<p>Dear Admissions Committee, </p>
<pre><code>I respectfully request to appeal my application rejection to the University of California, Santa Cruz. My name is (insert name here) and I’m currently a high school senior at (insert school name here). I applied to UC Santa Cruz for the Fall 2014 term in November, 2013 and after 3 long months, on March 15th, 2014, I received your disheartening response. My rejection letter from UC Santa Cruz was extremely disappointing but it was not surprising. I realize in my personal statement that when I spoke of my father and his terminal cancer, I failed to write about the impact his illness had on me personally. If you take into consideration the trials and tribulations that I have overcome in my young life, you would understand that I have much more to offer. I know that my academics appear subpar compared to the thousands of other applicants, but I believe that I am still a strong candidate.
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<p>From the beginning of my freshmen year, my family life wasn’t stable but it took its biggest toll during my sophomore year. I had family obligations that that took precedent over my schooling. I struggled to balance my overwhelming familial tragedies with my education and my grades suffered. Within a three year time span, my grandfather, father and uncle passed away from illness and cancer. I became emotionally unstable which made it difficult to concentrate in school. Overwhelmed with my home life, I took less rigorous classes but still managed to challenge myself with two science classes which I have earned B grades. As the years passed and I was able to heal, I realized the importance of having good grades and the sacrifices I would have to make to achieve them. </p>
<p>I began to focus more on my school work and put more effort into my assignments. I was motivated to sign up for more challenging classes by taking two AP classes which I've earned B+ grades in both. My senior classes are British Literature, Precalculus, AP Psychology, AP Microeconomics, and Art II. My hard work paid off and my grades have steadily improved. Compared to my freshmen year, receiving a 2.9 semester GPA, I have improved greatly to a 3.6 semester GPA my senior year. I know that I can continue to do better which will be beneficial, not only to me, but also to your university. </p>
<p>I found that within the past few years that when I push myself, I can achieve great things. I know I can excel in the competitive environment in UCSC and bring more success. I know that UC Santa Cruz offers courses that will meet this challenge and I will not only receive a good education but also continue to push myself to achieve higher goals. A good education is the key to success, and I believe that, through UC Santa Cruz, I will be able to have many great opportunities in my future. Please consider the catastrophic hardships I have faced in my younger high school years and how I have been able to overcome them. I have improved over a short time proving that I have the potential and the drive to achieve anything I put my mind to; there is no stopping my determination to be the best that I can be. I do hope that you are able to reconsider my application because it would be an honor to attend your university.</p>