Recently I received notice that I have been placed on academic probation due to my performance in this spring semester. I’m was immediately shocked and confused because the email I received during winter break that put me on probation due to my performance in the fall semester stated that I would have to be on probation for two consecutive semesters to be eligible for academic suspension. The spring semester was my first semester on academic probation .I emailed the office that deals with these suspension decisions about this confusion and they emailed back telling me I had been placed on probation “at the end of the fall semester so spring is my second semester on probation” to me this doesn’t seem right because I got the email of probation on 12/22/2025 which was more than a full week into winter break. This past semester I wasn’t too concerned about I because I figured if I didn’t pull my gpa up to 2.0 by the end of spring I would at least have fall 2026 to change my course of action as to how I’m tackling school . this is also what I’ve been telling my family and friends. It’s clear to me through my emails with them that trying to contest the basis of the suspension based on my specified reason wasn’t getting me anywhere. They do however have the typical appeal process where you wright about what circumstances caused you to have unsatisfactory grades and what has changed that will allow you to meet the academic requirements . I do have extenuating circumstances such as depression, anxiety and adhd (that I don’t yet have accommodations for)that have certainly contributed to my performance. I also have always been particularly bad at math but I enrolled as an entrepreneurship major (horrible choice I know) but I already planned to change my major I even had a meeting last week with the business academic advisor to register classes for fall and during no point in the meeting did she imply that I would be suspended. She was fully ready to help me choose my classes but I told her i want to switch my major because the college of business isn’t working for me. I have a meeting with the academic advisor of that major next week who I’ve now had to email to change the topic of the meeting from registering to fall classes to creating an academic progress plan to help my appeal and potentially exploring community college. I never even thought I’d make it to college because I’ve always struggled with severe adhd so even being accepted into this one was a huge accomplishment for me. Both of my parents graduated from here as well.This college has basically become my whole life since fall last year I’ve built such a community around myself that I’ve never experienced before so I’m quite distraught over this and I’d like any advice from either people who’ve won appeals or people who’ve worked on appeal boards or anyone else on my best course of action to ensure I win my appeal .
I had to leave college for a year due to depression, and it did me a great deal of good. I wasn’t getting better where I was. Depression needs treatment. Not the answer you’re looking for, but I would consider taking this as an opportunity rather than misfortune.
What does the policy say? If it says your first semester under a 2.0, you are on probation - then Fall would have been the first - after the fact and Spring would have been the 2nd.
Why are you struggling? Is it your prior mental healh issues? Are you not motivated? Or in over your head academically?
Is there someone you can talk to?
Would a gap year suffice or transfer, maybe to a different school or community college?
In the end, your school has a policy - read it and understand it. But it could be that once you had a sub 2.0 the first time you were on probation.
How long are you suspended for? How can you go back - after the suspension ends?
I’m not sure how to guide you to win your appeal but perhaps a counselor on campus can help you?
But if you win, what will you change so it doesn’t happen again?
Please ask if you can take a leave of absence from your college for now. Your mental health needs to be your priority. Get some help! And maybe get a part time job. If your college allows leave of absence students to take college courses, maybe enroll in ONE course and do well in that one course.
College will always be there. This isn’t a race, it’s a journey. I would suggest you take a leave of absence at this point.
No offense but I specifically asked for advice on what the best methods for appeal are. If I thought that taking time off would benefit me I wouldn’t have posted. To be honest my mental health isn’t too bad but since I’ve been diagnosed with them I would like to use it to my advantage in an appeal.
I’m am suspended until spring next year and if my appeal doesn’t work I would go to a local community college until then. Id really rather not though.
It sounds like you have community. If it doesn’t work, can you attend a local CC to the school or your school as a non matriculated, taking a course or two ? Are you off campus?
Perhaps an academic advisor or professor you are close to can help guide your appeal. They want you to succeed.
But I think you need to prove - why will it be diffrrrbt this semester ?
You mentioned struggles with math. Have you had tutoring ? If not, you can suggest you’d go daily. You mentioned major change. Would that keep you on track to graduate ?
Basically, you need to show them that you can be a success NOW.
But definitely get guidance from someone at school you trust.
What does your family think ?
Good luck.
You need to follow the appeal process at your college. Is it possible that your academic advisor, or someone there can help you with this?
I didn’t see what your current GPA is after this term.
You need to explain what you have already done (that works, and that you plan to continue), and what you will be doing to address the remaining issues that are getting in the way of you getting better grades. The college needs to be convinced that you have a good chance of doing better as you move on.
The methods for appeal are as follows:
1- follow the process set out by your college. If they request face-to-face meetings- do that. Come prepared. If they want documentation of a medical/health issue, talk to your provider in advance and have that with you, etc.
2- Stick to a very narrow narrative. “here was my issue, here’s how I have addressed it, here’s my plan going forward to overcome whatever challenges will come my way”.
3- Listen. Actively. If they tell you that based on last semester’s performance, they concluded that you needed time away before registering for classes, don’t throw in “I was planning to change my major anyway”. That’s not relevant. If they tell you that in their experience, NOT taking classes is the best way for you to spend the suspension (get a treatment plan for any learning issues, get treatment for any mental health issues, etc.) don’t argue that you’ll enroll in community college. Active listening.
4- Be humble. You’re appealing a decision that’s already been made. Acting as though you know better than a bunch of folks who have seen dozens or even hundreds of kids walk this path is not going to help you…. it smacks of arrogance. So change the channel to your “I am confident that with your help and support I can be successful here”.
Good luck.
