Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Associate Deans

Queen's University

99 University Avenue

Kingston, ON K7L 3N6



May 11, 2017

Dear Associate Dean:

Re: Credit standing

My name is Karin Ajderian and I am a second year student of Queen's University. I am writing this in reference for the permission to be allowed a credit standing order. I am requesting a credit standing order for my poor grade in Chemistry 112, and the dismissal of my academic probation.

I understand the circumstances of academic probation and am aware that I am eligible for an academic dismissal. My low GPA is not a result of not doing my academic work, or lack of desire to learn. After the first year I rationalized my D grades as a result of not sufficient studying for the higher demands of university. However, after I retook some of the classes and I still did not do well in them, I realized that it was not because I was not studying enough, but because of my anxiety. For example, I took calculus and integrals over the summer last year and I did math work every single day. I did all the practice problems and did very well on the tests. My average was very high before the final exam. But once again I did not do very well on the final exam and got another D grade. I have a very hard time falling asleep the nights before an exam. This does not allow me to get a proper amount of sleep and rest, especially for a 9:00 AM exam. On the exam day it is the anxiety that takes over and I am not able to solve problems I was able to do throughout the year. It is really hard to find motivation when all the work and effort being put into my studies doesn't reflect on my transcript. I feel deeply depressed and unhappy with myself and moreover, I believe that this may reflect in further deeper psychological problems.

After another semester of getting poor grades, I have been forced to recognize that my anxiety is the main issue, and not the academic demands of university. I used to think that the amount of anxiety I experience is normal, but now I have come to the grounds that it is more than normal, and requires medical treatment. I am currently in the process of finding the source of my anxiety and seeking professional help. I am working on handling my anxiety better, so that I can show my full potential on the final exams.

I realized that facing my internal issues is the only way I can continue to attend and succeed at Queen's. Should I be granted this class standing credit for chemistry my GPA will exceed that of the academic probation, and I will be allowed to continue my studies at Queens.

I love Queen's University and wish to graduate from there, and I do not want my anxiety standing in the way of my goals because I know if I am given another opportunity, I will succeed.

Thank you for taking the time to consider this appeal.

Sincerely,

Karin Ajderian