■■■■” and being a “recruiter for the marines”, simply for posting an honest opinion, and one I might add based on more than a quarter-century of work experience.</p>
<p>Sneer at my generation if you wish, I’m trying to help the kid avoid disaster, and while I agree that he can turn things around on his own, there’s no denying he needs a drastic wake-up call and nothing we’ve seen so far indicates he’s going to wise up by being told he can do as he is and still get everything he wants.</p>
<p>I’ve seen kids waste their lives thinking they don’t have to work hard. I’d rather be harsh and wake this guy up than let him crash as if I don’t care if he hits the wall.</p>
<p>If this kid ends up at Oregon or some other four year school, I suggest his parents make it very clear that he needs to perform. If he spends his freshman year majoring in partying and video games, he should know that he won’t be going back for a sophomore year.</p>
<p>Passing all his courses and a GPA of 3.0 or better might be a possible target. Or something like that.</p>
<p>What I don’t understand is, if the kid is so smart and so good at math, why the lackluster PSATs? 61 in math? For a kid in AP Calculus, that’s bad.</p>
<p>You’re being ridiculous, MBA grad. There are hundreds of bad high-school record, good college record success stories. Some involved the military, but most didn’t.</p>
<p>You’re so sure in your belief that there’s only one way out for him that you’re ignoring my story and hundreds of stories on this forum because you’re that closed-minded.</p>
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<p>Most likely he’ll do well. I don’t know how old you are, but a lot changes around that age.</p>
<p>“smart slackers” don’t exist. you are stupid if you don’t know what you need to do.</p>
<p>Counterpoint: everyone makes stupid decisions in high school.</p>
<p>Top 50 schools like Berkeley, UCLA, Virginia, William & Mary, and UCSD accept hundreds (combined: thousands) of community college students every year. Some of them are older, returning students, but many simply slacked off in high school.</p>
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<p>Not at all. You, however, are now being deliberately belligerent.</p>
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<p>First off, I never said my suggestion was the ‘only’ option, I simply observed that the military is effective in these situations. I’ve read a lot of posts in this forum, and I sincerely doubt any mature person is going to agree that patting him on the back because he wants to be encouraged to “blow off” teachers and ignore his grades is a good plan. You pointed out that he can still get into college, while I observed that if he’s getting F’s in high school and does not get his act together real fast, he’s not about to succeed in college. </p>
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<p>I’m 49, and I’ve been hiring, training, promoting, disciplining, firing, and recommending managers and star employees for over a quarter-century. I’ve seen thousands of employees who worked for me, and the ones who succeed did not always come from upscale neighborhoods or have an easy time in school, but the winners always, always did the work and focused on their goals. I helped one employee get accepted to Annapolis, and another to Yale, through letters of recommendation. I have found, traned, and promoted dozens of successful managers, and they always had a quality of diligence and energy about them.</p>
<p>I’ve also seen the ones who thought they could let others do their work, who figured they were special and the rules did not apply to them. The ones who thought it was stupid to follow the rules or follow through to make sure a job is done right. In over two decades I have seen some who turned around, but never until someone made them look at the hard truth.</p>
<p>Do me a favor and read what I wrote, and not what you think I believe. I am speaking from experience, and encouraging bad behavior or excusing it only makes it worse when he hits the wall.</p>
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<p>Thing is, you can bold as many words as you want, but I see people who did much worse than the OP succeed every day.</p>
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<p>LOL, I have as well, seeing as the OP in this thread is the mother of the slacker, showing up here going to extra lengths to try to help her son’s college chances. :)</p>
<p>Technicality. You know who I meant.</p>
<p>I don’t mean to take sides, but I agree with MBA. The Marines may be great for this kid, but I would never join the military or anything like that. I know my parents wouldn’t allow me to do that either, so it may not be the best option.</p>
<p>I agree with MBA Grad. Every single person I have worked with from the military has had exemplary work ethic. Some of these people have told me they were in a poor state before the military whipped them into shape. It’s extreme, yes, but I think for someone who isn’t taking the rest of his life seriously that it should not be taken off the table.</p>
<p>I’m glad to see LogicWarrior’s level-headed, well-stated contributions to this thread.</p>
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<p>Uh, then you agree with me. I’m saying that the Marines aren’t the only option, and that he can do well on his own.</p>
<p>Okay, so if he needs a 3.4 for guaranteed entry to U of O, and currently has a 3.33, he needs a minimum of a 3.6 in his senior year.</p>
<p>He can do that. He had a 4.0 his freshman year.</p>
<p>He’s one of those kids who isn’t great at everyday maintaining of effort, but when his back is against the wall, he shines.</p>
<p>He has two months to finish making up three semesters worth of English. He’s been working on it for 6 hours per day and is cranking it out. </p>
<p>I’m not worried about him partying his way through his freshman year. We lived on a college campus for the last 4 years (2004-2008), amid partying freshmen (2 dorms within a literal stone’s throw from our place). He burned out on that scene long before he hits it for himself. Dorm life is old-hat to him, including strange 18-year-olds barfing in our yard. There will be no adjustment period, except maybe going back to the only life he really knows. That has to be an advantage.</p>
<p>Anyway, the military is out for him. He blew his knee (complete reconstruction surgery) in football and has to wear a brace for even minor exertion. His knee would never make it through boot camp, even if it got by the doctor at the enlistment physical.</p>
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<p>This is what I was talking about, thank you LA.</p>