HAVING ACADEMIC DIFFICULTIES?
NEED A LETTER ?

Some students come to the Student Counseling Service (SCS) wanting assistance in obtaining some type of consideration from an instructor because they are not doing well in a class. Their hope is that a letter from the SCS will help them get out of academic trouble. They want us to provide a letter for their dean or advisor to “verify” personal problems that may have interfered with their academic performance.

Sometimes serious personal problems do interfere with one’s ability to concentrate on studies. Although counselors want to be supportive when they can, students need to understand that COUNSELORS CANNOT HELP CONFIRM DIFFICULTIES OF WHICH THEY HAVE NO PRIOR INFORMATION OR ONLY VERY LITTLE KNOWLEDGE.

If students have no counseling record other than an initial screening or a crisis intervention session, A LETTER MAY ONLY CONFIRM THAT THE STUDENT CAME TO THE STUDENT COUNSELING SERVICE AND DISCLOSED DIFFICULTIES THAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE AFFECTED ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE EARLIER IN THE SEMESTER. This type of letter is usually not very helpful. However, if a student has been seen in counseling while experiencing these difficulties, counselors are more likely to be able to write a supportive letter.

Please talk to your counselor if you are experiencing personal difficulties that you believe are negatively impacting your academic performance.