Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Members of the Petitions Committee,

I am writing to respectfully request permission to add PHIL 296 (Title of the Course) to my course schedule for this semester, despite the add deadline having passed. I understand and respect the importance of academic deadlines but hope my extenuating circumstances, outlined below, will help you consider my request. Please note that I have been in contact with Professor Rutledge-Prior, and she has given me her permission to enrol. I have been attending all the classes and do not need to catch up on much material.

This year is my first at Queen’s University, and I have found navigating course selection overwhelming. Initially, I enrolled in a logic course because it is required for my Philosophy major. However, after deeper reflection and discussions with an academic advisor, I realized that taking PHIL 296 this semester would better support my overall success.

Balancing my course load with preparation for the LSAT and various extracurricular commitments as I pursue admission to law school has been particularly challenging. Given this, I now recognize that the logic course—while necessary—would be best taken in a semester where I can dedicate the time and energy necessary for its rigorous demands. Adding PHIL 296 in its place will allow me to better balance my current academic workload and responsibilities while still getting a 200-level philosophy credit toward my major.

I acknowledge the importance of proper course planning and assure you that I have reflected on this experience and learned from it. Moving forward, I will take greater care to manage my course selection within the established deadlines.

I sincerely hope you will consider my request. Thank you for taking the time to review my petition. Please do not hesitate to contact me if additional information or documentation is required.

Kind Regards,

Hannah Burnham
20293983