If you are suspended, work with your academic advisor on a plan of action for the period of your suspension. Attending CC may or may not be a viable option (my S’s college did not accept CC credits once a student was enrolled in the school). Be sure any classes you take are approved for credit in advance (and in writing).
This thread takes me back to my freshman year at UCLA.
One guy was too drunk to go to class, got on AP the first two quarters. Successfully appealed a suspension and got sober.
Another guy also was on AP for first 2 quarters, decided to take a leave and took CC classes (where I ran into him over summer session), re-oriented himself and came back Junior year.
What happened to the two guys: School does NOT want to kick people out. The stats looks bad and they are trying to help you by making you take one term off, away from whatever is causing you not to achieve a 2.0 GPA (and with no D/F). I guess is if you follow blossom’s advice (which is a very good advice), you will get a rubber stamped approval. The down side is if you don’t pull above 2.0 in Fall, you will be expelled. It’s a risk you need to consider.
My friend #1 realized he is an acolholic (yes at 18) and decided to get help. Friend #2 realized he was not prepared for UCLA and look 3 semesters at CC and did well and came back. As for transferability of credits from CC, yes do find out before you start. Although if there are acdemic gaps in your education, thinking these classes as “preparation” is also not a bad strategy for when you go back.
Are you prepared to file an appeal right now?
In my former students appeals, this is a sample of how they began their written appeals:
“Dear academic staff:
I am appealing my academic probation status, and wanted to present my current attempt to increase and improve my performance for the next academic terms. Please consider the following in your actions.
Since your original letter, I have initiated the following:
-
My academic advisor Ms. __________. and I have mapped out my academic schedule. I will be checking in with her on Mondays and Fridays. Her email is _____________.
-
I have weekly appointments scheduled at the tutoring center on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11:40 in Algebra basics. We are in the process of implementing a notetaker for my English courses. My staff tutor’s email is ________.
-
I will be meeting via Zoom with my physician to monitor my health. The nursing staff here at our health clinic has received my permission to access any medical records and prescriptions from my physician.
-
Office hours have yet to be posted, for the new semester in the coursework that we have delineated. I have sent emails to these departments and am awaiting to hear from department staff.
Thank you for giving me this opportunity to improve my academic experience.”
Every school is different; you may or may not be able to use something like this, but the appeals board needs to know that you have actually used the university’s services to improve your grades.
In addition to the points above, I would add the steps taken to manage and get accommodations for your ADHD. Hopefully you have a neuropsych report with a formal diagnosis and medical follow-up.
I wasn’t trying to say I know better than the administrators I was just expressing my frustration with how the terms of my academic weren’t made very clear to me. I can definitely see how it looks like I need time away from classes because my grades were struggling. It wasn’t necessarily because I was overwhelmed or experiencing mental health struggles, it was mostly because of procrastination and me not seeing the urgency of getting my grades up because in my flawed understanding I had a whole other semester to do that so I slacked off in the classes that were giving me a hard time. I definitely know that was never the right thing to do but sometimes poor choices are made and we have to pay for them. I definitely appreciate your advice.
You need to get a formal diagnosis of ADHD from a psychiatrist. Then apply for accommodations and use them.
I strongly suggest you not base any appeal on the fact that you thought you had another semester to slack off!
I have been on here for almost 20 years as have several others who are responding here. Usually a student comes on with a sample letter and we comment or revise.
We are being honest here: the chances of an appeal succeeding seem slim. Your best bet is to say you regret not obtaining and using accommodations for your ADHD and will do so for the next semester, and hope they will give you another chance with that support provided.
Suspension is not a disaster. You can go back. It seems you might benefit from some time to think about what major and what career you want. You can work, and maybe volunteer in some meaningful way that helps clarify things for you.
You can certainly take community college classes but investigate how those are handled if you go back to your current school. I agree with another poster: one class.
If you want advice on writing the appeal, see the post by @aunt_bea . However, as I said, I would add that you have an appointment with a psychiatrist to get a formal diagnosis and will be requesting and utilizing accommodations . (These might include extra time, late submissions, single room, testing in a separate room, excused tardiness- whatever a professional suggests.)
@aunt_bea posted with the kind of specifics you need to promise, such as meeting with an advisor weekly, going to office hours, tutoring and medical/psychiatric/therapy support. Describe all those in your letter.
The most concerning thing here is that you decided to slack off one more semester, even when on probation. Probation should have lit a fire under you. Regret, move on, this is ultimately fixable. Find out what the requirements are for reentry and satisfy them.
I’m sending you a big hug and a bit of advice that might sting (hence the hug).
Your use of the passive voice in some of your posts “but sometimes poor choices are made” is going to be a red flag to the professors and administrators who will evaluate your appeal.
Poor choices weren’t made- YOU made poor choices, you procrastinated because you thought you had an extra semester to take your education seriously and it turned out you misjudged the situation.
I have helped students with appeals that went well and some that went not so well. But owning the problem- “I made poor choices; I am working with the tutoring center on strategies to tackle my assignments as soon as I get them and learning how to manage my deadlines” is the key (along with humility) to a successful appeal.
Once that passive voice creeps in…. as if a robot or cyborg took over your body and handled all your actions for two semesters– it’s not the look of maturity and self-knowledge the appeals committee is hoping to see.
They do not want to suspend you. They don’t. They want you to get an education. But they don’t want someone eating in the dining halls, drinking coffee in the student lounges, having fun with their friends, hanging out late at night ordering pizza, etc. who is not committed to attending classes, labs, review sessions, studying for exams, learning to write a research paper with a proper index, citations, appendix, etc.
Good luck to you.