Free Career and Job Search Advice

Foxstarlet

I am in dire need of help with writing a letter to appeal my financial aid probation. I have been given conflicting advice as to how I should write the letter, and I would really appreciate any advice.

My current situation is that when I started attending school I was in a program that was part on-ground and online together and was doing great. When I was switched to complete online courses I started to struggle and not only with the academics. I was also going through a major depression episode and my grades started to decline, so I was either failing or withdrawing from my classes. I finally decided to personally seek psychiatric help to get my life back together. I have had a long history with depression by the way. My psychiatrist and I went through about 6 to 8 months of finding the right meds to get me feeling better and the last class I took I actually was feeling good about myself and I ended the class with a B, and that was with missing one individual assignment. I since then have taken the steps to register with my university's disability program so that I can ask for a few extra days when I am going through extreme stress to finish individual assignments.
The conflciting advice I received was that I was told not to reveal my mental health issues to the school through my appeal, just that I have taken the steps to have future accomodations met for me. My problem is that I cannot find a way to explain my past grades and behavior without explaining my mental health, I am stuck trying to figure out how else could I possible explain my situation?

lexa10881 · Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 9:53 pm Post subject:

Unless you can get your physician to write you something general, which might still not satisfy the school, you may have to disclose it. Which can sound weird, because anymore it is very touchy to ask for or give out health-related information for many reasons. See if a general note can do the trick. If so, great!

Otherwise, just swallow it and forget it. I guess one of the most important things to know is if this will ever be disclosed to a future employer for some reason, because some companies still have issues with mental health/stress problems. Especially jobs that are very stressful, they think you will suffer and not perform as well as someone else who might not admit to having had therapy/treatment. See if you can find out if there is any reason the information should ever be disclosed to a third party.

Join our Newsletter
CopyRight © 1999-2008 cvtips.com This material cannot be published under any form or condition.