<p>I am now in the process of finalizing my applications for a MA. I want to send a letter explaining my poor performance in my previous studies. This is the letter I want to send:</p>
<p>"
Dear Admissions Committee:
Thank you for taking the time to review my application. I wanted to take this opportunity to address any questions you might have regarding my ability to graduate work. As you might be aware, I was academically dismissed from [redacted]s PhD program in the spring of 2013, after 4 semesters. This was because I was unable to maintain the required GPA for the program. I understand that my academic performance might rank poorly with some of the other candidates you are considering, and want to explain the circumstances under which I received my poor grades and what steps I have taken to be academically successful in the future.
I originally moved to the [redacted] due to a job in the manufacturing field. Early on, I realized that manufacturing was not right for me, and applied to economics programs in the area because I wanted to transition into that field. I was accepted into [redacted]s economics program in the Fall of 2013 and was excited to be able to pursue my dreams. However, my financial circumstances prevented me from quitting my job full time. At this point, I made a bad decision to pursue both work and graduate school at the same time, not understanding the level of commitment that would be required for both.
My financial situation was later further exacerbated by a fall and fracture to my ankle, which required surgery, recovery time and physical therapy. I did not have proper bone growth (union) in the injured region, and there was a long recovery process. A special bone growth stimulator needed to be ordered for proper recovery. My insurance company initially refused to pay for this machine. An extended appeals process took up a lot of my time and further distracted from my studies.<br>
As previously stated, due to my financial situation, I needed to work full time to support my studies. This usually involved working more than 50 hours a week. When I initially registered to take 18 credit hours of classes, I planned to work less hours to focus on my schoolwork. Because of cutbacks at my company, I could not choose to work less hours, as this would put my job in jeopardy. My medical situation also made me worried about losing my health insurance.
Going forward, I am now in a financial position where I can make academics the only priority in my life. In addition, I have recovered from my ankle injury, so this will no longer be an area of distraction for my life. I realize that I did not communicate my difficulties with my professors, which might have allowed me to modify my course load, and more effectively manage my time. I have learned from these mistakes and believe that today I am a better communicator and time manager.
I was able to take some non-degree courses at [redacted] over the fall of 2013. I hope my grades and recommendations can speak to my ability to do graduate level work. I also hope that I have been able to convey my excitement about the subject of economics through my Statement of Purpose.
I thank you again for your time and consideration</p>
<p>Sincerely,</p>
<p>[redacted]
"</p>
<p>My questions are:
1) Is sending such a letter recommended in the first place?
2) Is my letter good, or should I remove anything (I am concerned it might sound mopey). Is there anything I should add?</p>
No. Such information should be addressed in your SOP, and possibly in one or more letters of recommendation.</p>
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You spend too long on the issue, and do not phrase enough in terms of strength and improvement. They do not need the fine details early on, and are not likely to read something this long (and outside the requested documents) even if you sent it. You are a long shot anyway, given the proximity to those bad grades, but I would address it in a few sentences - you were briefly in XYZ PhD Program, were unable to advance due to overwork and a severe injury, have learned ABC and DEF and this will never happen again.</p>
<p>Thank you for your reply. I had originally planned to address the issue in my statement of purpose. However, another site ([stackexchnage.com](<a href=“http://academia.stackexchnage.com%5Dstackexchnage.com%5B/url%5D”>http://academia.stackexchnage.com)</a>) recommended that I not broach the subject in my SOP, as the purpose of the SOP is to demonstrate why the school and I are a good fit and is relatively short (250-500 words).</p>
<p>If I rad your comment correctly, you recommend that instead of sending this letter with my application, I should add a few sentences (a paragraph?) in my SOP, briefly explaining what happened?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>PS: I took graduate classes as a non-degree student this semester at the university I am applying to. I am getting my recommendations from the professors in these classes, so I hope their recommendations carry more weight for the selection committee.</p>
The SOP’s I had to write were in the 750-1000 word range, but check for your schools of interest. I would still try to avoid a separate document even if it is as short as you say, just because I do not think that it would be given much regard.</p>
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I would think of it less as explanation as acknowledgement and reassurance - they do not need details (and if they do, then they will ask), what they need to know is that you understand what happened and why, and they need to know that it was an isolated occurrence that will not repeat.</p>
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I hope you are not getting ALL your recommendations from them!! First, a PhD program is generally going to expect a letter from someone who has supervised you doing research, and without that you are already in a hole for admissions! Second, a LOR from someone otherwise qualified to comment but also familiar with your difficulties (and sympathetic) will go a long way towards getting you in. Without such a letter, all they have is someone saying “yeah, I failed, but I will TOTALLY make it work this time” which usually does not work out. With such a letter, there is a professor telling them “trust me, this guy is for real” and that goes a long way.</p>
<p>sorry, but I’m not too sympathetic to a broken ankle. Therefore, you should not dwell on it.</p>
<p>But, my question is how will you fund your MA at this new school? Your grades suffered since you had to work to pay the bills; how will school be any different? Yes, you say that your financial situation is different, but you might give an example of how: attending on full loans? won lottery? parents paying?</p>
<p>It is an application to a master’s program, as right now I don’t believe I am a good candidate for a PhD program.</p>
<p>I was not involved in any research during my 4 semesters in the PhD program (it was an Econ PhD program and most students in this program don’t start research until late into the 2nd or 3rd year). I tried getting recommendations from professors from the PhD program whose classes I did well in, but didn’t have any luck. I am not surprised since the professors didn’t really know me, except through my class attendance. I was not really part of the “community” there.</p>
<p>I have been working for 3 years and have enough money saved up to pay my way though a Master’s program. I should edit my letter/SOP to include this information.</p>
<p>Don’t include anything about your financial situation but if you plan on not working when you are in the MA program, do state this and identify it as one reason you expect to be successful this time.</p>
<p>I agree with bluebayou; I’d be curious about how you plan to fund the MA if not working full-time, since you attempted it before. I don’t think you necessarily need to address it in the SoP, but likely people will be curious.</p>
<p>But I would definitely, definitely ditch that letter. First of all, it makes it clear that you were not funded in your PhD program, which - especially in economics, a pretty lucrative and well-funded field - sends up a red flag for me. Second, I tilted my head at the fact that you thought you could work full-time and succeed in a PhD program. Thirdly, a broken ankle isn’t really a good excuse for not doing well in school…or rather, it doesn’t sound like a good excuse, and your explanation isn’t making it sound dire. Fourth, you share way, way too much personal and irrelevant information, which alone would make me not want to admit you.</p>
<p>Thanks for the input juilet. As you (and others) have suggested, I will get rid of the letter and just add a few sentences to my statement of purpose.</p>
<p>As I stated in my previous reply, I have saved enough money so that I can quit my job and go back to school full time for a Masters. I will state this as well, since you suggested that people might be curious.</p>
<p>As for the “medical issue”, I had a fracture (Weber C fracture), which needed surgery, which by itself is not all that serious. I had some other complications after the surgery (delayed union) which required 6 months of additional treatment. Besides the medical issue, I was fighting with the insurance company to pay for my treatment during this time. I believe these problems detracted from my schoolwork, so I bring them up.</p>