<p>Difficult situation when needed scholarships are on the line. </p>
<p>At my son’s school, the freshman scholarship student gets through the end of sophomore year to get the required minimum GPA. But only if the student is in at least good academic standing at the end of freshman year, which I believe means a 2.0. The scholarships have either a 2.75 or 2.5 GPA requirement; I don’t know if you can “slip down” if yours requires a 2.75 and you don’t meet that but meet the 2.5 requirement for a smaller scholarship.</p>
<p>A word of caution: I had a friend whose son spent his first three years at college teetering on the brink of losing a significant scholarship (about one-quarter of the COA). His GPA at the end of his junior year was something like .05 less than required and he lost the scholarship. So she ended up spending the additional money to keep him in school for his senior year. She was unhappy but didn’t see that there was any other option if she wanted him to graduate, and it was affordable for her family.</p>
<p>My take is – if you see signs that your child is really struggling to keep a scholarship, particularly by the end of freshman year (less so first semester), then think long and hard about allowing your child to continue at that school. Especially if you can’t afford to pay the additional costs if the scholarship is lost.</p>
<p>I know one school openly says that if one loses their scholarship, they may earn it back AND get back the lost money too! Uh, I would never fall into that trap! Seems to work to keep some percentage of students from transferring out while paying more!</p>
<p>luvmykid, a smart student with good grades out of HS that struggles in college is not unusual. The level is much higher than in HS, the pace much faster. Problem is many HS kids never really learned how to study effectively. In HS they got good grades thru a combination of innate talent and the slower pace allowing them to absorb the material. I know your S doesn’t have free time, but I think he needs to invest some time in seeing if he can improve his study skills. He may be investing hours and hours in studying calculus, chem, etc. but I suspect he isn’t making optimal use of the time. Most colleges have a learning-skills center that can help with strategies on how to study math/science material. There are many books, such as “What Smart Students Know” that go over how to study. And for the classes he is taking in math/science the key isn’t reading the chapter over and over but in reading the chapter and working hours of problems. For this there are books like “The Calculus Problem Solver” that have thousands of worked problems; cover up the answers, work a problem, check how you did, repeat until you get it. If he is in the school’s pre-med club he can ask older students about their study methods and compare it to what he is doing. Going to office hours and asking the profs about what better students do to study would also be a good idea.</p>
<p>luvmykid,
I would be very concerned about the stress level your kid is voicing. Would want the kid to go get support and work on study & organizing skills. This is something that needs to be addressed ASAP. Agree with the above poster. Would not let the remark about “jumping out of a window” slide and get S to at least talk with school counseling department about time management, dealing with stress, etc.
Might also be good to have confidential conversation with FAid department about options for your child to continue at school–future of merit award & possibilities available.
Unfortunately, have seen & heard of many kids who got amazing grades & ECs in HS but lost merit awards in college. They are really different arenas and require different skills to navigate. There is a lot more independence needed in the college setting & ability to balance a lot more going on, especially when the young person is living in a communal setting (often for 1st time in his/her life), with many distractions/temptations, some of which have very disruptive impacts.</p>
<p>Thanks, everyone. Yes, kid does have some study skills issues–just the huge volume/fast pace of material in so many subjects at once is much more difficult than it was in high school. And the social activities are an attraction. I can’t say that kid spent every possible hour studying or used time most efficiently. Kid has gone to tutors, study groups, is auditing calc this sem with the “easy” prof–and getting it. Going to retake in fall.</p>
<p>But here’s the good news and big sigh of relief. I called the financial aid office (which I should have done, or KID should have done before freak out). Kid will not lose whole scholarship if under a 3.0. If between 2.8 and 3.0, 85% of scholarship is kept. If between 2.5 and 2.8, 75% is kept, under 2.5 it’s 0%. If grades go up to 3.0 by end of fall semester, (certainly will) full scholarship can be reinstated. I think kid will be very close to 3.0 at end of this semester. But certainly will make 2.8, and no way ever less than 2.5. This is a big scholarship–close to 1/2 cost of attendance, so keeping 75-85% of it is going to be do-able. I called kid right away, but no answer, so I emailed info. Still keeping fingers crossed that kid makes it over 3.0 THIS semester.</p>
