When you send your student off to college you hope and assume that he will be successful. Most students are successful and do well. However, some students struggle – either socially or academically. No parent wants to receive the news that his or her student has been academically dismissed from college because of poor performance. It is distressing and disheartening news. But it does happen, and parents need to help students deal with the situation. Although you may be disappointed, and possibly angry, your response may be a large factor in helping your student move forward.
Here are some things to consider if your college student is academically dismissed from college.
What does academic dismissal mean?
A student may be academically dismissed from a school for failure to make “satisfactory academic progress”. This may mean various things and may be defined differently by different schools. Generally, it means either that the student’s GPA or Grade Point Average is too low (she received poor grades) or that she has not made satisfactory progress by completing enough credits (she dropped or withdrew from too many courses each semester). A student who does not make satisfactory progress may then be dismissed or told that she can no longer be enrolled in the college.
Should your student appeal the decision?
In some cases, a college may allow a student to appeal the decision to dismiss. The purpose of the appeal is usually to allow the student to explain extenuating circumstances or to provide additional information that may not have been available at the time that the decision was made. He may be able to demonstrate that some circumstance has changed – perhaps a health situation, work situation, family situation, or even a change of focus or field of study. It is important that you and your student remember, however, that an appeal is meant as an exception and to demonstrate extraordinary circumstances. It is not meant as an avenue simply because the student is unhappy with the decision of the college. An appeal may not be in the best interest of the student.
Should your student apply immediately to another college?
If your student is dismissed, his first thought, and yours, may be to apply immediately to another school. This may be appropriate. However, before doing that, you and your student may need to consider what factors caused the problems that warranted his dismissal. Jumping immediately back in may not be the best solution.
Has your student taken time to reassess?
A student who is academically dismissed from college is not doomed to failure. You may need to help your student view this as a time to reassess his abilities, behaviors, and priorities. He was originally admitted to the college because of his abilities and potential, but something has prevented him from living up to that potential. Now is a time to step back and reevaluate. Before you and your student decide to immediately appeal the dismissal or to apply to a different school, consider carefully whether taking a break may be the best course of action for your student.
Would some time out be beneficial?
An academic dismissal from college happens for a reason. Something has prevented your student from succeeding. She may need your support more than ever now to think about how to proceed and how to use her time off. For many dismissed students, taking a break from their current routine and setting may be the best path to success, even if it involves an unexpected detour. Your student may decide to spend a year working to gain experience and perspective. Your student may decide to take a course or two at a local community college to achieve some success and/or explore a new area of study. Your student may need to move back home for a semester or a year to achieve some balance and focus. How you respond to this situation will help your student know how to respond. Helping your student see this as an important, if unplanned, step in her path will help her to use the time constructively.
Should your student apply for readmission or reinstatement?
In most cases of academic dismissal, the student may be eligible to apply for readmission or reinstatement after a certain period of time. This is different from appealing the decision at the time of dismissal. One thing that your student will have had time to consider during his time off is whether or not he wants to return to the same institution or to transfer to another college. If he wants to return, he should check the policy of his college. Most schools require that a student “sit out” for a semester or a year. When students apply for readmission, the college may be looking for certain factors. They will be looking for indications from the student that things will be different if he returns. He may be asked to submit a personal statement giving a compelling argument that he has addressed whatever challenges he had prior to dismissal. They may be looking for successful completion of some credits at a community college or some other institution. They may ask whether social, family, or personal issues have been addressed.
Is your student prepared for a fresh start?
If your student has used time off from his college productively, he may be ready to return to school with a renewed focus and a new outlook. Many students who have been dismissed return to their previous college – or another college – and are completely successful. Helping your student see this time as an opportunity rather than a set-back will mean that he can use the time off to his advantage. This may not be the path that either of you originally had in mind, but it may be a path that, in the long run, will be most beneficial to your student. Having your support as a parent will help him to discover and accomplish his goals.
