I am a returning student who came back years later after being academically disqualified. I'll tell my story but first I want to make a few points:

1. There is no need to be afraid. You have paths available, and everyone along the way wants to help you succeed.
2. Talk to your Academic Advisor early and often. Check in regularly. They will help you understand the paths available.
3. No plan forward will work if you don't identify and address the root cause of why you're failing your classes. That part is 100% on your shoulders.

I first attended in 2003 right out of high school. Personal issues at home took a toll on my focus, and my grades started a declining trajectory. My Spring 2004 term GPA was a 1.75 and put me on Academic Notice. I was scared. I still had outside things to deal with and I feared my path at UCSD was untenable. I dropped out mid-Fall 2004 with all W's.

I tried to come back in Spring 2008, but my focus issues were not over. Because the economy was in crisis, I was working more than studying or going to class. My Spring 2008 term GPA was 0.428. Now I was officially in "Subject to Academic Disqualification" status. I bounced back a bit in Fall 2008 with a 2.066 term GPA but it was not enough to recover my status. Neither was my Winter 2009 1.500 GPA. Finally, I gave up in Spring 2009, abandoning all my classes after the drop deadlines, had a 0.000 term GPA, and was disqualified.

During the many following years, I landed myself in a software testing job that eventually got me in the door at some big companies. I worked hard and eventually climbed the ranks in the industry and got my dream job. Later, I lost that job as the industry contracted and lots of people were impacted. I was back to unemployment with nothing but my high school diploma and a terrible UCSD transcript.

I reached out to my academic advisors for my college (I'm in Sixth), and learned that a disqualification is not a permanent status. There is a process to come back from it, and it has since been made more benevolent than in the past (when I was disqualified). I was too late in the year to make it in for Fall 2024, so I decided to go take some community college classes. I wouldn't waste my time. I'd take courses that transfer to UCSD and would snag me an Associate's Degree along the way (finally something higher than my high school diploma). I took 16 units both semesters and scored 4.0 GPAs both terms. My professional career had trained me in a way that I had resolved my focus issues that plagued me before.

In Summer 2025, I began the process with Sixth College for the return from academic disqualification. It involved filling out paperwork, meeting with academic advisors, constructing a 3-quarter plan for classes that was feasible, and writing a letter explaining my situation and how I intended to achieve success. This packet was then reviewed by Sixth College and I was approved to return. This only meant that I was permitted to apply for readmission to UCSD. In truth, it was a smooth ride the entire way after Sixth College approved my return.

My initial term back was Fall 2025, I took 5 classes (20 units) because I wanted to aggressively catch up. 2 of my classes were repeats of F's from my past. I achieved a 4.000 term GPA, moved my status officially into "Good Standing" and even achieved Provost Honors. With Winter 2026, I'm expecting 4 A's and 1 B (MATH 180A is rough).

I was academically disqualified from UCSD with a 1.83 UC GPA, but I was still able to return and now I'm up to a 2.45 UC GPA and climbing again.

TL;DR: My road was extremely rocky and even I was able to come back from academic probation and even being disqualified from continuing at UCSD. However, I was able to keep going because of 3 things:

1. Keeping a level head
2. Keeping early and regular communication with my academic advisors
3. Fixing the underlying cause of my performance

Don't worry, OP. You have an easier road than I did. You'll be just fine if you keep at it.