<p>Help! I'm really worried about getting rescinded from FSU. My grades throughout High School have been really good, but my health started deteriorating last summer. Senior Year has been less than fantastic, full of doctors appointments and scans and tests, until I was finally diagnosed with IBS and put on a variety of medications. I'm starting to get better but my grades are horrible! I think I might get an F in Calculus, which was caused from absences due to my sickness. I have more than enough credits to graduate, but I'm really worried FSU might rescind me! My other grades are decent despite being absent so often, but Calculus was really hard to catch up in. Do you think it would help if I informed the college of my situation and refer them to my doctors? I'm really distraught!</p>
<p>I’m sorry about your health problems.</p>
<p>Let me ask a serious question – will you be health enough to attend and do well at FSU next year. If not, perhaps deferring college and getting your health back should be your first priority.</p>
<p>A “D” or an “F” is never a good thing. In your case, my guess (and this is is only a guess) is that won’t kill you. However, you should do the following --</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Does your guidance counsellor know about your illness. If not, he or she should. When the final grades are sent in, it should be accompanied by a note from the GC explaining that you had health problems that are now under control. </p></li>
<li><p>If possible, get your doctor to write a letter, explaining the situation and why the drop in grades is neither from a lack of effort on your part or is likely to impact on your future academic success. I would have the GC send in this letter in the same envelop with yours, though I suppose the MD could send it in separately.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Under these circumstances, I think a college would understand, in any event, what else can you do.</p>