appeal letter for dismissal, I need your help

Student Lounge College Life
1

This is a college appeal letter on dismissal. I was dismissed rather because I did not fulfill my graduation requirements, than my poor academic performance(well in a way it was poor performance too but)
I am very desperate and I would appreciate it if you could give feedbacks on the contents and whether it is compelling enough.

The thing I’m having trouble is what happened in my most recent term.(it’s a trimester school) I tried to write in three versions and i’m not sure which one sounds most compelling.
I’m trying to merge necessary details or good flows from all three of them. So I’m wondering which parts sounded compelling. I also appreciate suggestions on which were the good parts or flows, or just suggestions on how to merge these paragraphs.
Just any opinions would be really appreciated.

What the college mainly asked is:

  • why you did not attempt to complete all of your graduation requirements in your allotted 12 terms (it's a trimester school)
  • what occurred when you were here that impacted your ability to do so
  • why, when you were contacted repeatedly about not being registered for all your graduation requirements, you did not take action at that time. < This is the question im trying to answer for this paragraph)
  • clear plan for how you will complete your remaining coursework and a thorough plan for finishing your comps
  • how you plan to focus on completing your degree, what resources you may use to keep on track, etc. (don't worry about these. I'm dealing with these in other parts of my letter)

comps means senior thesis.

(1)Although I planned on finishing comps in the fall term, I reconsidered this plan, since the condition of my mental health was very unstable. I was taking medications for anxiety disorder and have had ADHD, which I was diagnosed with after the fall term ended. Therefore, not only did I suffer from anxiety, I was very disorganized to the extent of struggling to even keep track of basic contacts and responsibilities. My mental disorders hindered me from distinguishing priorities and making sound decisions (after considering all the necessities/obligations). I assumed that I could attend extra terms and hastily decided to postpone doing comps, and could not think of consulting with others about this plan. I was especially nervous to talk to my advisor, because I did not know how to say that I would not be doing comps this term. This anxiety made it difficult for me to face my e-mails, which was the means of communication between me and my advisor, and I began to check e-mails less frequently. Suffering from several ADHD symptoms, namely being disorganized and forgetful, I missed a lot of important e-mails, including the ones from the registrar warning me about not being registered for all my graduation requirements.

(2)During the fall term, I was taking medications for anxiety disorder and have had ADHD, which I was diagnosed with after the fall term ended. In this unstable mental state, I became very disorganized, struggling to even keep track of basic contacts and responsibilities. Even though I planned on finishing comps in the fall, I was not sure whether I would be able to do so in my mental condition. Then,(Without thinking it through fully,) I hastily concluded that it was better to register for another term than to risk failing comps during that current term. As for the PE course, I initially tried to attend every class and I asked the registrar whether a late registration for a PE course was possible. However, I eventually started struggling to maintain attendance and ended up not registering for the course altogether. The main reason (for this was that) I made such decision is that I believed that I could enroll for additional terms. I assumed I would have an extra term in which I could take a break from doing comps. However, I did not know how to do this, and I was afraid to tell my advisor that I had decided not to do comps in the fall. I knew that I should have consulted my advisor immediately after my decision to change my plans, but my anxiety disorder made it very difficult for me to have the courage to take actions. Checking e-mails were the hardest of all.

(3) (After failing to register for comps and a PE course,) I assumed that it would be too late to register for the comps and PE course after the third week. Meanwhile, still suffering from anxiety disorder, I did not know how to tell my advisor that I had decided not to do comps. I was afraid of simply (admitting to) telling them that I had made the decision to not do comps during that term. I think symptoms of ADHD interfered with my decision-making process, and my mental health at that time was too unstable for me to make a sound decision. I concluded too hastily that I was unable to do comps during that term, assuming I could attend extra terms to finish comps. I thought that I could notify my advisor after the fall term. With my unstable mental health, my life at Carleton during my last few terms was very disorganized and lacked focus. I had trouble keeping up with my academic responsibilities and taking care of my to-do lists. Moreover, I had barely been in touch with my advisor for the past few months, and my anxiety increased these avoidance tendencies. These factors discouraged me from thoroughly checking e-mails. I missed not only e-mails from the professors I was taking classes with, but also e-mails warning me about not being registered for all my graduation requirements.

