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
Amy – Good for you for getting back on track with your grades! Generally, the dismissal is part of your permanent academic record and it cannot be removed. However, whenever you apply somewhere, you should include a letter that acknowledges the dismissal, briefly explains what happened, and then talks about what you have done to overcome the problem and prove yourself since then. That is what colleges are most interested in.
As far as applying to other schools, the best thing is to talk directly to the admission office of the school you would like to attend. They can let you know whether you are eligible and what paperwork you would need.
Good luck as you move forward!
Hi Vicki,
I was academically dismissed in Jan. 2015 from a UC. Since then I have attended community college and have gained enough credits for transfer. I am going to apply in the Fall and my question is, how do I get rid of the dismissal? (if possible) Also, am I able to apply to other UC’s for next year or am I dismissed from the entire UC system? Finally, do I need a letter from the Dean at my previous university in order to transfer elsewhere?
Thank You
Hello, I just recently checked my grades and saw I was academically dismissed. Thing is I transferred home and started in Spring semester instead of the Fall (which wasn’t the best decision. As I only had the spring Semester, I failed two of my classes and passed the other two which ultimately resulted in my dismissal. As I worry about disappointing my mom and my family, I worry about telling her what happened since the school I attended was one of my first choices for university and since I was dismissed, I feel like a failure. But I have to know, should I immediately ask to be readmitted or appeal as I didn’t have the whole year to have a substantial grade improvement? Or should I wait the whole year out and attend a different community college?
Amanda –
Discovering that you’ve been academically dismissed can sometimes come as a shock. There are a couple of things that I would suggest that you think about at this point.
First of all, while you failed 2 classes, you say you also passed 2 classes. That isn’t the result you had hoped for, but it isn’t a total failure either. You succeeded in 2 classes. Hold on to that thought. The first semester after transfer can be difficult.
I suggest that you think about what the difference was between the 2 failed classes and the 2 successful classes. This will help you analyze what went wrong. You need to discover what you need to change going forward to be successful. You obviously did something right in 2 classes. How can you build on that?
Second, talk to your family. Once you have thought about what you need to change for success, let them know that something didn’t work, but that you have a plan for how to succeed in the future. Let them know that you’ve learned from the experience. I’ll bet they will be there to support you!
Finally, to the question of whether to appeal or apply for readmission, see what the college policy is. Then decide whether you are ready to make the changes you’ve analyzed. If you think you’re ready now, appeal or re-apply and be sure to include in your letter or application what you’ve learned and what you plan to do differently. Take responsibility, but let them know you are ready to make changes. However, if you think you might need more time before continuing, consider taking a semester or even a year off to be sure that you are ready to move forward.
Lots to think about, but there is a way to move forward. Best of luck! (Although it’s more hard work than luck.)
Past comments are now back! Not sure what happened, but it should be fixed now. So many interesting stories contained in these comments – I’m glad they haven’t disappeared permanently.
How Do I View Past Comments?
Yael, knowing what caused your difficulty in the first place is a very big step to finding success. The first thing that you need to do is make sure that you find any help that you need and that you have important supports in place before you apply to be readmitted. Then, when you do apply, include a letter accepting responsibility and explaining why you think you were unsuccessful and what is going to be different if the university readmits you. There are never any guarantees, but colleges understand that students grow and change and they may give you the second chance that you are hoping for. Good luck!
Susanne – I am not sure I understand your niece’s situation. Many students do not complete their degree in 4 years. They need extra time because of varying reasons – such as changing major. A college will not allow a student to graduate unless he/she has completed all of the requirements for a major. Your niece should work closely with her academic advisor or advising office to understand what she still needs to do and how long it will take her to complete her degree.
I have been academically dismissed from a university because of my poor grades. I accept that I did poorly, but I suffered from depression and I know it played a factor in my dismissal. I’m just afraid that when I reapply to start in January that I will not get accepted back. And this is the only university that I have to go to because I take care of my sick mother and we can’t really more anywhere else. What do I do? How do I make sure I get re-admitted back to the university?
my question my niece complete 4 yrs but change in the middle of the 4 yrs to a different major an need one more yr to finish but since she has been there 4 yrs they want to graduate her need advice thanks
Tellyn – Deciding to get your medical issues taken care of before you attempt to restart college makes a lot of sense. Take your time and make sure you are ready. You might then start out by meeting with someone from your previous college to ask them about what it would look like for you to return. One thing to consider is that you may need to work harder to recover from your previous poor GPA. Once you have that information, talk to some other schools about what it would mean for you to start fresh there. Would they accept you? How many credits might you lose. Starting at a new school would mean a clean GPA slate, but might mean lost credits. Gather all of this information before you decide so that you can make an informed decision.
Yasmin – The same information that I just replied to the previous poster would really apply to you as well. Colleges are going to look at your total record. While you might wish that the earlier dismissal was not on your record, it is there. But what you have put together since then will carry more weight because it reflects what you have learned. Good for you for persevering!
Saptarshi – Generally, a dismissal cannot be removed. It is part of your academic record. And it’s important to note that most applications for colleges or for transfer ask you to include all past records. What you can do, however, is to explain what happened. If you were dismissed but you are now attending community college and earning some strong grades, you can explain what you’ve learned (and your current record proves) since you were dismissed. That will help to offset the earlier dismissal. Usually, the more recent record will carry more weight. Good luck!
Hello Vicki,
I was academically dismissed from my college back in May 2015. The first semester stared out great and I was doing the coursework and it was fun and interesting for me. Then by the time November came around i was struggling, emotionally, physically, mentally and health wise as well. The stress and pressures of school, coupled with the fact of not wanting to disappoint my parents got to me and resulted in my release on May 2015. One of the main factors related to my dismissal was my medical complications. I do not know if there are more people out there that have had to deal with a number of medical complications and still managed to succeed with college, but sad to say i was not one of them. I managed to find a permanent job to help pay back the tuition, yet i am having urges to try and make my way back to my old college, but i am also in the process of correcting some of my medical problems. I guess to sum up what I’m trying to ask, after i recover from my medical absence how should i go about trying to go back to college? Should i try and re-apply back at previous college or should i try and focus my attention elsewhere? Any advice would greatly be appreciated. Thank you for your time in reading this.
Hi Vicki,
I was academically dismissed from my community college a year ago. Since then, I’ve enrolled at another community college. My current GPA at this college is a 3.8, but my GPA at the college I was dismissed from is a 1.4. I am pretty much finished with all my GE’s and major classes, but my GPA at my old college is holding me down. I know I will need to bring the other GPA up to good standing (which I will be doing this Fall) but I was hoping to apply to transfer by Fall 2017. I have an excellent resume for my major along with community service and club positions, I’m just afraid colleges will see my dismissal and completely rule me out of the running for acceptance. Any advice would be helpful!
Hi Vicki,
I was a freshman last semester and was academically dismissed from the University of California Merced. I am currently enrolled into a Community College. What is the process to remove this academic dismissal?
Hi Vicki! I’ve been in a giant rut and I’m unsure which direction to even try to go towards at this point- any advice would be amazing! I was academically dismissed from my University and now I’ve been out of school for almost 2 years- I want to finish and I feel like I can completely change and do well in my courses only thing is I don’t even know where to start. I ultimately want to go to med school but is it even still possible for that to happen for me? I just feel at my all time low and like I won’t be able to go anywhere from this point!