Hello,
I was recently waitlisted at the UW, Seattle, and I was wondering if I could get some comments on my appeal letter:
To Whom It May Concern:
I would like to thank you for taking the additional time to further consider my application to the University of Washington, Seattle. I am writing this appeal because I feel that to fully understand me as an applicant and evaluate me, the circumstances of my high school and family experiences need to be disclosed. I did not write my general essay on such issues or go into detail in my application because I wanted to show the admissions committee the other achievements in my life. Although my struggles have shaped me, they do not define me or my future and that is what I hoped to present to the admissions committee.
When I received my waitlisted decision, I was not surprised, I thought the decision was fair. However, I wanted to share the circumstances in which my grades and academic life have been affected. I live in a family of intense drug and alcohol addiction; I will be the first person in my family not only to go to college, but to escape the cycle of addiction. Throughout my entire life, I have worked to ensure that I will not follow them: to become an addict, a high school dropout, pregnant, or a dealer. Even so, that did not stop my family’s addictions from affecting my life and educational goals.
Often, coming home from school would seem to be a life or death situation, as my father would frequently drive me home drunk or high. This would be followed by me cleaning the house, making dinner, and trying to finish my homework through his frequent outbursts of annoyance, violence, or intoxicated rage. As I struggled through my own anxiety and depression, my father’s addiction started to become a heavier weight. As it worsened, my ability to focus on school and succeed to my full ability was hindered. During this time (the beginning of high school) I entered into an abusive relationship, which drove my anxiety and depression to new limits. This resulted in anxiety so extreme that talking in class was rare and extremely difficult, resulting in a drop of my grades—especially because my mother did not support a 504 plan.
In addition, my childhood sexual abuse was increased to a weekly status as I was forced to visit my uncle’s house three times a week. As the abuse continued in combination with everything else in my life, I had no escape, no safe haven—which is what school used to give me. I found myself trapped, feeling like I had nowhere safe to be, and school became lower on my list of priorities as I was trying to keep my head above the water. At the end of my junior year, as I mentioned in the additional information section of my application, my counselor found out of the abuse and reported it to Child Protective Services. A long investigation then began on my family, which continued into the beginning of senior year. However, my parents did not believe me and the impact of their disappointment and the investigation crushed me once again.
Despite everything I have been through, I believe myself to be an “excellent candidate” for University of Washington, Seattle because of my perseverance and strength through these hardships. As experiences hindered me from the intense focus on school I wanted, I do not think my GPA represents my abilities as a student or is a good predictor of my future. Throughout the time I have been at Sammamish and have dealt with depression, anxiety, abuse, and family issues, I have still pushed to do well and challenge myself. I have taken over ten Advanced Placement classes and tests, a University of Washington in High School class, as well as competed as a competitive figure skater since I was a child. This was not only a substantial time commitment, but required me to wake up at 4:00 AM before school and skate for two and a half hours every day, as well as weekends and after school. As figure skating is an expensive sport, and my family is economically disadvantaged, I had to work to pay my way through lessons, ice time, and competitions—as well as other family fees. I also volunteered weekly to teach skating to children, as a women’s leader for my Buddhist organization, a tutor, and at women’s health center. In addition, I have taught myself two languages fluently, and speak two others from school classes. I am working to become fluent in two more and believe I can and will do this. Although my GPA does not represent the “ideal” UW student, I feel I exemplify the leadership skills and qualities you look for in prospective students. I also believe that my GPA does not represent my dedication as a student, or my future, rather, it represents my circumstances that I have been working to overcome.
Over this past year, I have worked hard to pull my grades up as well as started therapy for myself. Now is the best time for me to attend University of Washington because it will allow me to flourish and fulfill my actual academic abilities and create my own life path. I have realized that once I am able to attend college and leave my house, I will be able to forge ahead and create a safe and successful atmosphere for myself, as I am trying to do now. Even though I have been accepted to other universities, I believe that University of Washington, Seattle is the best fit for me, as well as my top choice; I believe that I will be able to benefit the school as much as it benefits me. University of Washington, Bothell also does not have my desired undergraduate majors/masters (Masters of Health Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Public Health), I also don’t feel as if it will have as many opportunities for me in the healthcare field, as my long term goal is to do Obstetrics and Gynecology. The University of Washington, Seattle, School of Public Health has interdisciplinary programs that include health services administration and maternal/child health, which are my two main focuses and in which I would like to participate.
I plan to continue therapy at the University of Washington. Regarding my depression and anxiety, though I will always struggle with it, I was able to begin medication and my own therapy upon turning 18. This has allowed me to overcome many of my past struggles regarding the anxiety I so struggled with during school, which contributes to higher grades. Even though I am still under pressure, I know that I will be able to persevere through anything, and if given acceptance to University of Washington, Seattle, thrive there as a successful student.
Regarding my grade for AP Statistics, I have included a counselor letter with an explanation, due to it being a school issue—not an individual student issue. For my grade in Pre-calc, I missed a significant number of tests which I am currently making up. My grade at the end of the semester will be an A or high B, but cannot be changed until the end of the school year due to it being a first semester class.
i wish you the best of luck