How to write a letter for special consideration in application?

Question

Dear All,

I am applying to the University of Toronto Trinity College for Life Sciences, and wish to submit a letter requesting Special Consideration. My grades dropped about 10-15% during my last semester at school due to the fact that I was diagnosed with a 10lbs ovarian tumour in my abdomen, which was subsequently removed. However, the rehabilitation lasted several months, and I was fatigued, dealt with health-related depression and anxiety as well as severe pain, weakness and other symptoms. I lost a considerable amount of weight (approximately 30lbs both right after surgery and in the weeks following), and had a weakened immune system for months afterwards. All of this was happening during my final board examinations (I am from Austria, where I received my Austrian baccalaureate, similar to IB) as well as during my term as the elected student council president. My grades are acceptable (low 90s during last semester, 88 on final exams) with both exceptional grades in certain classes (Physics, Biology, French, English on finals are all in high 90s to perfect) and certain unfortunate standouts because of my prolonged absence and illness (Math and German, which I usually excelled at (low to high 90s), were in the high 70s, a score I had never received before. All in all, I was off school for about 4 months in total (was sick multiple times after going back, but took an initial two months leave), and I took my exams regularly with the other students.

The university calls that a letter of consideration must be submitted, along with a letter from a physician if health reasons are being stated. My doctor will submit a letter, but I am unsure of the format for my letter. 

Any ideas? In particular, the introducting sentence. Would something like this be ok?

To whom it may concern,

I am submitting this form in order to request Special Consideration as an applicant to the University of Toronto in the department of Life Sciences. Due to health complications and extensive surgery in November 2011, my attendance and grades throughout both my final year and my final board examinations suffered severly. 


I plan on going into more detail in the second paragraph, but I intend on keeping it short and sweet. Is that ok?

Thanks a ton in advance

Caligula · Accepted Answer

I think that's a good start, although I would explicitly mention (a) the months-long rehabilitation and (b) the other consequences (pain, weakness, etc.) in that first paragraph along with "health complications and extensive surgery."

And while I know you want the rest of the letter to be "short and sweet," I would make sure to describe these consequences in enough detail that it will be clear how the medical problems affected you.  For instance, "a weakened immune system" or "weakness" don't directly cause problems with functioning;  it's the things that your immune system ordinarily would have protected you from or the fatigue and exhaustion after you do relatively simple things that make it impossible for you to perform at your usual level.  Remember that some students lie, and so if you are expecting people to make the connections between the problems you're describing and the effect on your performance, you may be reporting so little detail that it's hard to distinguish your application from that of someone else who had much more minor problems following surgery and doesn't know how to do more than list a set of problems that he or she has heard can happen after significant surgery.

I wish you the best of luck, both in terms of your health and your educational opportunities.

toda · Answer

Letter Of Consideration

Jaquith · Answer

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RE:
How to write a letter for special consideration in application?
Dear All,

I am applying to the University of Toronto Trinity College for Life Sciences, and wish to submit a letter requesting Special Consideration. My grades dropped about 10-15% during my last semester at school due to the fact that I was diagnosed with a 10lbs ovarian tumour in my abdomen,...

sitcpsitcb · Answer

I think that's fine.  Add a short paragraph explaining what happened in plain English (I'm sure your doctor will put things in clinical terms), focusing on how the medical diagnosis affected your academics.  Specific examples are helpful.

If true, you may wish to add a sentence at the end stating that your health problems are currently under control and that you do not anticipate this sort of problem reoccurring (to the extent you can know these things).  You may also want to outline any steps you've identified to deal with health concerns while living in Toronto, as I'm assuming your primary doctor & support system are in Austria.

Anonym · Answer

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It would be best for you to find out who the director of admissions is and address it to him or her. To Whom It May Concern, I am writing for permission to take the special entrance test on April 14, 2010. I was unable to submit my application during the normal application period because I was attending school out of the country and was not aware of the schedule. Thank you for your kind consideration. Sincerely, (name)

Abdul · Answer

I am applying to government office consideration student loan

Anonym · Answer

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How to write a letter for special consideration in application?

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