<p>I transferred to my current school one year ago with 28 credits which my university considers freshman status. I have a memory disability that affects both my short term and long term memory(it is well documented and the academic support center has all the paperwork). It affects math and other quantitative classes the most because I forget formulas a day or two after learning them. I received a D in a math class that I took that first semester after transferring that I want to retake and receive freshman forgiveness for. My current gpa is an abysmal 2.7 and if I just retake the class and do well my gpa would shoot up to a 3.3. My academic adviser said that there is a small chance that they would allow it because transfers are not usually allowed to request freshman forgiveness. My entire gpa and internship/career prospects are riding on this one grade! Should I press my case and what is the best way to proceed?</p>
<p>I would ask your advisor what the process is for getting the grade replaced, and whether or not they have known any transfer students to successfully complete this in the past. Perhaps, you could ask who needs to approve it or the steps involved, and speak to those people to ask for advice (if that is possible).</p>
<p>Besides that, all you can do is try. If they approve it, great. If they don’t, life’s tough. Raise your GPA as much as you can, and then do your best to get experience that can outweigh a low GPA.</p>
<p>They denied the right to petition since im a transfer. I have made an appointment with the assistant director and am gathering support from my disabilities counselor and the professor that taught the class. I cant accept no for an answer it makes too much of a difference for my future. </p>
<p>You not being able to accept a no doesn’t mean they can’t give you a no. It’s never a bad idea to figure out a plan B. A sub 3.0 GPA will not doom you for the rest of your life, no matter what you think. It may take some extra work to demonstrate to future employers (by working your way up, by getting whatever work or internship experience you can, by volunteering or taking unpaid internships, by putting a good spin on all of the experience you do have) that you are more than your GPA, but your GPA will matter very little the further you get out of college and the more work experience you have. Good, relevant work experience (paid or unpaid) will trump a low GPA every time. If this wasn’t a major related class, you can also list a major GPA to demonstrate that this isn’t representative of your work or knowledge in your field. Employers are not going to hold one D your freshman year of college over your head for the rest of your life.</p>
<p>All you can do is keep doing what you’re doing. Document everything, make sure you have medical documentation from doctors, and just keep at it until someone lets you petition. They may say no every time. Even if you do petition, they may still reject it. All you can do is try, but be aware that no is a very viable answer. You’re just going to have to figure out how to deal with that. Also, be careful about burning any bridges as you go through this. You do not want anyone to think of you as a trouble student. I’m not saying they’re thinking that, but always be professional, polite, and courteous. You’re asking these people to make an exception, so don’t make it easy for them to say no.</p>