<p>I was rejected from UCLA, USC so far (accepted to others). I am considering an appeal because my life has changed during senior year due to my father’s cancer diagnosis. I have various troubles related to the situation. Is this the type of grounds they would consider for an appeal? Should I appeal?</p>
<p>If this was the reason why your senior year grades weren’t where they were in previous years, then go for it. You have nothing to lose. Good luck!</p>
<p>Ben1eight, this might be a situation worth appealing if you appeal it in the right way. Has it affected your grades? Your extracurriculars? Test scores? I lost my mother to cancer after a four year battle a month ago, and I understand that at times it’s hard to want to focus on school or get out of the house, especially when you want to spend time with your loved one (other things often pale in comparison!) If your guidance counselor likes you or you have a teacher who has seen what you’re going through, ask them to write a letter explaining how your home situation changed this year and how you’ve persevered as best as possible throughout it all (my guidance counselor mentioned my mother’s health problems in my letter). If you write an essay about it, don’t make it super sad and sob-story, explain your situation and throw a story in about how this diagnosis has inspired you in some way or has taught you some lesson (I even wrote my essay about how my mom’s oncologists inspired me to want to become a doctor). I think that if they can see that you can grow from even the hardest situations you might stand a chance in the appeals process. I wish you the best of luck and I hope for the best for your father!</p>