Appeal Request

Good evening,

I’m a transfer student attempting to appeal my admission decision. I’m hoping somebody might take a glance at my letter and offer me some last minute feedback before I submit all my documentation.


May 14th, 2020

Office of Undergraduate Admissions
University of California, Irvine
260 Aldrich Hall
Irvine, CA 92697-1075

To whom it may concern:

Growing up in the state of California, I hold the University of California, Irvine in the highest regard as a tier one research institution. It is with the utmost respect that I write this letter in the hopes of appealing my transfer admission decision by providing additional information regarding my service-connected disabilities.

I’m a 90% disabled veteran. After graduating high school, my family could not afford to send me to a university. Instead, I enlisted as active duty within the United States Marine Corps so that one day, I’d be able to pay for a university degree myself. During active duty, I developed a service-connected, generalized anxiety disorder, as well as a wide range of painful nerve issues in my back due to a traumatic event. Since then, it has been an uphill battle as I continue to receive treatment from the Department of Veteran Affairs while continuing my education.

After sustaining these injuries, I feared for my future. It was apparent that they were academically taxing for me; they required me to plan my schedule around appointments, as well as manage discomfort in class and while studying. In the past, I’ve been forced to withdraw from courses to accommodate my treatment schedule. I don’t enjoy sharing these details; being only 27, I’m embarrassed how much this affects my daily life. Higher education has always been important to me, more so now than ever before because I felt as if it was being jeopardized. I made the decision that I wouldn’t let this stop me from completing my degree.

As I’m nearing the completion of my junior standing, I’ve largely completed the most academically demanding courses available to me at my California community college. It has been one of my highest aspirations as an undergraduate to not only complete my degree at the University of California, Irvine but to contribute to the campus through Irvine’s undergraduate research opportunities program. I’ve always been interested in machine learning research and I feel as if it’s a rare opportunity that many current students never take advantage of.

I write this letter knowing full well that a favorable decision seems unlikely at best. Even so, this is likely my last opportunity to transfer and I could not be content with myself without first exhausting all avenues of possibility. Despite my hardships and obstacles, I remain confident that my studies, as well as my unique life experiences, have resolutely prepared me to succeed in my higher division coursework. I look forward to an opportunity to contribute to your institution’s long and growing history. I humbly appreciate both your time and consideration. Thank you.

Sincerely,

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