To whom it may concern,
Recently I received a disapproval letter regarding my financial aid. I am well informed of the low grades I’ve received during the fall semester of 2015. I take on the full responsibility for my failing grades. (ENG 091 – Preparatory Academic Writing III, Grade: “W” MAT 082- Basic Arithmetic, Grade: “F”) Therefore, I am writing this appeal letter to explain why I fell so behind as well as asking for your consideration for reinstating me in the fall semester.
During the fall semester of 2015 I was involved in a car accident on October 8th. This had added much stress to my already busy schedule. Trying to juggle work, school and then my injuries were very difficult for me. During this time I had just moved into an apartment, so I was working 40+ hours to afford my bills. If I were to work less than forty hours a week most of my bills would have not been paid. Getting into that a car accident threw me right off track. I injured my knees and had back pains, which led me to have to go to a chiropractor. I had also lost my car in the process of getting a lawyer. I want to prove to financial aid that I can succeed with passing grades. I want to show you my determination this fall semester to get to where I want to be with a degree and not receive failing grades.
Briefly tell what happened to impact your grades. In your case you can say that you understand now that working 40 hours is too much while attending school. And also that you were in a car accident. You do not have to go on and on.
State what you have ALREADY done to correct the situation that caused your grades to be poor.
State what you will continue to do if you are able to return to school.
I mean this in the nicest possible way: are you sure you are ready for community college? I looked the math class up, and your final exam includes such questions as, “1. Write the word name for the number 9,501,348,012.” and “. Cory bought 4 boxes of chocolate. There were 24 pieces of chocolate per box. How many pieces of
chocolate did he buy?”
Again, in the nicest possible way, this is beyond remedial math. This is something students are typically doing by fourth grade. It sounds like you cannot afford community college, and are not ready for it. Are there any education outreach programs you can attend? Many towns have food banks and other service centers where they also offer very basic literacy and math/finance classes. I would recommend you continue working, learn through the free or less costly programs available to you, and pursue a degree later on when you are prepared for it.
Thank you for that, I know that I blab and it carry’s on I need to work on that. I will follow those steps. Courtney by the way not everyone is fast learning in any subject just because they may have taught that in the “4th grade” doesn’t mean they know It off the top of they’re heads. I’m slow in learning and I sure am not ashamed who knows. You don’t know my reasons for failing or dropping those classes. I have my life problems I’m dealing with/ but you don’t know if I’m ready or not.
I agree with @thumper1, working 40 hours doesn’t work when going to school. It’s too much and, as you’ve found, your grades will tank.
What typically happens is that the university allows you to stay on campus, to prove yourself, without any aid, by seeing how you increase your grades for a year (or semester). You have to show them what you can do. Then you can reapply for financial aid.
I also agree with @CourtneyThurston, if you are struggling now, with basic coursework, the university workload only will get more intense. She’s not trying to hurt your feelings or denigrate you, she’s asking kindly if maybe you need more help. Your appeal should discuss getting tutoring/academic help from the student help center.
If you really are appealing, and the FA committee looks at your level of coursework, they are going to wonder whether they should continue to fund you. As the workload gets harder, grades are impacted and the university then wonders if you can do any of the academic work.
If this is a community college, they will keep you on, but if you are at a university, they can deny further admission if you can’t make basic coursework.
@nainai100
Focus on what you did wrong, what legitimately caused you issues, and how you will change.
Work and the chiropractor: Not legit issues because you still plan to work (I’m guessing) and the chiropractor wouldn’t have been more than a couple hours a week.
Car: can’t really be an excuse if you were managing to get to work and the chiropractor
Does the W mean you withdrew yourself from that class? Was there an option for you to withdraw from both your classes due to medical issues? If so then maybe you have done that and it would be something to mention in your letter. (“I realize now I should have…”) Were you physically unable to do classwork? Did you contact your teachers at the time? Did you contact anyone at the school about the best way to maintain your FA eligibility at the time?
Tell them how this next semester will be different, and what you plan to do differently. Show them you have plans and not just explanations and excuses.
Well you have a point there I wasn’t trying to be rude or mean I just felt like I was being attacked it came off as don’t tell me about my life problems but I understand what everyone is saying and appreciate the feed back
The importance of this is that you show that you have learned from your mistakes. Don’t rely on empathy. Instead, rely on facts and the truth. This is what you want, so make sure that your letter lets the dean know that you are willing to work harder than anybody to get that second chance. Don’t write ‘to whom this may concern’. Find out who you are writing this to and write their name ‘Dear Dean xxx’ Also, know your limits and always have a backup plan. Most professors are willing to hear you out. Don’t think the professors will follow up with you, because most likely the professors have hundreds of students and doesn’t have the time to get to know you on that level unless you go to their office hours and get to know them. Don’t give up. Also, there are closed discussion boards about appeal letters on this website. It has other people’s sample appeal letters and comments with people’s feedback that you can look at. It’s very helpful.