Hey guys. This is my first time writing one of these. I really need advice. The past two semesters I had to go through a death in my family and also severe depression. My university dismissed me yesterday. My plan is to go to community college for two semesters then apply to other universities. Will my past dismissal bring my application down?
For lots of elite schools, yes. It shouldn’t be a problem for many/most public schools. Don’t give up. Lots of students in your situation rebound. You can too.
Thank you so much. I have to keep my head up and work hard to bounce back
So sorry to hear. If you are determined, talk to an admissions counselor at a local public university (you may have a better shot there) and see what their policy is. Some universities (even those considered safety schools by the locals) will make you wait at least one full year if you were dismissed by another university for academic reasons. You did not say that is why, but assuming it is purely an academic dismissal, taking your CC classes and excelling at those while you are in a waiting period would only help your chances.
Yes, this is typically what happens…the student addresses what went wrong (health, mental health, family issues, relationship issues, substance abuse, working too much, etc) and then goes to CC for a year and demonstrates that they can succeed. Look for open admission colleges.
Did you talk to your Dean of Students about these issues and possibly get accomodations?
- 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.
- Have you seen a doctor? Is your depression under control? What evidence do you have?
- Can you appeal your dismissal?
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
Here are some examples:
Some of this is general, and some specific to your situation.
- search this topic on CC and you will see many other posts on academic appeals
- Make sure your letter states what the issue was that caused you to have academic difficulties
- Did you talk to your professors/dean of students about the issue?
- Did you make use of the many resources your school has? if not, why not?
- Find out what those resources are…e.g. counseling center, talking to professors, talking to your adviser, withdrawing from class, talking to dean, maybe taking incompletes. Include specifics from your college. Here are more ideas http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/college-life/1920853-college-is-a-step-up-from-hs-16-tips-on-doing-well-in-college.html
- State how you would use those in the future
- How are you addressing what caused the issue?
- 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.
A 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)
I had my appeal hearing. It was denied. Lately it just doesn’t feel right. As students, we are taught the importance of depression yet it constantly turned away from. I’m going to speak to the Dean again. I won’t give up because I deserve to be in the university. I didn’t cheat, drink, or party. I definitely had a challenging year due to the death in my family and my depression.
Did the university suggest that you can reapply there in the future? You should work on your health, take some courses at a CC at some point, and then perhaps you can return to your original university.
You need a formal diagnosis of depression, not just you saying you were depressed, so go see a doctor. The university, for the appeal, will want to see that you’re ready to return - so that your depression is now under treatment. So again, another reason to go see the doctor.
It’s possible that the uni will want you to sit out a bit of time before your appeal might have a shot, so ask the Dean about that option. It’s also possible that you’ll be able to reapply to this uni once you’ve shown them you’re well by doing well at a community college, so ask them about that as well.
If this uni won’t have you back, then other unis will. Do well at the cc. Make sure you’re in treatment for your depression so you can do well there. If you need time off before you go to a cc, then take it - this isn’t a race. It’s more important that you do this well than that you do this quickly.
If you go to a cc for a year and do well there, and can explain what happened at this first uni and what you did about it, you can get into a lot of colleges. You can get into even more if you stay at the cc long enough to get the associates degree - it shows that you can finish what you start. So your plan is a realistic one.
If you plan to go to a cc in the fall, apply now. Then call admissions to talk over your situation. Know that if you were dismissed, it’s possible that the cc may want you to take a bit of time off before you join them, so if they tell you that, don’t be shocked. They may admit you, or they may ask you to take a pause.
A community college might take you and you could build up your GPA while getting your lower division classes done. You will save so much money in tuition.
This is your third thread regarding dismissal. Why do you keep making new threads?
Why are you hiring a lawyer? How was the university unfair to you such that a lawyer is required?
I have a real issue with community college not being considered to be a “real university.”
I agree with @bjkmom. If you don’t take cc seriously, it’s going to be difficult for you to get the grades you need to transfer. That will further limit your choice of 4 year colleges.
You have 3 threads on this topic. One them says you’re hiring a lawyer. What do you think a lawyer will be able to do? You were put on probation, appealed, and your appeal was denied. Are you seeing a counselor for your depression? Getting treatment and reparing your academic record seem like better options.
Why can’t you take a year off? You say you don’t have the time? Why not? You can go to community college and pick up some gen eds or work for a year. A lawyer can’t do anything unless they violated their own policy.
Also, next time don’t start a new thread. Just post your update on an old one.
I had a rough past year and was dismissed from my University. I plan to take two semesters at my local community college. After this I want to pursue a real university. Does anyone know any schools who are willing to take a chance on students like me? Blah. I just want to prosper. This is really a set back for me.
Hey guys! update on my academic dismissal: I am in the process of hiring a lawyer. lol. Here we go
The uni did give me the option to reapply after two semesters. I don’t have the time to sit out for a year.
Without more detail, it’s hard to advise you, especially since you haven’t told us whether your depression was officially diagnosed and what you’re doing to address it. Just know that the university isn’t obligated in any way to ignore its own academic standards in order to give you a second chance. I hope the attorney you hired is well versed in academic issues because if not, he/she may make the situation more difficult for you.
Your CC will not require that you wait if you were dismissed for academic reasons from a 4-year. Look forward, not backward and try to heal (healthwise and in any other way) if you are sincere about this.
Do you really want to stay at a university you had to sue to be at?
^^ There’s a great line in the movie Sleepless in Seattle: “Do you really want to be with someone who doesn’t want to be with you?”