Dealing with Academic Probation.

Applying to College
1

<p>Hi, I'm a sophmore entering my second year at UC Irvine. I'm currently studying as a Comp Sci Engineering major. My third quarter of last year wasn't that great so I'm now on academic probation. Right now my GPA is at 1.597 and I'm presented with the choices of an exit contract (change of major, and leave of engineering school) or the choice to appeal in order to stick with my major. I don't know why I wasn't given the option of a continuation contract (a contract signed promising to have better progress for the next quarter). So I've decided to appeal. Unless someone can explain to me why I didn't get the continuation option. </p>

<p>So I'm planning to do the appeal and wanted to ask for advice. Basically if I appeal I have to send a letter that includes "any obstacles that impacted your ability to perform, how you are resolving these issues to ensure future success and why you wish to remain in engineering." </p>

<p>The only obstacles I had that impacted my ability to perform are the fact that my roommate and I didn't really get along, I got sidetracked by others often, and in my 3rd quarter I didn't really go to class. In order to resolve these issues I'm now living on my own for the next year, since I get distracted easily by others, and to prevent any possible spats with new roommates (since it's all random). Furthermore in order to ensure I go to class properly, I'm living with family. Last of all too, in order to make sure I won't get sidetracked I left my video games behind with my immediate family. My reason for desiring to remain in the engineering school is because it seems like the closest subject that can give flexibility to what I like to do. I like to draw in my spare time so I was hoping that I could learn graphics from CSE and be able to not only create them, but apply them too through coding/programming. Therefore I can learn how to fully make programs using my graphics and create hardware along with those programs etc.</p>

<p>That is basically all I have to say for my letter, I'm sure I'm not missing anything else. So I was wondering if that information was enough to possibly be able to appeal back into my school, since there aren't really any other majors besides CSE that interest me? (CSE has a graphics track way later on.) Any advice is greatly appreciated. I might repost again in the morning since this was posted so late.</p>

2

<p>You probably didn’t get a continuation contract offered because you’d need to get a 3.1 next term in order to bring your cumulative GPA above the probation bar.</p>

<p>Anyway. Normally I’d say that “I got distracted by other students and I didn’t go to class” isn’t a very good reason to appeal, but you seem to have taken serious action to remedy those things, and you actually have a clear reason why you want to be in engineering. Because of those things, I’d say you have a chance here.</p>

<p>I’d advise going into pretty decent detail on how getting distracted made you get so many Ds and Fs, and why that can’t happen when you’re living with family. Without further explanation, that sounds more than a little bit like “I wanted to party with my bros so I didn’t do my work lol”.</p>

3

<p>Hmmm thanks for the advice/reassurance! And I didn’t party/hang with others really. My roommate brought people over from time to time so it was a little to focus on studying since they always insisted to hang out and such. Therefore it wa a little hard to get quiet time.</p>

4

<p>Why didn’t you go study in a library, if the problem was just that you couldn’t get quiet time. (I’m not trying to be combative, just stepping you through information you’ll want to include.)</p>

5

<p>Thanks so much for covering all of these possible points with me. It means a lot :)</p>

<p>I did study in the library sometimes but it was a bit inconvenient (did that during the second quarter) since all of my resources were in my room, and 95% of the time my work involved the use of my computer in order to turn in assignments etc. I could’ve told my roommate’s friends to leave but I didn’t want to create any more bad blood between us since he was a bit critical, to the point where I found out he was talking behind my back and saying dishonest things.</p>

6

<p>Here’s my appeal letter. I was wondering if anyone could give me some feedback. The appeal letter asked for me to address any obstacles that impacted my ability to perform, how I’m resolving these issues to ensure future success and why I wish to remain in engineering. </p>

<p>I’ve taken many measures after discussing with my parents how I want to improve, and I have a strong reason as to why I wish to remain as an engineer and why I’d like a second chance to show UCI what I can do, but I feel like the reasons that led me here aren’t that effective, especially if the cause matters a lot, instead of what I’m planning what to do about it and what I’m going to do to show them my potential.</p>

<p>Dear ________,</p>

<pre><code>I’ve written this letter in order to appeal my subjection to disqualification from The Henry Samueli School of Engineering in order to remain as a Computer Science and Engineering major.
Throughout the majority of my first year, my roommate and I didn’t get along very well, causing a silent feud between the two of us. He often insulted me behind my back and brought people to the room often, making it difficult to study in the dorm room, where it was the most comfortable place for me to work. I wanted to say something, but due to how critical things were at the time, I was afraid of making things more troublesome between us. I tried studying in the library, but it was a nuisance going back and forth when I needed things besides my laptop. Finally the fact that I primarily focused on trying to clear my required classes and only taking one G.E. course in the second quarter didn’t help either.

In order to resolve these issues I am living with family in order to avoid distractions from classmates, and to avoid any possible future situations with a new roommate. This is also to ensure that I’m going to class properly, and I’m planning on keeping my family updated with my progress and status in order to ensure I am following through my studies properly without any issues. I’ve also abandoned video games and have left them all at home, to ensure that I stay focused on my education and not get distracted by recreation. In terms of course work I plan to enroll in a larger amount of G.E.’s so they can help me raise my GPA and allow me to have a little breathing room on my subjects, instead having to think about math and programming all the time. Last but not least, in order to help with any obstacles I face in my studies, I have a tutor to help me out when I need it.

My reason for desiring to continue as a Computer Science and Engineering major is because it’s the major that I feel can grant me the most flexibility to what I enjoy doing; digital art. I enjoy doing digital art in my spare time so I was hoping to learn graphics from the CSE course and be able to not only create them, but learn to apply them through coding/programming. Therefore I can learn how to fully make programs using my graphics and apply them in order to create programs. Furthermore, I’m always working with my computer, so I never really looked at any other majors as interesting. Looking at CSE I know the courses can help me solve what I really want to do with computers, since CSE can greatly expand my range of professional capabilities from just digital art to the ability of operating and creating all sorts of software and hardware.

In conclusion, with my arrangements to improve I hope to not only become a better student, but to learn how to be an independent adult as well. Therefore please consider my appeal for the subject of disqualification from The Henry Samueli School of Engineering and grant me the privilege of properly studying as a Computer Science and Engineering major.
</code></pre>

<p>Sincerely,</p>

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7

<p>I would go and get some help from a mental health professional. I don’t think we’re in a position to be qualified to help you out.</p>

8

<p>Just wanted some opinions but I figured it out on my own…thanks. I guess?</p>

9

<p>Did they accepted the appeal?</p>

10

<p>so what happened I would like to know… I might be appealing if i get disqualified to attend UCI in fall :(</p>

11

<p>The OP hasn’t posted in two years. Closing.</p>