Unfortunately I received an email saying i have been dismissed from university due to my low GPA. I’m really embarassed but I’m choosing to appeal. Could anyone give me some comments on the rough draft of my letter? I replaced the name of the university with “(__)” because I’m not sure if naming it is allowing on these forums.
To whom it may concern, Academic Standing and Readmissions Committee,
I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to appeal my academic dismissal from the (__). As any student would be, I am shocked and fearful to hear that I have been dismissed from the university. However, I’ve expected such a consequence considering my poor academic performance. It is not my intention to blame my household responsibilities, and sluggishness to adapt to college workload. These factors as well as others did affect my grades, but I am compelled to overcome such obstacles next semester. For the remainder of this appeal I will be explaining the circumstances that resulted in my low GPA, and establishing my plan to make a complete turn around.
I am enrolled in the (__) as a mechanical engineering major. I chose to pursue this profession because of my interest in the subject despite knowing the amount of workload the program entails. I thought I could handle the workload. I was wrong. I was extremely slow to transition to the fast pace of college work. On top of that, outside of school I was responsible for the care of my little brother as my mother would work during the day. This would include driving him to and from school on the weekdays, feeding him, making sure he does his school work, etc. Simply, I was not able to manage my time wisely. On top of this, I made the poor decision to join the Men’s Lacrosse Club at the university. I say this is a poor decision because I could not handle my responsibilities as a college student and a brother, but I decided to join a sports team. This is a decision I painfully regret.
I attended every class and only missed sessions due to extenuating circumstances such as snow. I communicated with my professors during such weather conditions and any other reasons why I would have to miss a class session. Even though I was attentive in class, I did not complete homework assignments on time. I should have informed my professors of any trouble I had completing assignments. I also did not make use of the Center for Student Success despite being enrolled in UNIV2201, Strategies for Success.
If I am reinstated to the (__) I will do everything in my power to put myself in good academic standing for the remainder of my college education. To better my GPA and make a complete academic turnaround, I am going to make use of the (__) resources. It is to my understanding that every staff member at this university is looking for a student to succeed. I will make use of the CSS, tutoring services, and communicate with professors often. I will also make use of an academic planner and scheduling apps. This is almost crucial to submit work on time and stay organized, which I am now realizing in summer classes. I will keep in touch with my academic advisors to make sure I’m on the right path to improving my GPA and completing the required classes to graduate. My father’s work schedule has changed and he is now able to stay at home and take care of my sibling for a majority of the day. In addition, I will remove other non-academic duties and distractions such as the club lacrosse team. I attend college to receive an education and degree, not to play a club sport.
If reinstated to the university, I will be focused completely on academics as attaining a college degree is extremely important to me.
Currently I am enrolled in two summer courses for the first summer session. EASC1101 and EASC1112 are said to be the hardest classes of freshman year engineering. I am doing well in both classes despite the classes being accelerated. I want to do everything I can to prove to be the amazing student I know I can be. Attending college and graduating is indescribably important to me as I would be the first one to do so in my family. I also willing to appeal in-person if possible or necessary. Again, I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to appeal my dismissal from this great university. I truly love the atmosphere and staff members here.
Tis the season for the academic appeal letters!!!
These always ring hollow to me. One is always put on notice that one’s performance is sub-par and continuing to do so will result in dismissal. Why did you not put forth all these corrective actions last term? Especially if you say it is "indescribably important " to you?
Why didn’t your father change his work schedule last term? Can it be changed back, requiring you to take on those family responsibilities that you claim were at least partly to blame?
Time management is one of the biggest and most important skills that one needs to succeed in college. Cutting back on everything but your classes is not really “time management”. You can still get into trouble with nothing but classes on your plate. I actually did better in college when I was really busy because it forced me to be more active in managing my time.
If you get another chance, be sure to complete your homework assignments on time. Skills honed in the homework make the next lecture easier to understand. It is a fast downward spiral not completing your homework assignments on time.
I do hope that they give you another chance and that you will truly make good use of it.
It contains the right information (why you did poorly, what you will do to improve) but it is too lengthy.
Also, most students are put on probation for a semester before being dismissed. Were you on probation and if so, why didn’t that warning cause you to make the changes you now say you will make?
Hey! I’m currently in the same boat as you and this forum has been INCREDIBLY helpful at helping me with my appeal letter. First draft (written directly after receiving my email) compared to the last draft a week later was remarkable.
To shorten your appeal there are definitely superfluous words you can remove throughout. Also consider removing or relocating: “It is not my intention to blame my household responsibilities, and sluggishness to adapt to college workload. These factors as well as others did affect my grades, but I am compelled to overcome such obstacles next semester.” I think it’s coming on too strong for your opening paragraph, which should be just short and cursory. Wait until the body to start delving into the heart of the matter.
Your content is good, just expand your plans for remediation if reinstated rather than everything that went wrong. Focusing too much on what you DID do rather than what you WILL do doesn’t make a strong case for why they should readmit. Try and stick to an organized letter format as well: 1.) Show you understand what went wrong 2. Take responsibility for your academic failures 3. Clearly state plans for future academic success and what steps you’ve already taken to move forward 4. Always be honest with yourself and the committee.
Also, “I truly love the atmosphere and staff members here,” needs to be removed or moved a few sentences earlier because you want to end your appeal on a thank you, not a weird floating sentence. If your school doesn’t need LoR like mine to support an appeal then this letter is LITERALLY your last chance at readmission to your current college, so use it wisely.
Best of luck!! I really hope everything works out okay
My son is going through this right now and in looking at the options available to him we have decided that an appeal is not the right approach. This may be situational and school dependent but I think a successful appeal, at least in his case, may do more harm than good.
His University will admit him back after a year with or without attending another school, subject to an interview. Should he appeal and be successful in the appeal he is on probation and has one semester to achieve the needed GPA to remain in school, the same can be said if he does decide to just take the year off. Our option is to enroll in community college for the year.
If he enrolls in CC he will be admitted back into the University provided he achieves a 2.5 gpa in his CC courses. He would still come back in on probation next year but he will have significantly increased his overall gpa, making the one semester recovery much easier and getting him on firm footing in a smaller, less competitive environment, along with the confidence and study habits that will also be developed, not to mention a huge price savings.
He is able to take classes at the CC that will all fulfill GE requirements at the university thus keeping to a 4 year graduation track. There is a CC that is the same distance from his apartment as the university campus and also uses some of the university buildings to hold classes. To anyone outside of a few people no one will even know he had to go this route and we think it gives him the best chance of long term success.
@iaparent I’m very glad your son is doing better now. He made the right decision it seems. No offense though, but we don’t know what school OP goes to or if his university even has the same terms and conditions as your son’s, so you telling us his entire story really doesn’t help OP.
If his school includes permanent separation in their dismissals then he won’t be allowed to come back like your son. OP would need to appeal, even if he doesn’t want to come back next year and would prefer to take 1-2 semesters off.
OP I suggest looking into other options your university has and emailing your academic advisors to help you plan if you don’t get readmitted.
Good luck!
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:
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.
- 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,
- 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.
I think your letter hits all of these. I like the specific reference to resources your college has.
I would remove “shocked” from your introductory sentence. You had to have an inkling this could be coming.