Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean Office,

My name is Pengyu Xiao (Henry). I am an international student. I am a third year student majoring in general economic. I would like to take this opportunity to respectfully appeal to drop GEOL107 (FALL, 2016) and CISC101 (FALL, 2016) from my transcript.

During my first year study in Queen¿¿s University, I did not understand how to choose classes properly and realistically. After the failures of GEOL107 and CISC101, I have not appealed these classes, because I am hoping to retake these courses again during my second year or later. But soon, I find out that I can no longer take CISC101, because I have taken CISC121 which is a higher level courses directly related to CISC101. After my second year, I have met Dr. Khanna. She helped me a lot, and she suggested me that you can try to appeal to these courses.

In 2016 fall term, I remembered that it was my first time entered a university and study. I have been through a hard time in my first term year one. Even though I met the University English requirement for International student (IELTS test), there are still many things which I don¿¿t understand during my first year study.

As many people know that Ontario high school does not have such level of difficulties like many university has. During my study in Ontario high School, I usually have 4 courses only. (2 at morning and 2 at afternoon) But, I found myself really hard to catch up 5 university courses at my beginning of the first year university life. For my personal experiences, I found university course¿¿s difficulty which is not only a leap of difficulties. It is more like a leap of faith. You are facing much harder and heavier load than high school ever. You need to be dedicated on study, and have a well-design calendar around your timetable to prepare for quizzes and assignments for anytime during the academic year. I think that is my reason why I couldn¿¿t keep up at the beginning.

The result was that I was nervous and anxiety, and also afraid to talk with professors and counselors. I missed the best chance to talk with counselors and appealing at that time. I enrolled five courses during fall term 2016. I dropped two of them which were MATH121 and MATH111. I failed 3 of them (CISC101, CISC102 and GEOL107). It was really hard time for me to use to university, and it is really different with high school.
I am also not feeling very comfortable at that time, because of the cultured transition for being away from family. Before, there are parents, families and friends encourage, and environment which I am familiar with. But I was alone in a new environment during the first year of university. I felt lonely before during my first year study because of the transition from high school to university. Then, I have spent half of my first year not only studying, but also I knew some of my friend at that time. So, I am no feeling uncomfortable anymore.

There are some ups and some downs in the second year. But I met Dr. Khanna, Ms. Everson, Dr. Dingel and Mr. Chan (QUIC international center). There great people help me that I appealed the withdraw decision for a year and got a good grades under their guidance. I can¿¿t thank you all enough.

On August 31, 2016, after 16 hours of flight, I landed at Pearson, with two giant suitcases. I was tired but at the same time extremely excited to start my adventure as an international student to pursue my undergraduate education at Queen's University, my dream school. One and a half years later, looking back, while I have had ups and downs, I am so proud to be a member of Queen¿¿s and am determined as ever to be one of its alumni in the near future.

Thank you very much for your consideration.

Best Regards,

Henry