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Alright, as some of you know I was accepted to UF's College of Pharmacy however I was accepted to my second choice campus (orlando). I wrote a petition letter and was denied (the admissions committee said that they didn't feel that my reasons were compelling enough). However, I made an appointment with the dean of student affairs (Dr. McKenzie). I am scheduled to see him and was just wondering any advice as to what would make my reasons more compelling. I have received a few messages from some of you that said he was really cool and would listen to me. I just want to make my reasons very compelling. This is serious enough for me to go a different school and I plan on telling him that. Anything else? Thanks guys!
~Pam
P.S. here's the letter I sent them
Dear Admissions Committee:
I am writing this letter to petition my randomization to the Orlando site for the University of Florida?s College of Pharmacy. I would like to be considered for the Gainesville campus. I was ecstatic to receive my conditional acceptance in February to the University of Florida?s College of Pharmacy. This was my number one choice and I was very excited to be a Gator. I had visited the Gainesville campus and fell in love with it immediately. I was very excited to be taking classes in the brand new pharmacy facility and the staff and students were extremely pleasant. When I first received my conditional acceptance, I believed that I was accepted to the Gainesville campus until I read about the randomization process. In September when I rated the campuses I believed that the Orlando campus site was in a college setting, and I thought that I was going to be attending lectures just as if I was in Gainesville. However, I have recently found out that this is not the case. I am extremely disappointed about the campus selection and do not feel that I can achieve my goals and dreams at this distance site.
There are a few important reasons, why I do not feel that I will flourish as a pharmacy student at the distance site. When I first ranked both the Orlando and Gainesville campuses, I had a place to live in both areas and knew that I would be financially stable. However, in recent months, I have found that I will not have a place to stay in Orlando. This is a huge financial burden for me to bear.
Also, I am a person who needs the classroom setting to learn better. I have taken classes that gave the option of watching the lectures online. I still went to class, however, because this is how I learn best. I sit up front and ask questions when I don?t understand something. I feel that by watching a movie, I will not be able to learn as well. I also enjoy the interaction of other students before and after class. I like being able to discuss what we just learned or talk about problems that I am having. I understand that the satellite campuses offer sessions like this, but I know that I am the type of person who has to be in the classroom and asking questions as we discuss a new topic, while it?s fresh in my mind.
Another reason why I feel that I will not excel in the Orlando campus is because I plan on being heavily involved in pharmacy organizations and student council. I worked throughout my years as an undergrad and made on conscious decision to be more involved in pharmacy school. I worked very hard to graduate early so that I could take a semester off in order to work and save money so that I would be able to be more involved in pharmacy school. I wanted to become an active member of Kappa Epsilon. However, the website states that it will be coming soon to distance campuses. I do not want to have to wait until my third year to become a member. I would also like to be an active part of the Univerisity of Florida?s APhA chapter. I feel that I will not be as involved if I am at a distance education site. I plan on doing a residency and was hoping to be active in many organizations that will help me achieve an excellent residency.
In recent months, I have been researching my career path as a pharmacist and have decided that the best field for me is clinical pharmacy. I plan on becoming a clinical pharmacist with a specialization in pediatric pharmacy. I was hoping to get an internship or start volunteering at Shands childrens hospital in Gainesville. I feel that without experience and student organization involvement, I will not receive a good residency.
I have spoken with a few students from the Orlando campus and many have said that most of the students have families and are married. I am only 21 and do not have such family obligations. For this reason, I was hoping to be in a college setting where I could socialize with other students my age. Involvement in activities is very important to me because I feel that I did not get involved enough as an undergrad because I was always working. Since I will not be working through pharmacy school, I was hoping to get involved in as many activities as possible. I understand that there will be an immense amount of studying, however, I am used to going to school full-time and working 25 hours a week.
I feel that if the satellite campus was more like a college campus then I would be fine with the selection. However, I feel that the Orlando campus will keep me from achieving my goals. I want to take classes in a college setting and I want to be involved in as many student activities as possible. I feel that a satellite campus is not for me. Unfortunately, I did not realize that the satellite campuses were not set up like college campuses until a month ago. If I would have known this, I would not have selected Orlando as my second choice. I truly believe that since I learn best in a college setting, that I will not excel in Orlando.