<p>^^Very happy for you all!! Not all schools do this. I think that is important for those who do not have a money tree to investigate, “What happens if…”.</p>
<p>I would still suggest your kid get some stress & time management counseling. Even a “kidding” reference to possible “jumping out of a window” is something to take seriously. I know it has to be taken in context, but please don’t just pass it over. Just my thoughts. Meditation and/or other relaxation techniques can be very important/crucial.</p>
<p>"I think that is important for those who do not have a money tree to investigate, “What happens if…”. </p>
<p>Yes! A very good lesson for all parents–even if you think there is NO way your 4.0 kid could ever get less than the required GPA to keep a scholarship. </p>
<p>Ask the FA office “What if?” BEFORE you sign scholarship acceptance papers, send your kid to that college. Be prepared–and save yourself a lot of anxiety about $ and grades.</p>
<p>HImom–I don’t like that “jumping out a window” line, either. I guess I “knew” kid wasn’t serious when I asked about calling RA, security, etc. But it was swirling around in my head all night to “always take mentions of suicide seriously.” I will talk to kid about it again, ask if counseling, stress management will help. Good thing summer is in sight!</p>
<p>When my kid was living at home & in pretty low spirits with homework piling up because of her frequent and prolonged absences, she said it was a good thing for all of us that she was too chicken to ever hurt herself because sometimes it did seem a bit overwhelming as to how she would ever climb out of the hole that was closing in around her. I felt it & so did hubby. Since she lived with us, we could monitor her pretty well (especially since I was her source of transportation, food and shelter). It was a tough time for all of us, but if she were living away, I know I would have worried even more. </p>
<p>Unfortunately, finding the right counselor is a tough thing and takes time and energy at the very time when the kid doesn’t feel s/he has time & energy to spare. We have never had luck with our kids & any counselors–the best were OK and validated our kids but our kids saw no value in seeing them more than once maximum. The worst ones made our kids angry and just heightened stresses and tensions; wasting precious time, energy and emotion.</p>
<p>I know some folks have had tremendous like with counselors and wish there were better ways to support our kids far away. I’m happy my kids are at the same school & that D is currently living with two girls who know her very well and are extremely supportive (next year it will be one of the same girls and two she doesn’t know quite as well).</p>
<p>Good luck, my dear. Keep communicating with your child–texting, e-mailing and phoning, that together you will get through this and you and the family love and support kid NO MATTER WHAT! That was the most important and consistent message that helped us all get through the roughest times (including when D was summarily kicked out of HS after her junior year).</p>
<p>luvmykid, I agree that any comments about suicide–even “joking” ones–need to be taken very seriously (I lost a classmate to suicide last year, so my cohort takes the issue of student suicide prevention/awareness really seriously/personally).</p>
<p>Interestingly enough, for scholarship renewal, my large scholarship requires an essay, faculty recs, a resume, and transcripts for renewal every year (and even as a senior, I have to write an essay and submit a CV/resume!). I’m honestly not sure how much these are looked at in the renewal process–the scholarship does have an explicit 3.0 cum GPA requirement for renewal–but perhaps they can be used as an appeals process of sorts for students who are teetering on the edge of the GPA cut-off.</p>
<p>Wow, that’s a lot to have to submit every year. My S was pleased that his renewal form was just a one page sheet that he could elaborate on if he chose. I don’t believe he did much (if any) elaboration, and he got the full renewal every year. His junior & senior year, they even gave him additional merit awards, including research stipends and also a bit extra for being an eagle scout.</p>
<p>Stress and isolation, as well as worrying about how others will perceive them and their own “self worth” and image are very fragile when stakes are perceived to be high. When I was a freshman in college, I learned of a HS classmate who committed suicide when he came home for spring break. He shocked everyone as he was at an ivy and everyone thought he was happy and had everything going for him. It’s so hard to gauge how to help folks who are physically far from us and schools try not to intrude and can’t always tell when a student needs just a bit more support.</p>