2

All three versions are very similar and none stands out as being in any way more compelling than the others. I’d go with number 1.

I’d also recommend you acknowledge, right off the bat, that you messed up and that what you’re asking from your school is a certain amount of indulgence (acknowledging fault is important.) Be sure to thank the committee/dean/addressee in advance for their time.

Finally, put in paragraphs, keep the sentences declarative, short and to the point. The BULK of your letter should be on how you plan to catch up, and the steps you’re taking to address your psychological state and your ADHD.

3

Thank you very much for your opinion!
Yes, I am expressing my gratitude on the beginning and the end of my letter, and I am going to take responsibility for missing graduation requirements,
Acknowledging my fault right off the bat that I messed up,
and keep the sentences declarative, short and to the point. put in paragraphs
I will elaborate more on my plans when I return.

Thank you again!

4

I’m sorry but all three of your paragraphs just sound like mindless whining to me. Two sentences along the lines of I have ADHD and anxiety and the second sentence that I messed up. As above, the focus should be on what you are planning to do to correct the situation.

5

The fact that you have progressed this far in your college career is a testament to your many abilities. I know, as I am an alum of your college. The college obviously had faith in you from the beginning, and they will want to foster your personal growth and success even now.

I’ll not delve into your arguments that you intend to submit. But I do suggest that you seek outside, consistent counseling, at least for anxiety and stress. It might help your case if your counselor were to submit a written summary about your personal challenges and that you are doing your best to face them head-on.

I’m wondering whether you exhibit a drive toward perfectionism, which leads to avoidance behaviors out of fear of failure and out of your fear of not living up to false, self-constructed standards. I know, as I suffered from “writer’s block” – a symptom of perfectionism – while I was a student there. I discovered that – yes – writing IS hard work. And I’ll let you in on a secret: Writing is the harder for those who can do it well, because those who value it care the most and are capable to knowing the difference.

Perfection does not come easily or fast, if it is ever attained. And yet, having that as a goal leads one to certain “failure.” It breeds the avoidance behaviors that you exhibit. It’s an all-or-nothing proposition, with “nothing” being the most likely and easy outcome. By opting for “nothing” instead of doing the hard work and opting for “not the best,” you are able to convince yourself that you nonetheless are still that unrecognized genius who simply didn’t get around to creating that acknowledged masterpiece.

Recognize that you, as a student, are enrolled BECAUSE you are there to learn and to grow in your skills. You don’t have the knowledge or skills at this point to be perfect. And here’s the kicker: None of us do or are! Perfect just does not exist. So don’t worry about it anymore. And like me, like everyone else in Northfield, and like all the people in the rest of the world, you never, never will reach perfection – academically or personally.

Break down your various tasks into little pieces. Write down a list of “to-dos,” crossing them off each time one is accomplished. By doing this, you are able to see your progress and to feel good about yourself. It builds up your self-esteem and makes you feel worthy – which you are. Lists also make goals more attainable and harder to avoid. They are right there to look at and to remind you what you haven’t done. As one English prof told me as I stood in his office in Laird, a paper is just AN EXERCISE. It’s a writing exercise that explores ideas and possible solutions. Exercising at the Rec Center is not an act of perfection either – it’s just exercise. O.K.?

6

You’ve gotten good advice. All 3 paragraphs are similar and a bit too much. If you are in fact trying to explain why you did not respond when you were initially contacted, I would fess, but mention how your anxiety prevented you from facing difficult situations. I would certainly also mention getting the ADHD diagnosis, and say that while it explained a number of problems you had been facing, the timing exacerbated your anxiety. I would then move on to how you hope to deal with both issues to enable you to finish strong at the school. Best of luck.

7

You are saying

  1. I didn’t do the requirements
  2. I didn’t tell anyone I wasn’t going to do the req.
  3. I didn’t ask for help or extensions

I would kick you out too. What exactly is your plan for completing?

Here is a post that I saw on this topic from someone who is on a committee that review these letters:

My 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)

8

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