Hello, I hope you guys will forgive me. I’m new to this but, I need some advice. And I hope I don’t make it to confusing but, I’m really worried about my financial aid. I rely on it heavily and as a result have worked hard for the past 4 semesters to try and keep my grades up. Normally I get A’s and B’s but, this semester was way different and unusual. I wasn’t expecting it but I got diagnosed with an illness not long after the withdrawal deadline. And despite my best efforts my illness created alot of damage to my schooling. I did ask my teachers what I could do to fix things explaining my situation but only a couple of them where willing to help me. I’m now days away from the end of the semester I have my finals tests and then it will be the end. But, I’m scared. There’s two out of 4 of my classes that I’m really worried that I’m gonna fail in. And the thing is if I lose my financial aid I can’t go to school anymore. My family can’t afford to help me and I wouldn’t even want them to. I’ve been trying to pay for this myself. But, I don’t know what I’m gonna do if this goes south I don’t even know what will happen or what options I will have after this. Can anybody walk me through what could happen and maybe give me some advice for this situation? If so I’d be very grateful.
Hopefully, someone with more knowledge than me will offer more advice.
If I was in your position, I would not stop with asking my professors for help. I would have my doctor write a note explaining my medical condition and how it might have affected my ability to perform well at school. If they doctor won’t go so far as that, at a minimum, you can provide documentation that the medical situation did occur.
Just telling the professors verbally is not always enough. It’s better to provide documentation to support your claims, and hopefully to explain what happened.
Present the documentation to your professors. Present it to your advisor, and ask for advice on how to proceed. Present it to your financial aid representative.
If you’re a first gen student, it’s understandable that you might be lost in this situation. It can be hard when your family can’t offer any practical advice for handling all the confusing aspects of being in college. Kudos to you for reaching out here for assistance. Don’t give up.
Can you go to the Dean of students and find out what your options are?
@kelsmom ?
Many institutions permit a medical withdrawal. Go to your Dean’s office to discuss.
Get documentation of your medical issue ASAP. Then go see the Dean of Students.
- See if you can get a retroactive medical withdrawal from these courses....and inquire about a leave of absence for the remainder of the year.
- Find out if your scholarship will be held if you take this leave of absence.
- Also, find out if you in fact will even lose your aid if you fail these two courses. At some schools, you would be placed on academic probation first. Find out exactly what will happen.
- I don’t think it is ever too late to take a W from a course. At this point, it will appear on your transcript as a withdrawal, but that might be the better choice.
Most important…your health comes first. And that always will need to be the case.
What is the medical issue? Something that took two weeks from classes or an ongoing sort that affects your basic ability?
Most colleges have a definition of minimum academic performance, overall or for a semester, sometimes for aid, sometimes within a dept. They usually give a warning first.
Have you spoken with your advisor or any of the college folks in charge? Anyone in the FA dept?
I second trying for a medical withdrawal. If your school has an Ombudsman, schedule an appointment. Also, talk with a manager in the financial aid office to find out your best options from the standpoint of aid. Every school is different, so we have no way of knowing what might happen for you. It’s really important that you do all you can to find out your options & advocate for yourself.
The profs don’t know money and scholarships so it’s important to get beyond them to someone in financial aid or the dean’s office or the counselling office or whereever who knows about that next level of detail. Start talking now to have as much time as possible to complete paperwork, but be sure to get well too.