<p>son sent this letter to NU. he private messaged some on this board. please dont reveal his identity.</p>
<p>Dear NU Undergrad Admissions Staff, </p>
<pre><code> My name is … and I honestly don’t know how to start this but I will try. First off, I am so thankful that you offered me admission to your great University. My decision complete, I am sure you will be happy to know that my tuition deposit will be in the mail in the upcoming days. I am looking forward to my attendance at Preview NU this upcoming Monday and look forward to my years at NU. However, before I even step foot on campus this Monday, I am asking for your help. As hard as it is for me to admit, I am performing poorly in one of my classes. I am unhappy to say that the electricity portion of AP Physics C has replaced the Chicago White Sox as my new archrival. Before the image of another lazy senior forms in your mind, I would like to tell you that I am succeeding with A’s in all of my other four classes (AP Spanish, AP Eng Lit, AP Economics, and AP US Government). I hate to admit that I am in danger of failing my semester in Physics. I spend time on this subject but I am still not performing well. Besides the other four AP subjects, I am also studying for the AP European History test on my own since my high school has ceased offering it. To get to the point, I am asking for permission to withdraw from my last term of Physics, for which I am not taking the AP test due to advice from my teacher. Instead of struggling in a subject that has honestly taken a lot of the fun out of my senior year, I will be involved with my school’s Mentor Center, tutoring underclassmen. If you grant permission, and I sincerely hope you will consider my request, I will receive a grade W for my third term. To be honest, this W will be equivalent to a failing grade. However, for the fourth term, I will not receive a failing grade, but rather I will be partaking in a no-credit period in the Mentor Center, or shown on my schedule as the Resource Center. For reasons why I have struggled mightily in Physics, I believe I fell behind from the beginning of the new semester. I am currently assisting my father through a legal proceeding because of a dog attack he suffered while working for United States Postal Service. I need to be with him every step of the way. Even he is one of the greatest people I know, his proficiency in English is sub par. His meetings with lawyers and the progress of the civil case have taken up a good deal of time, not to mention that I must balance extracurriculars along with four school AP subjects along with one self studied AP subject. I have been trying to perform at a higher level in Physics. However, I am not succeeding. Even though acceptance to NU has brought me great elation, I am forced to say Physics brings me daily frustration. I feel as if everyday in class, I am fighting a battle in a war that I have already lost. I feel the best option for me is to retake this subject at NU and I believe a fresh start in this subject will do wonders for me. Although I will hope to be an Economics major, I know I must take this class at NU to rid of my feeling of inadequacy. This feeling of inadequacy hurts me dearly and I know at NU, I will greet a fresh start with the utmost determination and vigor. I sincerely appreciate the time you have spent reading my email and want to thank you in advance for your consideration of my request for permission to withdraw from my current Physics class and hopefully retake the class with a fresh start. I truly appreciate the opportunity you have given me with this acceptance. I know that I must be disappointing you and I feel awful that my situation has come this. I never have felt so down about a class in my life and hope you will help lift me from the doldrums and brighten my present mood. I would enjoy meeting personally with any of the Undergrad staff to discuss any further questions as to my request.Just name a time and a place and I will be there. Nothing means more to me right now than being a part of the Wildcat community. Thanks once again for your consideration.
