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
I think I misread/misunderstood what you were saying. Did you mean that you applied to SDSU, did not meet their standards and was not accepted, then went to a community college, and are now going to CSUDH?
Hi Tina,
So that means that even though I’m allowed to go back to open university at SDSU, that does not mean I’m in good terms with them?
Unfortunately, often one of the conditions of acceptance at a University is that you be in good standing at previous schools. It is very possible that you will not be able to attend your new university until you go through the process of petitioning for acceptance back into your former university- even if you do not plan on attending again.
I was disqualified from SDSU and thenI decided to go to a community college. I was given a chance to go back to SDSU but through open university. I decided to stay at the community college and transfer to another school. I was conditionally accepted to CSUDH but now they are asking for trasncripts of both school. Do you think they are going to deny my admission? i raised my gpa and I’m in a good balance on the community college
I graduated high school back in 2000 and went to a community college. I was young and careless thirteen years ago and basically enrolled in these classes and never went back… I decided to go to a technical school and got a certificate in 2009, and this past year I signed back up at the community college, without even thinking that me gpa from thirteen years ago would haunt me. In the middle of last semester I receive a notice I am on academic probation. The only way to prevent being swap ended was to bring a .19 (or some low score like that) to 2.0. That would be impossible for me to do that! I assumed since it has been so long, when they review my info they will see how long it has been an hoe different my current grades are. The last semester I got a 3.0 and was suspended… This makes no sense to me, considering the amount I time. My question is what should I do next? Should I file an appeal and hope to be given the grant again? I am concerned to carry the gpa … Or do i you suggest I reapply and see about getting into different school where I can start with a fresh gpa? What are the chances of me being approved a grant again? Did my messing up thirteen years ago cause me to lose this grant opportunity!!
Kyasis –
It sounds as though you have a lot going on in your life right now. One thing that I would caution you about is starting the semester if you do not have a plan about how to make it work. If you cannot afford your books, you will not be able to succeed academically. If you have been denied financial aid, will you be able to pay your tuition bill to complete the semester? Think through what you will need to be able to do. Perhaps you need to take a semester off to work and earn some money so that you will be in a better position next year? Perhaps you can attend a less expensive college for a year to successfully complete some credits so that you will be in better academic standing for financial aid? You might want to talk to someone at your school about options. We have 2 new posts on this website about academic dismissal and options. Perhaps there will be some additional suggestions for you there. Be patient and plan ahead. Good luck!
Jerrick – Thanks for your comment. I think you are absolutely right that what you need to do is to speak to a counselor at your school to discuss your options. A school counselor will be able to tell you what your financial aid options are as well as what you will need to do academically to regain good standing. They will help you form a plan for next steps. Good luck!
My first semester if college in 2011 was the fall, I finished and was put on financial aid probation, going into my spring 2012 semester my family member I rode to school with got hospitalized and I moved out of state and missed my whole spring semester without withdrawing and made all f’s, not I’m on academic suspension, i did not attend any school the whole year of 2012, i enrolled back into college 2013 spring semester and got assigned all my classes, now i get a letter in the mail saying financial aid denied my appeal letter, i have 12 credits/hours i don’t think i have enough to transfer, i have one week left to drop my classes if i want i have no money for books, when i sun my appeal letter i did not attach any documents because my cousin got hospitalized not i, i fell like I’m in a whole big mess, what should i do?
yes what happen was i went to a community college and i i got academicy dismessed i was just wondering if the school will give me a second chance and speak to a consoler and be able to get final aid
Hi Sharen,
Hopefully, your daughter will have a better semester this spring and will not be dismissed. It sounds as though she did well in most of her courses and knows what the problem was with the others. That is the first step toward fixing things. I’d encourage her to also take advantage of any support services offered.
As far as financial aid, each college has a different policy, so it’s impossible to answer that. I’d suggest two things. Check carefully on the college website to see if the financial aid policy is explained there. Second, I’d have your daughter contact the financial aid office to ask the question. If she is on campus for the beginning of classes, she can try stopping by in person to make an appointment. Hopefully, she will be able to get the information that you both need, and she will feel part of the process of moving forward.
Good luck to you both!
My daughter h as been attending a small college of about 10,000
students. Last semester she made two Bs one C and two Fs. She had and A or B in the Classes that she failed, but she had two many tardies. She was living off campus and had transportation
problems. She was riding a bus that was late almost all the time.
She is now on probation. She was told if she got semester after this semester that she could come back in the Spring. I have
sent them a number of e-mails and letters wanting to know if she
will get her financial reinstated in the Spring. Noone wants to
answer this question. What is the answer?
Thank you to everyone who has shared your stories through these comments. And thank you to Tina for joining the discussion with some advice. Each person’s story varies, but the themes of concern and confusion are consistent. There have been so many comments here that I’ve just written two new posts on academic dismissal to try to address some of the questions that have come up here. Go to Academically Dismissed – Time for a Reset and Academically Dismissed – Next Steps for more thoughts about this situation.
it was just my gpa I was not even warned about probation or anything
No I was not miss behaving I had a good behavior , I was never in trouble my gpa was vey low
It is possible. Were you dismissed because of a low GPA? Follow through with the appeal, and there is a good chance that they will take you back- unless you were dismissed for behavior or plagerism, or other serious issues.