Please review my Academic Dismissal Appeal letter

College Essays
1

January 10th, 2016

_______school
Committee on Academic Standing
Address

To the Committee on Academic Standing,

I’d first like to thank you for this opportunity to be heard in regards to my dismissal from ___, I’m grateful to be given a chance to appeal and plead my case. Even with the support from all of my professors as well as my advisors, I was not able to maintain my grades to the standard that both the Institute, and I, would have liked.
I have always held myself to a certain standard of performance and this past semester does not reflect that. I hold myself accountable for this, I understand now that there were many instances along the way in which I should have tried harder or acted differently. For example, I should have addressed my health issues at a much earlier time, perhaps then they would not have had as negative of an effect on my performance as they did. I believe that my academic performance and my sleeping issues were directly related, although I do admit that they were not the sole problem regarding my low grades. However due to these issues, most frequently insomnia, I would often have problems waking up in time for my classes which resulted in tardies and sometimes unexcused absences which affected me in terms of scheduling for assignments as well as keeping up with class material. I found myself in a negative cycle of staying up late, sleeping in late, and having no time or motivation to do my given assignments. I spoke to all of my teachers about this matter, yet despite their advice and guidance, I was not able to finish this semester with passing grades. Mental and physical health problems aside, there were other factors in my low GPA. My time management skills, my organizational skills, and the ways in which I studied and completed my assignments were all reasons why I wasn’t successful.
Due to my insurance, I was not able to receive any form of medication or prescription when I was in New York. However, I visited a doctor’s office as soon as I came back home this winter break and received the proper treatment as well as medication and I believe I am on a steady ground to start again. In terms of time management as well as organizational skills, I am fully committed to keeping a set schedule with class projects as well as homework so that I will no longer be behind in my classes. I understand my current GPA is not under the standards has set. To fix this problem, I am preparing to take summer courses to raise my grades and do anything necessary to become the student you deserve.
Thank you for offering a second chance as well as taking the time to consider my request. I apologize for not being able to come forth in person, however, I hope this letter describes my regret and my intentions to do well in the future if you allow me to do so. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Respectfully,

XXX
ID#000000

Enclosure:
Medical Documentation of mentioned health problems

2

Mention your plans if you succeed in appealing with an additional sentence on what classes you are interested in or what you intend to be your field of study. Mention your plan if your appeal doesn’t go through. Try to get to more specifics in the letter like make the sentences more simple try not have so many complex sentences it just makes your points more clearer to the comittee.

3

@robtherabbit - I have sat on a college committee that reviews appeals like this and I would like to point out a few weaknesses in your appeal. Overall, it is disorganized. I strongly suggest you identify your health problem first: describe it briefly and then describe specifically the step(s) you have taken to remedy the problem. Note that you are enclosing documentation. Then go on and talk about problems you’ve had with time management and organization. If you can find such courses or programs at your school, identify a time management class you will take to work on your skills. Lacking a class, find a book on time management, read it, and the tell the committee about it. Your goal is to identify problems specifically and then identify serious, specific steps taken to address them. Finally, recognize the academic gap this semester’s performance left in your record and identify with some specificity your summer course plans to remedy the gap. It would probably not hurt to wrap the letter with a paragraph describing past academic successes and some clear academic goals for the future. You need a stronger letter to succeed in your appeal, in my opinion. Good luck to you!