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Petition Type: New
ID: 3218
Submitted: April 4, 2017 at 9:17:31 PM
First Name: Grace
Last Name: Jensen
Student Number: 10149779
Email: 14gj@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BAH, BEd
Plan: SOCY
Level of Study: 3
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Request to take more than 6.0 units of courses on a letter of permission through another institution
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: Dear Dr. Bénard,
I am writing to you to request permission to take classes away from Queen¿¿s on an international letter of permission. I would like to first tell you why I wish to study abroad and then I will explain my academic plan.
Studying abroad would give me the opportunity to see the world and myself in an entirely new way. It would give me the opportunity to challenge myself and feed my curiosity, exploring what lies outside my bubble. After being rejected for the bilateral exchange program during my second year, I was determined to organize my own Independent Study Abroad plan for the Winter Semester of 2017; however, my concussion (March 2016) changed things. During the summer and even the fall following my concussion, I was in pain, unmotivated and too mentally exhausted to even plan and complete daily tasks. This made study abroad seem entirely unattainable at the time. While I regret not pushing myself to figure out a plan for this year, I also realize how important it was for me to prioritize the recovery of my mind and body. My lifestyle was and continues to be drastically altered. However, I do cherish the time my concussion gave me to reflect on who I am now and who I want to be in the future. I realized how caught I was in a ¿¿what¿¿s next¿ mentality, giving myself little physical or mental space to breath and enjoy the present. While there are many negative consequences to concussions, in my case it allowed me to truly stop and spend time with myself, which I think people rarely get the chance to do. I would like to take this new perspective and apply it to an experience abroad, allowing me to further challenge myself and take time to live and learn in the moment. I would be incredibly grateful to be given the opportunity to study in New Zealand next semester, specifically the University of Otago or the University of Canterbury, and I would make it my goal to live in the present, continue to feed my curiosity, and to learn even more about myself.
Thank you for taking the time to consider my application.
I am writing to you to request permission to take classes away from Queen¿¿s on an international letter of permission. I would like to first tell you why I wish to study abroad and then I will explain my academic plan.
Studying abroad would give me the opportunity to see the world and myself in an entirely new way. It would give me the opportunity to challenge myself and feed my curiosity, exploring what lies outside my bubble. After being rejected for the bilateral exchange program during my second year, I was determined to organize my own Independent Study Abroad plan for the Winter Semester of 2017; however, my concussion (March 2016) changed things. During the summer and even the fall following my concussion, I was in pain, unmotivated and too mentally exhausted to even plan and complete daily tasks. This made study abroad seem entirely unattainable at the time. While I regret not pushing myself to figure out a plan for this year, I also realize how important it was for me to prioritize the recovery of my mind and body. My lifestyle was and continues to be drastically altered. However, I do cherish the time my concussion gave me to reflect on who I am now and who I want to be in the future. I realized how caught I was in a ¿¿what¿¿s next¿ mentality, giving myself little physical or mental space to breath and enjoy the present. While there are many negative consequences to concussions, in my case it allowed me to truly stop and spend time with myself, which I think people rarely get the chance to do. I would like to take this new perspective and apply it to an experience abroad, allowing me to further challenge myself and take time to live and learn in the moment. I would be incredibly grateful to be given the opportunity to study in New Zealand next semester, specifically the University of Otago or the University of Canterbury, and I would make it my goal to live in the present, continue to feed my curiosity, and to learn even more about myself.
Thank you for taking the time to consider my application.
Academic Plan
Academic Plan: In terms of academics, a full course load at both the University of Otago and the University of Canterbury is 3-4 courses. If I were to attend either school, I would take 4 papers, translating back to Queen¿¿s as roughly 16 credits. To complete my Sociology major, I need one more SOCY 200 level or above class and two SOCY 400 level or above classes. I also need 33 more credits to fulfill the Concurrent Education¿¿s minimum of 120 credits, a result of my reduced and accommodated course load this year. Therefore, I intend to take 15 credits during the winter semester of 2018, and 3 credits during the summer of 2018, after I graduate. I realize that, when the time comes, I will have to gain proper permission to take these credits after I graduate.
Thus, my academic plan is to take one sociology class while abroad, fulfilling my 200 level or above credit. There are plenty that interest me and I intend to propose them to the undergraduate chair for his approval. I would also take three electives, which I also intend to get approved. Some that interest me are an introductory class on the Maori Culture, a philosophy class on ethics and an introduction to politics in New Zealand. When I return to Queen¿¿s for the winter of 2018, I plan to take two 400 level or above sociology classes and three electives. I have attached a spreadsheet with more detail on my academic plan. I would also be more than happy to follow up with specific course codes and syllabuses for the classes I am interested in taking at either university.
Thus, my academic plan is to take one sociology class while abroad, fulfilling my 200 level or above credit. There are plenty that interest me and I intend to propose them to the undergraduate chair for his approval. I would also take three electives, which I also intend to get approved. Some that interest me are an introductory class on the Maori Culture, a philosophy class on ethics and an introduction to politics in New Zealand. When I return to Queen¿¿s for the winter of 2018, I plan to take two 400 level or above sociology classes and three electives. I have attached a spreadsheet with more detail on my academic plan. I would also be more than happy to follow up with specific course codes and syllabuses for the classes I am interested in taking at either university.
Documentation
Professional Letter Detail: NO DOC
Documentation Detail: Spreadsheet of my Academic Plan
History
Originally submitted April 4, 2017 at 9:17:31 PM.
| Field | Reference | Old Value | New Value | Note | User | Date/Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| status | N/A | Received | Prepared for Review | Carrie Roosenmaalen | 2017-04-05 10:39:09 AM | |
| status | N/A | Prepared for Review | Incomplete | Spring Forsberg | 2017-04-06 10:02:27 AM | |
| status | N/A | Incomplete | Withdrawn | Spring Forsberg | 2017-04-18 10:34:40 AM |