I understand that not everyone will be happy with the campus that they receive. However, when I ranked the Orlando site, I did not understand correctly how the learning would be facilitated. I know that I would have only applied for the Gainesville campus, had I known this. I believe that I will not be happy in Orlando and I feel that I will not be able to excel, not only as a student but as a person at this satellite campus. I know that I will be an asset to the University of Florida?s College of Pharmacy and I hope that the committee seriously considers me for the Gainesville campus. I feel very strongly about attending classes and participating at this campus. Thank you very much.
~Pam
P.S. here's the letter I sent them
Dear Admissions Committee:
I am writing this letter to petition my randomization to the Orlando site for the University of Florida?s College of Pharmacy. I would like to be considered for the Gainesville campus. I was ecstatic to receive my conditional acceptance in February to the University of Florida?s College of Pharmacy. This was my number one choice and I was very excited to be a Gator. I had visited the Gainesville campus and fell in love with it immediately. I was very excited to be taking classes in the brand new pharmacy facility and the staff and students were extremely pleasant. When I first received my conditional acceptance, I believed that I was accepted to the Gainesville campus until I read about the randomization process. In September when I rated the campuses I believed that the Orlando campus site was in a college setting, and I thought that I was going to be attending lectures just as if I was in Gainesville. However, I have recently found out that this is not the case. I am extremely disappointed about the campus selection and do not feel that I can achieve my goals and dreams at this distance site.
There are a few important reasons, why I do not feel that I will flourish as a pharmacy student at the distance site. When I first ranked both the Orlando and Gainesville campuses, I had a place to live in both areas and knew that I would be financially stable. However, in recent months, I have found that I will not have a place to stay in Orlando. This is a huge financial burden for me to bear.
Also, I am a person who needs the classroom setting to learn better. I have taken classes that gave the option of watching the lectures online. I still went to class, however, because this is how I learn best. I sit up front and ask questions when I don?t understand something. I feel that by watching a movie, I will not be able to learn as well. I also enjoy the interaction of other students before and after class. I like being able to discuss what we just learned or talk about problems that I am having. I understand that the satellite campuses offer sessions like this, but I know that I am the type of person who has to be in the classroom and asking questions as we discuss a new topic, while it?s fresh in my mind.
Another reason why I feel that I will not excel in the Orlando campus is because I plan on being heavily involved in pharmacy organizations and student council. I worked throughout my years as an undergrad and made on conscious decision to be more involved in pharmacy school. I worked very hard to graduate early so that I could take a semester off in order to work and save money so that I would be able to be more involved in pharmacy school. I wanted to become an active member of Kappa Epsilon. However, the website states that it will be coming soon to distance campuses. I do not want to have to wait until my third year to become a member. I would also like to be an active part of the Univerisity of Florida?s APhA chapter. I feel that I will not be as involved if I am at a distance education site. I plan on doing a residency and was hoping to be active in many organizations that will help me achieve an excellent residency.
In recent months, I have been researching my career path as a pharmacist and have decided that the best field for me is clinical pharmacy. I plan on becoming a clinical pharmacist with a specialization in pediatric pharmacy. I was hoping to get an internship or start volunteering at Shands childrens hospital in Gainesville. I feel that without experience and student organization involvement, I will not receive a good residency.
I have spoken with a few students from the Orlando campus and many have said that most of the students have families and are married. I am only 21 and do not have such family obligations. For this reason, I was hoping to be in a college setting where I could socialize with other students my age. Involvement in activities is very important to me because I feel that I did not get involved enough as an undergrad because I was always working. Since I will not be working through pharmacy school, I was hoping to get involved in as many activities as possible. I understand that there will be an immense amount of studying, however, I am used to going to school full-time and working 25 hours a week.
I feel that if the satellite campus was more like a college campus then I would be fine with the selection. However, I feel that the Orlando campus will keep me from achieving my goals. I want to take classes in a college setting and I want to be involved in as many student activities as possible. I feel that a satellite campus is not for me. Unfortunately, I did not realize that the satellite campuses were not set up like college campuses until a month ago. If I would have known this, I would not have selected Orlando as my second choice. I truly believe that since I learn best in a college setting, that I will not excel in Orlando.
I understand that not everyone will be happy with the campus that they receive. However, when I ranked the Orlando site, I did not understand correctly how the learning would be facilitated. I know that I would have only applied for the Gainesville campus, had I known this. I believe that I will not be happy in Orlando and I feel that I will not be able to excel, not only as a student but as a person at this satellite campus. I know that I will be an asset to the University of Florida?s College of Pharmacy and I hope that the committee seriously considers me for the Gainesville campus. I feel very strongly about attending classes and participating at this campus. Thank you very much.