Related Posts:
What FERPA Means for You and Your College Student
How Parents Can Help College Students Value Their Mistakes
Helping Your College Student Avoid “How Do I Tell My Parents?” Fears
What to Say to Your College Student Who is In Trouble, Dismissed, or On Probation
Academically Dismissed from College? Time for a Reset
Academically Dismissed from College? Ten Steps to Move On
Seema,
Your situation certainly sounds difficult. Talk to someone at your school. As them for help figuring out what you can do. You may need to ask a few people before you find the one who can give you the most information, but you don’t have to try to figure this out alone. You might start with a faculty member with whom you’ve connected. Ask that person to help you find who you need to talk to. Someone will be able to give you guidance.
Lina –
I’d suggest that you explore all of your options. Talk to your current university to ask them if a change of major means that they would consider readmitting you. Ask them what would happen to your GPA. You might be in a position of spending much of your college career trying to bring up the low GPA from your earlier years.
Then also explore the transfer option. Find another school (or a couple of schools) and talk to their admission office or transfer counselor. Find out whether they would consider your application to enter in a different major. The advantage of a new school would be that you would start with a “clean slate” GPA.
Don’t be afraid to ask the schools as many questions as you need so that you can weigh your options.
I am not doing well at UCR. Almost done with my freshman year and on my second quarter on probation, I appealed my dismissal last quarter and was given another chance. Im still not doing well and I thin its time for a reset. I would like to go to a cc and get a fresh start, can I start over at a cc as a feshman without disclosing my last year so that I don’t have to carry this terrible gpa. If I later decide to go to another uc school is that possible without disclosing my frshman year at ucr. I would really apprecite some feedback as I’m having trouble understanding this situation.
I have some question, my son didn’t pass his course the second time. The first time he got place in academic probation but after that he brought back his gpa and he get off probation but now he didn’t pass this course he take for the second time, and the school might dismiss him, what can he do right now. He go to Rutgers business school, Newark.
I am on financial aid warning this semester and i don’t think that i’ll be able to met the requirement of 2.0 GPA. I am taking summer classes and if my GPA gets above 2.0, will i be able to get financial aid for fall semester without submitting a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal?
I got dismiss from college for academic hishonesty and that stay on my transcript for four year this is my last year and I was going to graduate in two weeks but this thing happened. I dont know what to do. should I apply for other college can I get their I am an international student my GPA is 3.7 I don’t know what to do. My parents put their whole life income from my college. is their any good suggestion for me. my major is computer engineering.
Hello,
I am a University student in Canada, there aren’t any forums on Canadian universities like this so I am just going to post my story up here.
I never wanted to study in the science field, it was my parents decision. I had always struggled with the sciences, I remember I failed biology in grade 8 and from then on I barely passed chemistry and calculus. I worked really hard in my senior year in high school and got a B in those three subjects. I am saying all this to say, I was never confident in myself studying in the science field. But since I knew my parents knew best, I let them convince me to study pharmaceutical chemistry at my university. I failed miserably from the first semester and was put on probation, and failed a consecutive time with a GPA lower than 1. Naturally I was suspended, and my parents were disappointed but I took the time off to recover from the depression I was facing and to get my motivation to study back. When I came back to university after sitting out 2 semesters I promised the university I would do good but I failed again and now I’ve been dismissed. I am fed up with trying to succeed in the sciences. I am writing this to find out if in my appeal letter I can mention that I would like to change my major and have another chance at the university. Given my history with this university, will that be a good option for me, or should I apply for a communications major in another university with a letter explaining why I did so bad in my current university. Please help! Thanks
Sophia,
You have a very complicated story. I’m sorry that you have had such a difficult time. First, if you can, I’d suggest that you be honest with your friends and family and share at least a portion of your story. It must be very difficult to try to keep this information from them. I’m sure you will feel better once you can be honest and allow them to support you. Second, talk to the Dean’s Office and financial aid office at your school. Explain your situation. You might write the information that you shared as a well-written letter to help them understand your situation. You want to be able to tell them how things have changed and why you think you will now be successful. Then see what happens. You may be readmitted – perhaps on probation. If not, investigate other avenues or other schools. Be sure that you are ready and then keep working to find a program that will work for you. Perhaps a part-time program would be a good way to gently re-enter academics.
Good luck!
Ashley –
I am not able to give you advice regarding financial aid status. It is often a complicated issue.
