My name is [redacted] and I am writing in hopes to appeal and explain my academic dismissal. I am deeply upset and ashamed by this, however; I understand my failure to meet the standards set up for me are solely my fault. Despite this, I please urge you to consider reinstating me for summer 2018.
I will not lie, my freshman year was not what I thought it would be; I had a difficult time and received poor grades. Despite my own mismanagement and a lack of good coping skills, I would like to explain my circumstances. My mental health declined drastically at the beginning of school as issues with alcoholism and fighting in my family arose; there were so many days I struggled with getting up, going to school, taking care of myself, and even just feeling like I should be alive while also trying to be the mediator for my family. This persisted through the three quarters that have passed and during all of this, I had a lack of management skills that is entirely my own fault.
Towards the end of the second quarter, I tried seeking help through [ and was diagnosed with dysthymic depression and prescribed medication for this. However, this was not enough. I knew deep down that this wasn’t a solution, but I was running away from the problem thinking I would have it taken care of with just medication. I figured out far too late that medication is just not enough for me, but not early enough for me to start redeeming my grades.
I’ve done a lot of self-reflection and started to take large steps to help tackle everything. I’ve discussed with my family about their issues. My family’s been trying harder and it’s been much more peaceful. I also opened up to them about my struggles and have planned to get a referral from a clinic at my home to the [redacted] Medical Center for long term treatment and to join their Behavioral Health Integration Program to receive cognitive behavioral therapy this week. My advisor and I have also made plans to meet weekly during the summer to keep me organized with school. I’ve since changed my desired major and have also signed up for [studying class for people like me] in the fall. I would like to take it in the Summer but would need an add code approved. I will not only make school and health my top priorities, I will temporarily stop working as well.
I love being a student at the [redacted], this school has been my dream school for years and I want to be the best student I can be. I have already started studying for the first weeks of [class 1] and [class 2] and have been practicing meditative and disciplined behaviors until I can soon start therapy. If allowed another chance, I know I can be the student the university believed I could be when I was accepted. I have every last intention of getting above a 2.0 cumulative during the summer, I thought long if I should return to school for the summer right away and I truly believe that this is the right course of action for me.
So my cumulative at the end of this quarter will be around 1.9 and I need a 2.0 or above. I really do believe I will be able to get the help I need and that I can get through this quarter with flying colors. But I need to make sure I can get that across the best way possible. They also expect about a 550 word appeal so this is around that. I’m desperate, I won’t be able to take CC classes during the summer because all the ones near my home are closed for registration. I will essentially have done nothing during the summer if go back now and try to return in the fall. Please help me.
Were you medically diagnosed with depression? If not, have you seen or will you see a doctor? If so, then you may be able to get a retroactive medical withdrawal. talk to your Dean about that.
Have you seen a doctor? Is your depression under control? What evidence do you have?
A successful appeal must do several things:
show that you understand what went wrong
show that you take responsibility for the academic failures
show that you have a plan for future academic success
in a broad sense, show that you are being honest with yourself and the committee
Think about if you should continue at college, or take a break.
Think about if you should continue at a community college, to be close to your family
How is your college funded? Will that continue?
In general, keep in mind what the college wants…they want students who can succeed. They need to know that you understand what the issue was, know now the resources that you can use, how the problems is resolved so you will not have academic issues in the future.
An appeals committee would consider you a strong case for reinstatement if you can provide:
a) documentation from your health care provider of a diagnosis
b) confirmation from your health care provider that you have been compliant with treatment and your situation has improved so that you are better equipped to handle the stress of college life if/when you return
c) details of how you plan to continue your treatment plan after you return to school
d) details of other campus resources you will use and adjustments you will make after you return to enhance your success
e) some statement of how you know your treatment has improved your situation (e.g. if you have been working during your time away and found it easier to handle the stress and demands as your treatment progressed)
The school isn’t likely to readmit you for summer. They will want to see that you’re in a treatment plan that’s showing evidence of working, not that you are still ill, and planning certain treatments. So what I’d suggest you do is go ahead and get your health in order. Get the treatment you need. Once you and your doctors agree that it’s working, then ask your old school if you can return.
Talk to your advisor at this school as well. See if the school would like evidence of your improvement - by, for example you taking classes at a community college and passing them, and having those transcripts as evidence in your appeal.
You won’t be doing nothing this summer. You’ll be in treatment. And it may be that you won’t return to this school in the fall - so you may want to register for cc classes now, for the fall, if you feel you’ll be ready for them then. The plan may need to be to return to this school in the spring, or next fall (2019).