<p>Really looking for an answer as to whether or not schools back fill with an institutional grant if merit scholarship GPA cannot be maintained… AND you still have need, in fact MORE need if scholarship is lost.</p>
<p>S lost his merit scholarship after his first yr and the school increased his grant so he ended up “losing” only about 1/4 of the scholarship; at his school the merit aid can be reinstated if the student gets their GPA back to 3.0</p>
<p>It would completely depend on the school and what institutional grants they offer. My daughter is at a State U that offers no institutional need based aid at all, only federal and State grants where eligible. She already receives the max she is eligible for in federal grant money. With the federal grants, her merit scholarships (a full tuition waiver and a cash scholarship both of which had no need component), and some loans her full need is met. If she lost her merit scholarship she would be well short of having her need met even with the maximum federal student loans available. Her school would not back fill with an institutional grant. Others may.</p>
<p>This is something only the school in question could tell you.</p>
<p>Honestly, I think it’s really quite unfair (and deceitful, to be blunt) to not at least give freshmen a slight cushion/probation period before yanking merit money. For all the reasons Sybbie listed and more, freshman first semester is a huge adjustment. While we were thrilled with anything over a 3.0 from S, even for a kid who had done really well in HS, this was no slam dunk. </p>
<p>The other thing one has to remember… those last few weeks of HS - HUGE cases of senioritis at work! Actually, for some it started back in December. I am not saying it’s right to not sure up really ready to work hard, but when you only have a midterm and a final to grade, there isn’t much room for mistakes. Let’s not psychologically abuse these kids first semester. However, if, by the end of a year, a kid aint cutting it? That’s a different story. But I know of three kids who have had merit money yanked for second semester of their freshman year due to falling below that 3.0 (and one was at a 2.8 or something). I found it really unfair, especially when none of them have had to work with the pressure of money looming over their heads before. “You don’t get an A, you’re throwing away 12,000 bucks.” That’s a lot harsher than we need to be.</p>
<p>Nightingale, You have to ask the school. Keep on the phone and keep pushing until you get the answer. Not a brush-off or a vaguely worded platitude. No one can tell you the policy at the school except the school itself. If the person you’re speaking too is not helpful, ask to speak to their manager and keep going up the chain if you have too.</p>
<p>As a parent whose child has just accepted a large merit aid award, we’ve made him call the school directly for each question he’s had. As much as I love it here, we’ve enforced the policy that rumors, advice from strangers or even good friends is not acceptable. He must go to the school itself. As a bonus, he now has a good email relationship with the merit aid representative and we will be sure to introduce ourselves at orientation.</p>
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<p>Call or email her R.A. tonight. The person who makes the “joke” about suicide is not the person who gets to decide on how that should be followed up on. </p>
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<p>Don’t accept it. Do not accept the bad guy label, refuse to let her “make” you feel anything but parental love and responsibilitly.</p>
<p>Look, I’m just going to lay this on the line. It sounds like both you and your daugther have taken a bit of a head in the sand approach that is very light on facts and heavy on wishful thinking. </p>
<p>At a minimum, I would schedule a conference call with her and her academic advisor so you call finally find out where she really stands in regards to merit aid. That’s the first piece of information you need to start making good decisions about what is next.</p>
<p>I can only imagine how stressful this all is. I’ve already assigned my sister the job of keeping my son and us on track with fact based information. We cannot afford for him to stay at his college if he loses his merit aid. Period. We’ve talked it through…how it’s not the end of the world but it’s simply not possible. Again, staying grounded in the facts can help move things along. I wish you all the very best of luck.</p>
