academic appeal letter, i need help!

Student Lounge College Life
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<p>I am being dismissed from school, and I'm trying to appeal. I wanted to know if my letter was okay?</p>

<p>My name is xxx, and I’m writing to appeal my academic dismissal. Although I was not surprised that I would be dismissed after already been given a chance to make my GPA better, I am regretful that I didn’t take that chance to raise my GPA. I know I have the ability to do better, which is why I am urging you to appeal my dismissal. </p>

<p>This past year, I had a very hard time keeping my grades up for a various reasons. While I understand that this shouldn’t be any reason for my grades being low, I would like the chance to explain the circumstances I was in that led to this probation and dismissal. After my first semester as a freshman psychology major, I was urged to become a business major, so the following semester, I decided to become a Pre-business administration major and took up mostly business classes. During this time, the change of major took a toll on my grades and from a 2.7GPA I ended up with a 2.0GPA only being able to pass 2 classes out of 4. Also during the semester, a various personal issues had occurred. My father was laid off his job and my mother was struggling with breast cancer and being an only child it became increasingly hard for me to handle family issues alone and focus on my schoolwork at the same time, and as a result my grades suffered. After seeing the final GPA of 2.0, I decided to take summer classes in hopes to get my GPA up and prove that I had the ability to be a good student. I was able to take an online psychology class through Geneseo, and received a B in the class, raising my GPA to a 2.1. Knowing I had the ability, I was motivated to do better for the Fall 2012 semester. When the fall semester started, I was ready to work hard and get good grades. By then, I knew that business wasn’t for me, so I chose to be an undeclared major. I attended weekly meetings with my advisor (Ms. Nardell) and signed up for tutor in economics (withdrew from the class halfway) because I knew I would need the all help I could get. Unfortunately, once again I was distracted by personal problems. I went through an abortion that left a negative impact on me. I wanted to receive counseling but I was afraid of how I would be viewed, especially after my family had decided to stop supporting me after the incident. I also wanted to take a leave of absence, but by the time I figured out I could do that, it was too late into the semester. Towards the end of the semester, I tried to pull together by going to office hours, talking to the professors and studying as much as I can to keep my grades above failing, but now that I know that I should have done that much earlier. While I know personal reasons should not have been the reason for my poor grades and I take full responsibility and regret my actions, I wanted to justify the reasons for my failure, in hopes that my dismissal can be appealed so I can show what I have learned through all this, and to show that I am capable of being a great student.</p>

<p>The mistakes I’ve made the past year by not reaching out for help to resources the school gives resulted in my poor academics. I am desperate to stay as a student at Geneseo, and to prove to my family, the board, and myself that I CAN and am VERY capable of receiving and doing well at this school. I am ready to do anything and everything to stay in school and stay focused on my education in order to graduate and become the psychologist I dream to be. I know that I am good student who just had a bad year and am ready to start again without being influenced by family problems. </p>

<p>If I am reinstated for the next semester and so on, I plan on taking these steps to get my grades up above a 2.0GPA.
• Go to counseling provided by the health center for emotional help.
• Take up all the tutoring services provided by the school in classes I need help in. (I know I will need help in Bio 103, and PSYC 250)
• Regularly go to office hours and talk to professors about ways to keep the grades I want and for help when needed.
• Talk to my advisor(s) about how to make have good study habits and have good time management and pull through with them.
• Keep my personal life and education separate and keep the mindset that my education is important in order to improve my life and not be swayed by personal issues, and seek help in order to stay focused in school.
• Make my education the most important factor, and set goals to receive a 2.0 or even above a 2.0 by the end of spring 2012 semester and so on till I graduate.
• Retake all the classes I’ve received a D or E in, and do better to improve my GPA.
…And will take any other steps needed to receive the grades I want to achieve. </p>

<p>Fortunately, family problems as well as personal problems have gotten better. This incident has made me into a stronger and serious person. I know and believe I will better and be more responsible for my actions. I love this school, my friends, and the professors/faculty and I urge you for the chance to have a second chance at my education at Geneseo. Please understand that my low GPA that led to my dismissal does not indicate that I am a bad student. I really am a good student who has the capabilities to redeem herself, who wants to have a better future, but just had a bad year. I really hope you take the time to reconsider my dismissal, and appeal this dismissal. When reinstated, I will definitely not take it for granted but work extremely hard in order to show that reinstating me was the right choice. Thank you for the chance for appeal, and please consider appealing the dismissal.</p>

<p>Sincerely,</p>

<p>xxxxxx</p>

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<p>Too long. Right now it is about 1000 words. I think it needs to be around 500-600. You need to cut a lot out of it. I felt like there were too many excuses and not enough owning up to your mistakes.</p>

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<p>It’s a bit long… I don’t know if you need to include such specific details about your problems… </p>

<p>My comment is more on the grammar. You could cut quite a bit by cutting extraneous phrasing. Also, there are several errors, so proof read.</p>

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<p>Do, at the beginning of the fall, your GPA was a 2.1? Were you on probation for SAP at that time? Usually, at most schools, if you are at or above a 2.0, you are fine. If you fall under that, you are put on probation for a semester. If, at the end of that semester of probation you have less than a 2.0, you are dismissed. If you climb above a 2.0, you are good to go again, although you may be required to meet with an advisor regularly, or get tutoring, etc. Did you have a semester of probation? If not, you definitely should fight being dismissed, not just appeal the decision, but argue that you never had a probationary period.
Your letter is a rough draft. Cut out all the repetitive stuff, take out the abortion stuff and just call it a difficult medical issue, and shorten it quite a bit.</p>

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<p>teachandmom - the OP mentioned that she was already on probation before Fall 2012. The summer class probably didn’t matter. She failed 2 of 4 classes one semester. It does not matter that her gpa was a 2.0… she did not actually accumulate enough credits to be considered full time. This is a very common standard for academic probation at many schools, SUNY Geneseo included. So the school had every right to place her on probation.
[Academic</a> Standards | SUNY Geneseo](<a href=“http://www.geneseo.edu/dean_office/academic_standards]Academic”>http://www.geneseo.edu/dean_office/academic_standards)</p>

<p>That being said, I agree 100% with this:

OP: Do NOT include the information about the abortion. I get why it probably affected your grades, 0401ahj, but it could really bite you in the butt. If the person reading the appeal just happens to be strongly pro-life, they’ll view you in an even more negative light.</p>

<p>As others have also said, the grammar also really needs to be worked on.</p>

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<p>good luck bro, i am in the same situation right now. i hope your appeal goes through</p>

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+1

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And someone’s reading this section? http;//yescephalexin.com

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Who urged you to become a business major? "After my first semester as a freshman psychology major, I was urged to become a business major, "

Sometimes schools dismiss you because it is clear that you need to take some time to get your personal situation in order so you can be ready to learn.

Also they think “You didn’t do well, so we gave you a warning. We provided all of these tools, such as tutors, writing centers, office hours, counseling…if you don’t take advantage of them, then maybe school isn’t for you right now.”

Also you should find out how you could return…if you took Community College classes, got A’s, would you be able to return? Talk to your adviser.

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