With great appreciation and hope for resolution,
</code></pre>
<p>does anybody have an opinion? what do you think will happen? thanks.</p>
<p>I can’t imagine that the admissions staff would turn down his appeal. To me, it seems to be a very reasonable request. Good luck to you, and keep us posted. I hope your son can find the reprieve he needs and deserves!</p>
<p>I’m anything but an expert, but I would be very disappointed if admissions rejected your son after this plea. Let us know what happens and in the meantime, I’ll keep my fingers crossed.</p>
<p>He was honest, he was forthcoming, he is doing well in everything else, he has a plan, he figured out a good solution that is meaningful.</p>
<p>Does anyone think it might be helpful (more helpful) to speak to someone on the UG Admissions staff? It would make this a more personal plea, although I think the email is well written. Trying to think of ways to maximize his chances.</p>
<p>Let us know what happens and best of luck.</p>
<p>I thought it was a good appeal, but its up to Northwestern how they read it. I think the fact that he has all A’s in his other classes will really show them that he is not a senior making excuses, so I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t rescind their acceptance.</p>
<p>It is admirable that he is being upfront in asking for permission, rather than just dropping the class and hoping they will not notice. Perhaps a guidance counselor from his school could call the admissions staff on his behalf on Monday. I am sure he wants a speedy resolution to this problem! We are all rooting for him!</p>
<p>i know there is a strong chance of academic probation, if he isnt revoked. does this mean any finaid recieved will be taken back. i hope my son’s sincereity and honesty appeals to them.</p>
<p>worrieddad58: Of course I can’t say for sure that things will turn out alright, but you shouldn’t worry too much. Someone in my AP Physics C class barely passed first semester, got into UIUC for engineering (!) and promptly dropped the class second semester after they OK’ed it. Granted there is a huge gap between NW and UIUC but these things generally don’t turn out badly.</p>
<p>worrieddad, I think your son is going about this in exactly the right way. I would second the suggestion to have the guidance counselor call as well.</p>
<p>he made a good decision to actually explain his situation; i would be surpised if NU revoked his admission</p>
<p>it’s a good appeal, i would say it is absurdly long for an admissions office currently dealing with 2,000 new incoming freshman, even the application essay word limit was shorter than that appeal was.</p>
<p>try consolidating it, although i didn’t feel like any of the words were wasted, i might get annoyed if i was an admissions officer and i had to read a two-page essay about why someone is failing a class</p>
<p>oh i guess he already sent it, in that case i think he will be fine, they’ll probably put him on academic probation but that just means he has to get decent grades for his first quarter or so, which from the sound of things seems like it should not be a problem.</p>
<p>i don’t see why they would put him in academic probation.</p>
<p>at any time if you receive a grade such as an F or D in your second-semester senior year it is likely that upon arriving to college you will be placed on academic probation. it is a formality, meaningless really, as all it means is you have to perform at a decent level, which most people, and especially by the sounds of it this person, will do anyway.</p>
<p>it happened to me last year for having two Ds, one in PE (gym).</p>
<p>It all depends on how NU reads it. Very rarely do they rescind acceptances because of grades. Especially if he will still complete high school anyways, without the class. I got a C- in my final semester of AP English Lit and didn’t have my acceptance rescinded. Unless he flunks out of high school in the next month, he shouldn’t worry too much.</p>
<p>It is absolutely the best approach to tell them now, rather than later, that their may be a problem with your final transcript. This goes for ALL colleges, not just Northwestern, and it is something that numerous admissions officers have told me. They would rather know now, rather than be surprised. Telling them doesn’t mean they will be happy to hear this news, and it also doesn’t guarantee that a particular school won’t rescind admission (that is a right all colleges reserve with their acceptances), but it at least gives them notice upfront, and a chance to advise the student.</p>
<p>There is no need to be particularly creative in letting them know. A simple, straightforward approach is usually best. It would also be a very good idea to have your son’s guidance counselor put in a follow up call to the school’s admissions people to discuss the situation and see where the cards may lie. Sometimes a simple call like that can settle the situation quickly, and relieve unnecessary worry (or at least tell you straight from the source where the chips may fall). So, do have the guidance counselor follow through for your son as well.</p>
<p>Good luck to your son!</p>
<p>^^ yeah, that’s a great answer</p>
<p>UPDATE:</p>
<p>i want to thank everyone for their responses. just recieved an email from Keith Todd. he gave my son permission to drop and no academic repurcussions like probation. so now he is finally locked in as class of 2011 wildcat!!! i cant believe its finally set! no more worrying!</p>
<p>thats very nice to hear worrieddad</p>