Q:  I am a parent at my wit's end.  My son has averaged a C his entire three years in high school and now I am concerned he will not get into college.  Although his grades are average he has excellent SAT/ACT and Regents scores.  But will colleges still consider him?

A:  Many colleges will see the potential that underlies your son's average academic performance.  While the most selective colleges will want to see a combination of strong grades and solid test scores and a foundation of extracurricular activities, other colleges are less demanding.

The more applications a college receives, of course, the more particular they can be about the applicants they choose, so your son may not fare well in the competition for an admissions place in the most selective schools.   He might succeed in the application process at a smaller, less-competitive college (warning: if private, it might be very expensive) or a community college.

You do not say what your son's wishes are!  Do his lackluster grades reflect a lack of passion about learning?  The fact that he has not yet discovered what truly inspires him?  Or is he generally unhappy about something?  I am sure you have thought about all of these things and have tried to address them.  Once school starts, perhaps a group meeting with your son and his school counselor or a favorite teacher could shed some light on the situation.

If your son is entering his senior year of high school without much academic motivation, it might be that college – at this point -- is not the answer.  He might benefit from a gap year during which he could work, volunteer, do community service, and take a couple of classes of his choice.  This might give him the necessary time to discover what he truly wants to do.  Pressuring him into going to college, when he might not be ready for it, could be counter-productive (and costly!)