I apologize for the length of this post. I will try to keep it concise where possible.

A long time ago when I was college aged (about 20 years ago), I was enjoying a full-tuition Trustee scholarship at BYU. I was planning on majoring in Business Information Systems, and I was well on my way. I had aced all my pre-cores except Econ 110 (Kearl). I was currently sitting at a 92% in Kearl's class, and I stayed up all night studying for the final. I was basically a shoe-in for an A, and guaranteed entry to the Marriott School of Business with my 3.8 overall GPA.

I arrived at the final 15 minutes early. There was a steady stream of students exiting the room. I went in to collect my test, and was informed that I couldn't start the test. I had written down the wrong time during class, and I had arrived for a 11am-1pm test that was actually 9am-11am.

I requested the opportunity to take the test with a TA right then and there, but Kearl denied the request. He instead decided to fail me. To make it worse, it was one of only two classes I took that semester, so the failing grade placed me on the academic probation list.

I met with a counselor from the Marriott School, and he said I had no shot at gaining entry to such a prestigious school when I had failed a pre-core and been on academic probation. I asked if retaking the course would help, and he made it clear that it would not because they lower the scores of those who re-take, and also the probation would block me.

I had no choice but to change majors. I tried Econ for a semester, and decided I wanted to do business badly enough that I transferred to UVU. I was devastated. All of my siblings and in-laws had graduated from BYU. I was raised watching Detmer and those before him. I was absolutely crushed and embarrassed in front of my family. It hurt deeply, but I knew it was the right thing for me.

While visiting my parents one evening a few weeks after letting the family know, my mom snuck a small piece of paper into my wallet which had this written in her handwriting:

"Because of our sacred regard for each human intellect, we consider the obtaining of an education to be a religious responsibility. Yet opportunities and abilities differ. I believe that in the pursuit of education, individual desire is more influential than institution, and personal faith more forceful than faculty." — Russell M Nelson

I cried as I read her note, knowing that my mom not only knew exactly how I must feel, but that she knew there were much more important things than the name of the school on the diploma. This is what happened upon my transfer to UVU:

1) Graduated in my desired major on the Dean's List
2) I met my wife at the job I took when I was booted from my BYU student job
3) I was able to work full time while going to school - no debt upon graduation
4) I now make more, by quite a bit, than any of my siblings or in-laws that graduated from BYU because of hard-work and dedication to my employers and my trade


My point isn't that UVU is the better choice, or that BYU couldn't have been a great experience. My point is that your child, regardless of where they attend (or don't attend), will be just fine, and life will be good, and any other institution is just as valid as a choice if the opportunity simply isn't there. Do not worry. Place your faith in your child. They will succeed.

Go Cougs.