<p>As I posted in another recent thread, I'm looking to return to college in the near future. I will very likely be transferring to a new school, but there is one thing that I'm very worried about...</p>
<p>During my sophomore year, I had some serious personal issues which led to what I suppose one would call major depression, and I just couldn't function at all. I ended up withdrawing from all but one of my classes (before the deadline for withdrawals, so I wasn't penalized). But for some reason I didn't have the guts to explain my situation to my chemistry professor, and I simply just stopped showing up for class. It's hard to explain why in retrospect, but I just didn't feel comfortable talking to him about my personal life for some reason. So... I ended up getting a big fat "F" on my report card.</p>
<p>At the time, I really didn't care so much as other things were weighing heavily on my mind, and by the time I returned to school the next year I had kind of put it out of my head. I had intended to take the class over, which would override the "F" if I passed, but physical health issues during my senior year forced me to quit school again and I never made it back.</p>
<p>So now it's quite a few years later, and it's very unlikely I will have the chance to make up this class at the same school (I am likely going to be moving soon). And I have little doubt that this failing grade looks REALLY bad on my transcript, and any schools I apply to will look down on me for this.</p>
<p>As I did properly withdraw from all my other classes in a timely manner, and "withdrew" from this chemistry class at the same time (although in an improper manner), do you suppose there's any way they could somehow "forgive" me for this and count it as a regular withdrawal/incomplete instead of an "F"? </p>
<p>As I said, I had some major issues at the time which I felt very ashamed about, and it's still nothing I really like to talk about. I'm the last person on earth to seek the pity of others... I don't even like talking about it here, but I really need to find out what I can do to get rid of this awful blemish on my record.</p>
<p>All I can think of is that it's worth a shot to talk to someone at the school and explain my situation, but who would be the best person to talk to? The dean? The president? I really have no idea. The chemistry professor is still teaching there, but I don't know how much power he would have to change/vacate a grade several years after the fact. I know I should have tried to do something about this a long time ago, but the unfortunate fact is that I didn't...</p>
<p>For the record, I do have a respectable GPA (about 3.6), but it would obviously be higher without that failing grade!</p>
<p>As always, any input would be greatly appreciated.</p>