Talk to the staff in the financial aid offices of both schools. Ask them what you need to do in your situation. The people in these offices want to make it work for you in the best way possible because they want you to be able to attend their school. They will tell you the best approach for you to take. Be sure to be completely honest with them about your situation and your academic status.
Good luck!
Vicki,
That is to say, what should I do to safeguard my financial aid status as a full-time student without having to pay out of pocket once I move — since I want to continue pursuing my education?
Vicki,
I am a sophomore at a State University in my state. I failed last semester because I was working a part-time job and had a full load of classes, while working 30-40 hours a week. I’m currently on academic probation at my university and am struggling to pass 1-2 of my classes, which will cause me to lose my financial aid. I am moving out of state this summer and plan on going to a different school. What should I do if I fail this semester, once I move to the new state, in order to not have to pay my student loans back?
Vicki,
You seem like a very insightful person so I was hoping you would be so kind as to offer me some advice, as you have to others before me. I attending Loyola University starting the fall of 2011, and starting dating a guy that spring. He ended up being unfaithful to me with a friend, my grandmother passed away, and my father left the country for business for a year all around that same time. Due to this, my grades fell extremely low and my scholarship was revoked. I continued attending the university until 2013, but my grades were barely treading water by then. Due to history of depression and suicidal tendencies, I decided to speak with the school therapists about my situation. I was given some anti-depressants to help my condition as well as my insomnia, but I only seemed to get worse. My apathy had reached such a point that I stopped going to classes altogether and I did not even bother attending my finals. Obviously, I was academically dismissed. I am now 21 and have been attending community college for 3 semesters–I was on the premed track and retook basic Chemistry and Biology courses there, but ended up failing Chemistry 102–a class I had retaken many times, only to realize later that maybe the premed track wasn’t right for me. In my dismissal, one of the requirements was that I was to maintain above C- grades in order for re-admittance. I submitted an appeal for withdrawal of the course to my college, but it was a day late. Would I be able to speak with someone there that could ‘remove’ the grade and allow me to reapply to my previous university? Or is that just a pipe dream? I also have not told any of my friends about my dismissal, and have kept this act up (saying I was commuting) for about 2 years now–do you have any advice on how to handle the public relations side of this fiasco?
In my youth I squandered my time and money and was academically dismissed from two colleges. Now 17 years after I would like to go back to school. I have an AA from Florida. Is there any forgiveness for the squandered years at school? Do I still have to pull up my GPA?
Thanks for your answer. You gave the best answer given you aren’t aware of the total situation. I did call the school just to ask if she could appeal and if she could do it in person.She is very motivated and was actually upset I stepped in and called at all, but I just talked to whomever answered the phone, no decision makers. She has called and has an appt w/them. Her past low GPAs were due to stressful situations that are now completely past her. She went to HS and CC and did great in both. I do think she is an exception to those that get low GPAs and still don’t succeed, but I pray she makes a good case for herself. Thanks again for your comment. I agree…I stepped back and she’s taking care of the situation.
Renee –
Dismissal from college is difficult – and denial of readmission can seem doubly difficult. You raise several questions in your comment, and I can only give you some food for thought. I don’t know specifically about your daughter’s school and whether there are any further options there.
First, if anyone is going to follow up with the school about further options, it should be your daughter. She needs to be the one with the determination to go back – and the school needs to see that she has that determination. As difficult as it may be, this is not the best time for you to step in.
With that said, just because your daughter is determined (if she is) doesn’t mean that the school will reverse their decision. Most schools have their policies for a reason and they may realize from experience that students in your daughter’s position rarely succeed. That may be difficult for you to accept, but the school has a reason for their decision.
Perhaps your daughter’s reluctance to fight the decision may have underlying reasons. Does she truly want to go back? Is she truly committed to this major? Rather than working to fight the dismissal and denial, perhaps it would be beneficial for your daughter to spend some additional time exploring why her GPA is so low. Does she need to consider a new major or new career goal? If she needs to take some time off, it might be well spent working doing something in her chosen field to be sure that it is where she wants to be. Perhaps that will give her new motivation. She might also explore some online programs if there is not another school close to her home. Beginning with just one course at a time while she is working may be a way to explore and make some progress at the same time.
It is a difficult time – and a journey that may look a little different that you both expected – but your daughter can find ways to move forward.