Screwing off in class has consequences.
I took a vacation from Tumblr to attempt another class. The results were...mixed. I shall now attempt to share my thoughts regarding being academically unsuccessful. Screwing off in class has consequences. For those of you new to college, you may not think so now, but it does. The ladder of failure, in descending order, goes like this; 1) academic probation 2) academic warning 3) academic suspension 4) readmission 5) failure to meet some academic goal set during the readmission process 6) academic dismissal Academic Probation usually occurs after failing one or two classes and maybe getting average to slightly below average grades in a few others. Don't give up! You can still turn things around without having to be the next Einstein. Academic Warning occurs when your GPA fails to improve the semester after being placed on Academic Probation. Once more I say, don't give up. However, at this point arguments like "It's not my money." or "Screw it. I can always retake the class.", start to have real consequence. Many schools have limits on how many times you can retake a class. Academic suspension occurs when your GPA continues to fall after being placed on Academic Warning status. This suspension means you will be unable to attend that particular school for AT LEAST a semester, if not longer. At this point, if you have not informed your parents of your academic troubles, you're about to have a very long and awkward conversation with them. The reinstatement process can be long and difficult. The administration will likely set requirements that, given your past less than stellar performance and the resulting poor GPA, will have you thinking that you really DO need to be the next Einstein. Also, you've probably exhausted the financial patience of whomever was financing your education so now you're playing with real money, yours. The semester following reinstatement will be the most mentally challenging semester you've seen so far. The class (or classes) you're taking is/are now make or break and every assignment and class meeting is critical. You can not fail another class at that school, ever again. During the reinstatement process, a minimum GPA requirement will be set. It varies from school to school. My school sets it at 2.0. If you are unable to meet that threshold at end of the semester following reinstatement, you will most likely be dismissed from your school. This is permanent and goes on your transcript. It has consequences that go far beyond just your current school. It will likely negatively effect the admissions process at other schools (should you decide to continue your academic adventures elsewhere) and possibly even future employment prospects. This process is cumulative. You don't get there overnight. It's the result of many small, seemingly insignificant decisions that are made along the way. It's ok to have fun but your GPA can only take but so many beer runs, frat parties, and hangovers, before academic performance becomes an issue. This is Jim, signing off with some final advice. Please don't do what I did. Not one part of this process is what I describe as "fun".
