For students who apply to Ohio University but receive a rejection letter, the quest for acceptance does not always have to end.
OU has an admissions appeal process in which denied applicants who feel unfairly rejected can request a second look at their application. During Fall Quarter 2004, 13 students were accepted to OU as a result of appeals and reviewing.
Appeals occur every year at the university and follow a distinct process, said Jean Lewis, OU's interim director of admissions.
First
we ask that the student send a letter telling why we should review the application. We also ask to be provided with additional material like test scores Lewis said. The director (of admissions) then normally reviews those particular requests.
The admissions appeal process is important because a prospective student's progress in high school can change, Lewis said.
We may
as reviewers
have overlooked something in an application that wasn't obvious to us or because of new information that the student can't present at the time
Lewis said. Maybe when they were denied
they were denied in the early-to-late fall and didn't have their semester grades
and they can show that ... they are actually on an upward trend.
Though the process occurs at most colleges, some students are not aware of it.
Dalan Johnson, a senior theater major, did not know OU had an appeal process but said because OU is a public university, the process should exist.
If someone really wants to go to a college
I don't see why they can't go through an appeal and get accepted
Johnson said.
Monica Payne, a sophomore English major, was familiar with the process and also agreed with it because some students might excel in areas besides standardized testing, nonetheless making them good candidates for college.
I think (the appeal process) is fair
Payne said. Some kids just might not have good test scores.
Lewis said many students might not be aware of the process because the admissions office informs students of it on a case-by-case basis.
If a student calls in and questions the decision on their application and they want to have their application reviewed