<p>I got to post 5 and 6 and skipped to post because I do agree with post #5. Will read the rest of the thread later. My older S lost merit with a 2.99 GPA and a very low grade in one class where the dept. was in disarray for a short period. Younger S is in similar situation now, I believe. However, younger S’s situation is with more merit $ and if that merit $ goes, I will be donning my helicopter hat. This attitude that parents can pay $200k and stay buttoned when and if poor teaching is contributing to loss merit of is going to lead to revolution. And let’s say it’s not poor teaching, just weeding out. How do you distinguish between weeding and poor teaching? S has had situation of medical issue and missing a quiz and being given a 0 on quiz with no opportunity to make it up - just one tiny example. These add up. /vent/</p>
<p>Modadunn, it might be unfair but not deceitful. Schools usually give information to students and parents about what level of GPA they need to keep up before their scholarship is yanked, and whether they’ll get a semester of probation or not. It’s kind of ridiculous to not expect freshman to have transition problems but it’s not deceitful to inform the students ahead of time and then do what you said you were going to do.</p>
<p>Quite frankly, people are using the term “bait and switch” incorrectly. A bait and switch is when someone offers you something that seems really good but then when you show up, they don’t have that but offer you something that’s not-so-good. A car dealership baits and switches you if they tell you they have a 2010 Corolla for $5,000 but then when you show up the car is suddenly “sold” but you can try this 1990 Corolla for $10,000. It’s not a bait and switch if you buy the 2010 and then don’t make the payments and they come to repossess the car.</p>
<p>Similarly, if a school establishes guidelines for your children to follow to keep a scholarship and then the student loses that scholarship for not following the guidelines, that is not a bait and switch. It may seem unfair to you, but schools are giving scholarships to graduate meritorious students who will keep their grades up and make the school look good. They are under no obligation to give you the money regardless of your child’s grades; that’s not a merit scholarship, that’s gift money.</p>
<p>Also, honestly, in the situation with “poor teaching” it’s really your word against the school’s. The student can say it’s “poor teaching” and it might be, but frankly students use “poor teacher” all the time as an excuse to wave away their own failure. The other thing is that it’s part of college to encounter a few “poor teachers.” That’s not necessarily an excuse to fail, though; you have to work through it and try to do your best. I had a few poor teachers too but I managed to keep my merit scholarship, which had a 3.2 threshold.</p>
<p>I never used the term bait and switch. I know the difference.</p>
<p>Also… I am well aware of how many parents blame the teachers for bad teaching vs. accepting that the kid didn’t do the work. </p>
<p>What I mean by deceitful is that schools are in a much better position to know of the likelihood of success or the percentage of kids who remain on merit scholarships past that first semester or even that first year. And if you ask directly, “how many kids lose their merit money post freshman year or even first semester” do they answer? Are they legally required to be truthful? So you’ve got a kid who qualifies for little in the way of financial aid but you hope to entice the parent/student with discount to contribute to their yield. However, a year later the school is banking (literally) on the fact that the kid is happy and that couple of grand or more goes back into their pocket and out of the parents. If they know this is going to happen in 25% of the time, it’s a little deceitful. </p>
<p>If you’re asking questions about the terms of a merit scholarship, I think it imperative to know the bigger picture of the school’s history with those scholarship offers. Is there anything that can substantiate what a school decides to say about scholarships like this?</p>
<p>OP,
Way back on the first page I mentioned appeals processes. Find out if your schools’ have them.
I know of someone who needed a 3.0 to keep a significant merit scholarship. GPA are calculated at the end of the Intersession term for upperclassmen, but at the end of the year for freshmen. This person had the worst (for them) subject at the worst time of day (again, for them) and ended up with one D and one C+ in the first semester. Nothing but As and Bs the rest of the year. Ended up with 2.82, lost the scholarship, appealed and scholarship was reinstituted. Continued with As and Bs in the Fall of sophomore year, but found out in the middle of the Spring semester that the scholarship was lost again. The GPA after Intersession was 2.99.
Student appealed again during the summer and included the Dean’s letter congratulating a Spring semester First Honors GPA. Again, the FA office reinstituted the scholarship.
So the point is you need to find out the policies of the individual schools.</p>