How important are your grades? In high school you might think that mediocre grades are all that you need to continue your education in college. However, once college hits, you realize that your GPA is all that matters--which means that your grades are all that matters. Yes, for those that are looking at a 4 year degree and then heading off into work, grades might not be as important as work experience. For those looking to continue on for an MA of PhD or for Law School, grades are important.
Walking back from class today I overheard two freshmen students discussing the punishment for academic probation at my college. I've been in college for 3 years now, and after my first semester in college I was placed on academic probation because I had a GPA of 1.75. Now, I'm not complaining and saying that I didn't deserve the grades that I got, because in all fairness, I did deserve them. I wasn't as prepared for the transition from high school to college as some might be. But these girls were discussing how it was unfair that they did well in all their classes but math. And what they define as well is D+ in 3 of their classes. In their math class they got an F. Again, I'm not looking down upon them for thinking that a D+ is well or not. It's just interesting how they justify that a 1.5 GPA for each class is good--on a 4.0 scale.
Their main discussion was how many hours a week they had to go to the tutoring center. When I was on academic probation I had to either go twice a week for 4 hours total, or attend a workshop a week that they were offering--workshops ranged from an hour to two hours. I thought I had it good. Minus the three advising sessions and the one mandatory class I had to take for the full semester (that I still got credit hours for). Now, not only did these girls discus the hours they had to go to the tutoring center--4 to 6 hours a week--but they also complained about the other things that they had to do while on academic probation. This included going to 4 mandatory workshops, 3 advising sessions, and the mandatory class I had taken. Quite similar to what I had to do nearly three years ago. The only difference--apparently it doesn't fit into their social schedule. I heard the girls talking about this party and that party and how they couldn't go to this sporting event or that sporting event, all because they had to attend these workshops.
My first thought was to turn around and tell them that if they are on academic probation, there is a REASON why they are on academic probation and perhaps they were involved in too many activities that limited their studies. However, I kept my mouth shut for the time being, and continued to listen to them talk about the classes they are taking this semester. One girl was talking about how she was in an English class and it was the hardest class she's ever taken with a 10 page paper. All I could think about is how rough her remaining time in college will be if a 10 page paper is the hardest thing she has had to written. However, what the other girl said next amused me. She is taking a 7:30 A.M. yoga class. And apparently it is too hard for her. But the tutoring center doesn't offer tutoring for that class--I think for obvious reasons--and she was complaining about how she has to waste 4 hours a week going to the tutoring center just to sit there and play a game on her computer because she has nothing else to do. Again, I did not voice my opinion because I was thinking about all the comments I could make, but these girls didn't seem to care about an outsider's opinion.
So, my question to those that are in college right now. Were you on academic probation or are currently on academic probation? Did you ever figure out why you were placed on academic probation and a way to not get there the following semester? What are your opinions on the academic probation policy for your school?
My answers: I was on probation because I wasn't able to manage my time wisely and get used to college courses like I thought I would. However, since that horrible semester 6 semesters ago...I've managed 4 semesters with a 4.0, 1 with a 3.75, and another with a 3.8. So I think I've faired pretty well compared to others who were previously on academic probation. As for the policies, I believe that what my school is doing for people on academic probation is right. But they aren't doing enough to prevent academic probation for first-year students.
