Academic suspension appeal letter review

Student Lounge College Life
1

RE: Academic Suspension Appeal
Dear ______
My name is __, I have been placed on academic suspension from the fall semester of 2017 and I would like to be reinstated for the spring 2018 semester. I took the first major step to achieving better grades by recently changing my major to health and community wellness from biology. I am emailing you because I am worried that I have not made the required gpa mark for the fall semester because my GPA fell short by 2 points. I have been going through a lot financially and emotionally. My freshman and sophomore year were not ideal for me and brought me to my breaking point and back. I have suffered from anxiety from the last semester due to my financial issues, but I did not realize just how much it was affecting my work. My financial issues include not being able to pay my apartment rent on time. I made many mistakes that I have learned from since then, and have every intention of putting my best foot forward.

If I were to be given this second chance and be reinstated for next semester there would be a significant difference between my previous grades and the grades that I will be receiving next semester. I have devised a plan to make sure that I reach academic success. I have already taken the first step by switching my major to what I am truly passionate about, I would take fewer credits (14) until I have my GPA back on track, retake the classes that I did poorly in, make weekly visits to our student tutoring program, and make sure that I visit my professor’s during their office hours. I have an academic coach, , who has been working with me to help build my gpa back up to good academic standing. I plan on continuing my sessions with as I build a better gpa. My academic coach this semester has helped me understand what I need to work on as far as studying and going to see my professor when I have questions. She also helped me realize that being a biology major was not the best for me. I will be meeting with my doctor when there is an opening so that I can get the proper documentation for proof of my anxiety. I have also been considering getting an emotional support dog to help with my anxiety.

I want to thank you for taking the time to read my letter. I understand that your choice can go either way, but I am willing to do whatever it takes to fix my grades. I would greatly appreciate if I could discuss this with you so that you may see that I have every intention of getting above a 2.0 next semester. Along with this letter I will email the proof of my financial issues which have caused me to lose focus and fall behind in my class work, along with the grade appeal form needed to file an appeal for academic suspension.Thank you

Sincerely,

2

First some questions:

What was your plan for housing freshman and sophomore year? Why were you not in dorms?
What was your plan for paying for housing then/? What is your plan now?
Why did anxiety play a part in your grades? Why haven’t you adderssed it up until now?

A successful appeal must do several things:

  1. show that you understand what went wrong
  2. show that you take responsibility for the academic failures
  3. show that you have a plan for future academic success
  4. in a broad sense, show that you are being honest with yourself and the committee

Here are some examples:

http://collegeapps.about.com/od/Academic-Dismissals/a/Sample-Appeal-Letter-For-An-Academic-Dismissal.htm

Some of this is general, and some specific to your situation.

  1. search this topic on CC and you will see many other posts on academic appeals
  2. Make sure your letter states what the issue was that caused you to have academic difficulties
  3. Did you talk to your professors/dean of students about the issue?
  4. Did you make use of the many resources your school has? if not, why not?
  5. 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,
  6. State how you would use those in the future
  7. How are you addressing what caused the issue? Have you addressed the depression?
  8. Think about if you should continue at college, or take a break.
  9. Think about if you should continue at a community college, to be close to your family
  10. 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. Also I am not sure if visa issues come into account.

3

You mention financial issues in the appeal. However, I didn’t see anything that would suggest that the financial issues have been resolved.

4

And if you’re having financial issues, definitely do not get a dog. Caring for dogs can be expensive between required vaccinations, food and even regular vet bills not to mention if your dog gets an injury or needs treatment for a chronic condition.

Plus, you’ll have fewer housing options if you have a dog. Given that you’re having financial issues, don’t take on the additional liability and also limit your choices in housing by getting a dog.