Academic Probation in College

For college students with exceptionally low grades, a college or university may place that student on academic probation for a certain length of time.

Every once in a while, a college student has a bad semester or quarter. More often, college student encounters a class that is exceptionally challenging and they may not perform as well as they normally do.

However, college students who have a record of exceptionally low academic performance over an extended period of time will be placed on academic probation by their college or university. It would be better to ask the essay writer service for assistance. Academic probation is a serious status and, if a student does not improve his or her grades soon, may result in being dismissed from school.

The Purpose of Academic Probation in College

Academic probation is not meant to be a form of punishment; however, there are serious consequences if the terms of probation are not followed.

The status of "academic probation" is usually given to students who fall below 2.0 on a 4.0 GPA scale. Some schools may have a higher threshold for considering academic probation, while other colleges and universities may use a sliding scale that increases the lower GPA limit as a student earns a higher class status.

Colleges and universities use academic probation as a way to warn students that their academic performance has been exceptionally low for an extended period of time. Depending on the student's exact grade point average, a college or university may specify a specific number of hours spent working with the academic advising office, refer a student to tutoring or the college's disabilities services offices, restrict financial aid, or prevent a student from participating in campus organizations.

How to Avoid Academic Probation in College

While the way to avoid academic probation in college is relatively easy, getting good grades is harder for some students than it is for others.

The easy answer to avoiding academic probation is to do well in all college classes and to follow the college or university's grade point average requirements, as well as those for a college student's major. There are many ways students can help themselves avoid academic probation:

• Study regularly and effectively Studying is an obvious way to earn good grades in college, but studying effectively in college helps students retain material that may show up again in later classes.
• Find a tutor before it's too late Many students may wait until it is too late to seek a tutor in a subject that is troubling them. However, if a student feels that he or she is struggling in a class, it is important to seek a tutor as soon as possible.
• Use time management Sometimes, a student just needs more time to prepare for a class than others. Students should try examining how much time they have available in a week for studying and school work, and make appropriate adjustments so that they can prepare for class adequately.
• Consider other options Unfortunately, a particular class or program of study may prove too challenging for a student and may prevent them from succeeding after graduation, among other things. If a student finds that they are struggling, they should talk to the college or university's academic advising office to explore available options.

The Consequences of Academic Probation

Being on academic probation vary from school to school, but there are several things that a college or university may ask of a student who is on academic probation:

• Attend mandatory tutoring sessions Students may be required to attend tutoring sessions with the academic advising office or a student tutor for a certain number of hours per week.
• Take fewer classes per academic term Students on academic probation may be required to alter their course schedule and take fewer credit hours per term so that they have more time to study.
• Limit participation in campus activities A student's participation in campus activities may be limited while on academic probation. A student may also be banned from participating in campus organizations if their GPA is extremely low.
• Change their major If a student's major has a higher GPA requirement than the college or university requires for academic probation, they may be required to change their major.
• Restricted financial aid Students on academic probation may lose merit-based financial aid if they remain on academic probation for an extended period of time.
• Loss of privileges A student who is on academic probation for an extended amount of time may lose special privileges, such as holding leadership roles on campus or being able to apply for special housing arrangements.

Ultimately, if a student does not follow the terms of academic probation and does not improve their GPA by a specified amount during the time of probation, the student may be expelled from the college or university.

For some students, succeeding academically in college may be harder than it is for other students. However, if a student finds that he or she has been placed on academic probation, it is important to pay attention and work extra hard to improve a student's grades.

About the author: Kaylee Osuna is a professional writer at EssayWriterCheap.org, who loves to read and write about Psychology. She has participated in different conferences and presentations to gain more knowledge and experience. Her goal is to help people cope with their problems.