Feedback on College Appeal for Submission! Please help.

College Confidential Community
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<p>First note that I only fell slightly short of what would cause academic suspension, it is required a 2.0, and I finished this last semester with a 1.94. I do not know if this affects their decision or not. </p>

<p>Also everything in this letter is 100% true, even me opening a College Algebra book right before reading the email.
I took out all personal information, and I will mail in my copy of my grandfathers funeral itinerary from his funeral, or a copy. I would prefer to keep the original for my personal keepsake. </p>

<p>{My
home
Address}
Re: Appeal for Suspension</p>

<p>June 01, 2014</p>

<p>Missouri State University
College of Business
901 South National Avenue
Springfield, MO 65897</p>

<p>To whom it may concern:</p>

<pre><code>I am writing to appeal my academic suspension from Missouri State University. I was surprised and distraught after reading the email informing me of my suspension, and I would like to urge you to reconsider your decision upon my suspension.

In the previous two semesters my grades were not up to the standards of the university, or myself. I was under a great deal of stress throughout the year in regards to my family, and personal struggles. With a lack of credits from the previous semesters, I had been advocated by my family to add more credit hours to this semester of courses. I had been taking 17 credit hours, which was well above the 12-14 hour workload I had been used to. This amount of courses had proven to be too much for me, and throughout the semester I felt overwhelmed. I had been questioning the progress of my academic career, with little insight from my advisor, teachers, or other faculty my major and college education was in question. I did not know if the graphic design program was the right fit for me. I was unsure of where I should go during my college career, let alone where I would go after graduation. I questioned the seriousness of the faculty in the arts program, and because of this I did not take my own courses as serious as I should have.

Unfortunately on April 28th 2014 my grandfather, {My grandfathers name}, had passed away from a rare and new form of plasma cancer. It was the last phone call that I had made with him on April 21st that had a lasting emotional impression on me. This depression had a great effect on my focus in my classes during the last few weeks of the year. I had trouble focusing both in class, and at home on my last assignments before finals.

In my last week on campus in the spring of 2014, after having no luck contacting my own graphic design advisor, I made the decision to change my major to Marketing/Advertising. After meeting with my new advisor in Business, {My advisors name}, I had felt that the college of business would be a much more beneficial study course for me. After that meeting I had felt like I knew what was needed to be done during my last few years at Missouri State University, and also felt that I had more of an understanding of where I could go after graduation. I was very excited for the upcoming semester, and was putting in as much effort as I could to bring up my current GPA. Unfortunately some of my courses grades had been for the most part finalized but others I was still able to speak with my teachers and bring up my grades part of, or even a whole letter grade.

In the moments before reading the email regarding my suspension I had just opened a College Algebra book to begin studying for my upcoming semester. For the Fall 2014 semester I had planned on a smaller 14 credit hour schedule, and signed up for classes that interested me and would stimulate me mentally. I had great motivation to be a better student, and try to gain more from my classes than I had in the previous years. It is because of this change in my Major, and my personal change of attitude that I urge you to reconsider my suspension from Missouri State University. I fear that from taking a semester off of school I will lose momentum, and only hinder my future success at Missouri State University.

Please see that I had and do plan to change my focuses and attempt to make a better impact on my overall GPA and career at Missouri State University, and I thank you for considering this appeal.
</code></pre>

<p>Sincerely,</p>

<p>My name</p>

<p>(It's a page and a half in all typed times new roman size 12, single spaced. top and bottom margins 1", left and right 1.25")</p>

2

<p>My condolences for your loss; it can be a very difficult and stressful time for students to endure while completing their studies.</p>

<p>But in regards to your appeal, I have a few questions and suggestions:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>How many credit hours had been completed prior to you taking 17? What was your GPA prior to taking 17?</p></li>
<li><p>Did you feel you could bring your GPA up with the 17? Why? What was your progress until your family loss? If positive, get your professors to attest to it.</p></li>
<li><p>Your statement about “with little insight” places the burden of your academic motivation on the university faculty. Seriously, reword/rework this section; faculty/friends/family/classmates can’t provide insight to your career if you don’t seek it. You may have sought it, but it’s not coming off that way.</p></li>
<li><p>Your statement about “questioned the seriousness of the faculty” again shifts your commitment to learn to the burden of the university. The desire to learn and succeed has always been with the individual who wants to learn and succeed; schools provide the medium for individuals to explore their options and opportunities. Also, faculty ‘’seriousness” can make learning subjects difficult, but not undaunting. </p></li>
<li><p>If you have made attempts to contact your advisor(s), document the date, method of communication (emails, phone calls, etc), and result.</p></li>
<li><p>If you have a renewed focused to complete college at MSU, what is your planned major? Why do you want to pursue that course of action? Your plan and “future” commitment to the university needs to be specific and not just in generalities. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>These are my 2cents for a stronger letter to reconsider your academic suspension. </p>

3

<p>My number of credit hours before 17 was stated in the first body paragraph. It was 12-14, i took 12 then 14
My reason for taking 17 credit hours was also stated, it was because my parents had suggested it. This could be placing blame on my parents, but I in no way wanted to, or ever plan to take 17 credit hours again.
I tried to avoid naming my gpa at all during the letter, because after saying i had a 1.8 then a 1.94 I become a number during the rest of the letter, and my point may not be as strong.
I was not meaning to place blame on the faculty when i said “I questioned the seriousness of the faculty,” because directly after that I say “I did not take my courses as serious as I should have”. The overuse of the word I should be enough to clarify that it was a personal struggle and not the faculty. I may change this to say “I questioned my pursuit in the field of graphic design”
I had sent my advisor a multitude of emails, nearly every friday and monday for almost 2 months with no response. I had finally made two appointments that she did not show up for in the week before my major change.
My major change was to marketing/advertising. My entire last paragraph is talking about my new experience in the college of business, compared to the college of arts. Which is what fueled my new attitude towards becoming a better student.</p>