I had a little of that with my son, his first year in college (although he had always done very well in school, worked part time jobs, was in sports) was a struggle for him to settle down and apply himself. But he was smart enough to recognize that, and enlisted in the USMC, did his four years and two Iraq deployments, came home and got married, decent full-time job, bought a house, got a dog, had a baby, then graduated college in 2011, a couple promotions. So maybe she will get her act together.
When my daughter was in college, struggled with some of the classes, and at one point suggested that she might take another year to finish. I told her it would cost her a full year’s salary that she would not yet be earning, plus a full year’s cost of college expenses on student loans (because I had committed a certain dollar amount to her college costs, however long it took). When put in that context, she got herself to an advisor and had a plan in place a few days later to retake a class at community college, get some hours in summer school, and graduated in four years (BRN).
I guess kids are all on different timelines. Some take a bit more time to hit full adulthood than others. You did a great job with your two, NEMDF! I really appreciate what you told your daughter. You didn’t sugar coat the financial reality... this stuff isn’t free. Obviously a smart girl to seek out an advisor and make a sure fire plan and it worked. Good for her!