SDSU Appeal - Advice Wanted!

Colleges and Universities A-Z San Diego State University
1

Hi all! I was denied admission as a transfer for the Fall 2016 term, and am appealing now.
Background info: I graduated HS in 2015 with lots of AP credit, and was admitted as a freshman applicant to SDSU. I chose community college because of financial reasons. Because of my AP credit I only needed 2 semesters of CC before I could receive my AA-T in Communications. I applied to SDSU in the middle of my first semester at college with a 0.0 GPA (as it was my first semester I had no GPA to report). I then updated it to a 3.3 in spring on the supplemental. I am non-local but am in-state (located in Northern CA). After receiving my rejection I decided to appeal based on:

  • They did not consider my test scores (ACT-31 composite, SAT-1980 out of 2400) Which respectively were in the 93rd and 92nd percentiles. There wasn't a spot on the transfer application to report these scores that I saw.
  • My reported GPA only reported my first semester, during which I was taking 20 units
  • My grandfather, who I am close to, had a serious decline in health during the semester. This was stressful and I missed some school to visit him with my family.
  • My AP scores account for nearly half of the credit towards my degree and they did not see them (5's on Spanish Lang+Culture and U.S Gov, 4's on English Lang and English Lit., 3's on US History, Bio, and Calc. AB)

I have sent official scores for my ACT, SAT, and AP scores since, to be considered with my appeal, in addition to an official transcript from my CC.

My letter reads as follows:

Dear Admissions Committee,
I am writing in hopes to appeal my rejection for the Fall 2016 term. My initial application did not accurately reflect my qualifications to attend SDSU.
One of my proudest moments happened my senior year of high school, in 2015 . I was admitted to San Diego State as a freshman applicant, my dream school. Unfortunately, due to financial reasons, I instead chose to attend my local community college, with hopes of applying to SDSU as a transfer as soon as possible.
That moment came for me after just one semester at My Community College. I meticulously planned my courses for the Fall 2015 and Spring 2016 semesters, so that when combined with the 22 units I earned through AP Credit in high school, I could graduate with my A.A. for transfer in Communications.
However, the time to apply came in the middle of my first semester at college, consequently on my initial application I reported a 0.0 GPA. Though the supplemental application allowed me to update this information in the spring, my final reported GPA (3.30) nonetheless accounted for only one semester. Additionally, I had a large course load of 20 semester units.
I take complete responsibility for my GPA in this semester, and regret not being able to perform better. Various obstacles inhibited my ability to perform my best, and though ultimately my performance in school is my responsibility, I feel the committee should be aware of them. During the Fall 2015 semester, my grandfather on my mother’s side began seeing a serious decline in health due to Alzheimer’s. The stress of this, the school I missed in order to go visit him with my family, the inherent difficulties associated with moving from high school to college , and the fact that I was taking 20 semester units at once all prevented me from receiving better marks. Since that semester, I have better learned how to balance personal stresses and school and am doing much better this Spring semester.
The repercussions of that semester ended up being far reaching because as a transfer applicant, there was not a clear option for me to submit test scores for consideration. As I feel that my ACT (a composite score of 31) and SAT (a score of 1980) scores better reflect my successes and potential as a student, I have sent official score reports from both tests to the school. These scores respectively placed me in the 93rd and 92nd percentiles. Additionally, I have sent my official AP scores to SDSU (two 5’s, two 4’s and three 3’s), for which I was granted the AP Scholar with Distinction award. As per the directions for appealing an admissions decision, an official transcript from My Community College has also been sent, which should also verify the classes in which I am currently enrolled.
For me, SDSU is the perfect school. Not just because of its high academic regard, or beautiful location- though those are definitely factors. But more so because of the opportunities I know it will afford me, and the ties I have to it . Both of my paternal grandparents attended SDSU when they were young, and spoke fondly of their memories there. From my childhood to sparked my desire to attend. Then, my grandfather passed away in 2012 from complications related to his Alzheimer’s. I have always viewed SDSU as a way that I could stay connected to him. Additionally, my maternal grandparents live San Diego, and as I previously mentioned, my grandfather on this side suffers from Alzheimer’s. This makes being as close to them as possible is a priority for me. I can easily see a future for myself at SDSU, and hold no other university higher in my personal regard.
In short, I ask the committee to re-evaluate my admission decision in light of the circumstances surrounding my initial application and the supplemental scores I provided.
Thank you,
My Name

I would love some advice on how I can improve my letter, and any additional info I should provide to them! Thanks a bunch :slight_smile:

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SDSU, most UCs and most CSUs now do not accept lower division transfers. Some private schools do. This is why you were denied, in addition to not completing Golden 4 and pre-reqs for the major. The application and admission reqs are very different between freshman and transfer admissions. Best of luck though. AP units do not count for the 60 unit transfer req. http://arweb.sdsu.edu/es/admissions/transfers/index.html

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@ninlisteninglove According to this http://www.calstate.edu/acadaff/codedmemos/AA-2015-19.pdf, on the last page as a subnote it says these units (referring to the units assigned to each AP test) may count toward eligibility for admission, in addition to counselors at my CC assuring me AP credit would work for my 60 unit minimum. How do you know it doesn’t count?

