please help-academic probation/withdrawal

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
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<p>I'm not sure how many Cornell students still check this forum, but i desperately need help. I'm on academic probation now and because I have a registration hold from last spring due to a past bursar balance, I couldn't register for fall classes and missed the add deadline and withdrawal seem inevitable at this point.</p>

<p>I bombed last semester (3 As, 3Fs) due to severe mental health issues and instability caused by a number of factors, bringing my GPA down from 3.6+ to 2.9 in a hard sciences major. I stopped going to classes during the middle of the semester, and unsuccessfully tried to communicate my health issues with Gannett (so I did try to get help) when I stopped going to classes, but there was no followthrough with CAPS/therapy from the center. </p>

<p>My mental state mainly deteriorated due to financial reasons--I'm an international student that didn't get any aid since coming to Cornell, but have persistently tried adjusting my eligibility status for FA and succeeded this past August, so now I'm a permanent resident. So I filled out the FAFSA for 2012-2013 aid and should be hearing back about my 2012-2013 aid package very soon. </p>

<p>I can't take out private loans because my parents have bad credit, and I have no one else willing to cosign for me--I have no other family in the States, and I'm a first-generation college student with almost no network to draw cosigners from. Paying even tuition here has been a crushing burden--my family lives off of a <$40K annual income, and almost all of that money has gone towards paying for my first two years at Cornell. That is why I have had a past due balance (usually not more than 5-8K) last year and had to work myself out of a registration hold every semester (because I was at least allowed to register during pre-enroll before the hold took effect). I have repeatedly begged the bursar for a semester deferment on my past due balance so I have a little more ime to pay it off, but the office has been unmerciful and of the attitude "don't let the door hit you on your way out." </p>

<p>After getting placed on probation, I have also pleaded with my college registrar for leniency this semester and a chance to redeem my academic performance through late registration. They have been resistant so far, suggesting that there are "other universities out there for me." I was planning on taking only 12 credits this semester (as opposed to my regular load of 20) to do some GPA repair and show the school that I'm serious about getting back on track. My paren't are bled dry and need a little more time to scrounge up the money to pay off the last of my past due, but the registrar is unrelenting. Only a notice from the bursar asking for a extension on late registration would let the registrar reconsider the withdrawal, and even then I would need to petition to add the classes I need for fall (i've been regularly attending and handing in work). I'm meeting with the bursar tomorrow to see if I can get a week extension on repaying my balance and have them write something favorable to the registrar, but I have little hope of this based on the consistently caustic, unmerciful attitude of the bursar reps I've tried to negotiate with.</p>

<p>The kicker though is that even if I am withdrawn/forced to take a leave, I would still have to pay tuition, room and board for fall 2012 without being able to be on campus. I still would fight to stay, but charging for a term that I can't even participate in AND informing me of this four weeks into the semester is ridiculous.</p>

<p>I'm just stunned by the registrar's lack of understanding and willingness to watch me flounder. Even if I do leave Cornell, what other school of a similar caliber would take me with 3 Fs from my most recent term? My family's already put $60,000 towards my education from their saving and most of their income and I will not see it go up in flames because of one bad semester, and being expected to pay for a semester without attending is ridiculous. That's why, for me, the best option is to continue with Fall 2012, ace my classes, and get off of academic probation so I can be a decent student again.</p>

<p>Sorry for the long post--my situation is very complicated and right now I'm between a very large rock and a very hard place, and I need not only any advice you CC'ers can share, but also your support. Yes, I have so little support in this fight that I have to turn to an internet messageboard for reassurance. Cornell is my life and I want to take it back.</p>

<p>Thanks for reading.</p>

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<p>I’m not sure what else you can do beyond what you’ve already done. Really tough break. I would immediately talk to every administrator who can see you: from the bursar, to the registrar, to your college’s advising dean, your advisor, as well as making sure you take care of your mental health and regularly go to Gannett/CAPS. And with all those people who I listed, make sure you ask them if there is anyone else you can see to offer assistance. If none of this works out, you probably want to start planning how you can return to Cornell if indeed you are out of luck this semester/year. There is certainly nothing wrong with taking some time off and returning later, especially when your financial status is more settled.</p>

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<p>Seems like you need to find someone to advocate for you. Your advisor perhaps?</p>

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<p>And you definitely need to be proactive; starting today if at all possible. E-mail/go to the offices of all the people I mentioned today, not tomorrow or next week. This really needs to be your #1 priority over anything else.</p>

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<p>Thanks for all you advice. I’ve met with both the bursar and registrar and they gave me an extension to get my payments in before the start of october; I won’t be withdrawn(for at least the next week), but my next hurdle is successfully petition to late register. My parents are also scrounging up the last 7-8K to pay off my past due tuition so hopefully I can gather enough funds by the end of next week. I’m also meeting with the dean (we’re pretty friendly and I got work wither her on a few projects last year) to see if she could be an advocate for me. My advisor is useless because he is never around and has not once contacted me back even after I requested to meet with him to talk about my difficulties at the end of last semester.</p>

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<p>Contact a local or state congressman or senate. Speak to his/her staff. Explain your situation, they might actually be able to help. I knew of a girl in a similar situation. Ended getting what she needed. Probably your best shot</p>

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<p>I tried sending you a PM because I’m wary of revealing too much about myself on a public forum, but unfortunately don’t meet the minimum post requirement to do so. However, I can tell you that I went through a situation that has quite a bit in common with yours, and that meeting my advising dean was the best thing I did. I had so many trepidations beforehand, but she turned out to be nothing but kind and understanding, and full of sound advice (plus, she was in a position to pull some strings, such as speeding up the process of releasing me from a bursar hold). I hope you will find yours similarly helpful. Feel free to express your concerns to her as fully as you need to.</p>

<p>You could also try seeing a different counselor at Gannett. I requested a switch at some point, and found the second one to be a better fit.</p>