I was recently admitted to UCB for physics. I planned to transfer Fall 2024 but I received an email today informing me that I had violated my conditions of admissions. I am a little confused because my spring semester does not end for another month so I don’t know why I received this message so early.
I was concerned this may happen at the end of the semester due to a D I got in a winter class. During the winter I was under extenuating circumstances and I unfortunately got a D in one of my classes. This class listed as planned on my original UC application and subsequently was listed on my conditions of admissions. This class is not required for my major so there is a grey area.
My conditions states:
Summer session 2024: I understand that I may not attend summer sessions 2024 for the purpose of completing a minimum of 60 UC-transferable semester units, IGETC, UC Reciprocity, or General Education/Breadth requirements.
(The course I received a D in does not fall under this category as it is not a major requirement. )
Additionally the conditions state : IV. Postmarked by August 1, 2024:
Final official college/university transcript(s) if you take courses in summer 2024. Please note that you still must submit final official college/university transcripts with spring 2024 final grades by the July 1, 2024 postmark date for any institutions where you are not completing summer coursework.
If anyone has any advice or has been in a similar situation please let me know. I have 3 days to appeal the notice of cancellation.
There is no “grey area,” a D is not considered a passing grade. You failed a class. It doesn’t matter whether it was in a subject unrelated to your intended major. You should have contacted UCB the moment you knew the grade, when you received your report for the winter term.
The best you can do is take responsibility, explain the circumstances, offer to retake it over the summer, and see if they might allow you to enroll under academic probation.
This class and its successful completion are part of your application. Your best case is to appeal and own the situation by explaining the “extenuating circumstances”. Keep in mind how you describe those circumstances at the risk of those reading concluding they may not be a one off situation.
I wouldn’t bother calling and potentially bothering people as the situation and appeal process seems to be defined in the correspondence you received. Follow the instructions in the letter provided, you don’t want to be perceived as incapable of following instructions.
OP - I would call - because you mention a few times in your note gray area and the D not being a class that is defined by your letter.
Your assumption on the D may be right - but you’re assuming - and if you’re told that’s the issue and you need to appeal, than you have 100% certainty.
When you believe, rightly or wrongly, there is a gray area, you should suss that out before you take any further action.
Otherwise, every action you take will sit in a world of doubt in your mind - always best to feel 100% assured in what is happening and why.
It is not bothering people who are employed to be of assistance to you. You can then also ask them what you can do to cure your deficiency so that before appealing, you have a game plan. It might be (or might not be) as simple as a summer retake. You don’t know until you seek direction.
@llricky
I agree that if the class is listed under your conditions of admission, you are required to pass the course to maintain your acceptance, which you did not.
I would contact Undergrad admissions if you are unsure but the terms are spelled out quite clearly.
I will PM you. There are certain extenuating circumstances that might help with an appeal, and others that could hurt. You can also talk to them about retaking the class. It is not clear why you failed the class and privacy is respected here.
@Gumbymom I understand I did not pass the course in the winter, But the classes outlined in my conditions of admissions are not all major requirements. In my conditions of admissions it does say I am allowed to take summer courses that are not major requirements. This is mainly why I am confused. Would you really say this is “spelled out clearly” ?
I would clarify with admissions. All classes listed and in-progress on your UC application and TAU should be covered in the condition’s of admission statement stating you need passing grades regardless if they are major prep or not.
Usually the major prep classes in the conditions of admission might require a higher grade threshold than the non- major classes but D’s and F’s are a reason for rescinding your acceptance.
You state you have extenuating circumstances and @compmom has reached out to help you with an appeal so hopefully you can explain your situation and your appeal will be approved.
To OP, depending on how and why you got the D grade, you stand a better chance go begging the professor for a C grade than appeal the rejection from UCB. There are literally thousands of applicants who maintain sparkling academics dying for your spot.
Most of the time, asking for a C so yo can move on with life is not as bad as demanding an A.
I understand and thank you for your help. This is what I believe the case may be. I have responded to @compmom with some more details of my circumstances.
Did you try contacting UCB admissions prior to submitting the TAU and D grade?
Regarding the summer classes, unless you worked something out in advance with UCB admissions at the time of notifying them of the D grade, you are not allowed to repeat the class during the summer session to fulfill the conditions of admission.
You are allowed to take additional CC courses in the summer but not repeat a course with a deficient grade.
The day I got accepted I reached out to UC admissions. The student workers suggested I accept the offer so I may put in a transfer update as soon as possible and that the office would reach back out to me by Monday. This was April 20th. I waited about a week before calling again and the office assured me that admission would call or email to further discuss the situation. I never ended up getting any contact from them until I received the letter of cancellation.
I considered this but my school said it wouldn’t be a year until the appeal would be considered. so I am seeing if an EW may work. I’ll try for the grade appeal again and see if I can find a way to expedite it.
OP, you’ve been saying that the class you got a D in was not a major class but as you posted earlier there are other classes that you can’t take in summer session. Do any of these apply?
everything works out.