Because if it did count, my golden four are met (3/4 were actually taken at my CC) and all my prereqs according to ASSIST.

I didn’t mean to come off rude, just trying to figure out everything :slight_smile: Thanks for your feedback!

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I was under the impression it didn’t since they’re allowed on top of your unit cap at the max end, 70 CC plus 24 UD plus AP. It’s a grey area but I’d trust the counselor over me if he said that. You may be okay to appeal then, but I’m assuming that is why you were denied in the first place. Best of luck :slight_smile: It’s worth a shot! Were the prereqs met in the supplemental app?

5

As to your original question, I think your letter is good. The only thing is your mentioning of extenuating circumstances for your Fall GPA being 0.0, but did you have a bad GPA or was it just 0.0 because you were in the middle of your semester and had no college level grades? If it was the latter, I’d maybe cut the circumstances part out just because it’s confusing/unclear if you actually had a decent GPA, but I don’t know the whole story/see what they see either :). Keep the part about WHY you want to go to SDSU (family history, etc).

I do think they look at SAT scores but you’re not required to submit them. There was definitely a box on the app fyi, because I reported my super old scores and they still show up in my Portal…there’s just a box that says Not Required after them. They have mine on file from freshman admission yeaaaars ago though, possibly. I was a Presidential Scholar with a full ride scholarship back then but went to a different four year after high school and then didn’t complete my thesis/had extenuating circumstances and applied to transfer to SDSU years later to finish/am at the max end/possibly a senior/who knows since I completed 3.5 years of undergrad already.

The point of my ramble here, is that I didn’t expect to be admitted based on the other side of the spectrum of your situation (too many units) and I wondered if my old file played some role in my admission even though it wasn’t supposed to. So, there’s always a chance :slight_smile: I wasn’t trying to come off as rude either, I tend to write very matter of fact unless I get personal, haha!

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You could cut the passive voice from your syntax too, if you wanted to get very technical.

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@ninlisteninglove thanks so much for all the good advice!! the appeal is all sent off now so fingers crossed :slight_smile: thanks for being so helpful!! as to the 0.0 GPa, yeah t was because I just didn’t have any college level classes yet. Thanks!!!

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Hey guys. I just got denied :frowning: let me know how the appeal goes, I am planning on appealing as well.

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@steph0123 absolutely! If you want any advice or help on yours you can PM me whenever :slight_smile: I should be hearing back about mine in 6-8 weeks lol. back to the waiting game

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Thanks @califorlife5 and best of luck!!!

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are you a freshman or a transfer? @steph0123

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As a transfer @hopefullySDSU

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I think your letter is too conversational, you need to keep it tight and short. You want to make your impression and your points and end it.

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Most transfers are required by most of the Cal States to have two years of actual college coursework.

AP coursework counts as credit or prerequisites for courses. My kids, their friends, and my former students have/had taken boatloads of AP classes at their high schools. Their colleges and universities have given/gave them elective credit. They had earlier registration times.

My dd’s friend had something like 18 AP courses. She couldn’t transfer out after a semester.

I don’t know of any students who were able to transfer after a semester. I also believe that this is why you were denied.

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Just an additional note: The majority of transfer students accepted at SDSU are local, so having CCC classes taken at the local SD CCC’s gives you a definite advantage. If you look through the Transfer decision threads for the past few years, you will see this is the case.

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@alexisNS thanks for the input. I turned my letter in last month unfortunately, so hopefully all turns out well regardless!

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@aunt bea I was able to apply my AP credit as courses for my CSU GE reqs for my ADT. My CC counted it as actual classes, and as I’m receiving my ADT, I was told I should be able to transfer out to somewhere.

I checked with all CSUs I applied to and they said my AP credits counts toward my 60 unit transfer req and my ADT assures that I can go straight into my upper level requirements.

Also, I took two semesters not just one! I have 38 units of actual college coursework and depending on the CSU anywhere from 22-40 units from AP.

Thanks for the feedback though :slight_smile:

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@Gumbymom I know, it’s a bummer for me! If I don’t get in anywhere this semester I plan on moving down to SD (I have family to live with down there) and taking classes at a CC in their local area before I try to apply again.

19

Has anybody heard back regarding their appeal from the SDSU Appeals Committee?

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Not yet…patiently waiting