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Rank: Frosh
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Joined: 6/3/2008
Posts: 13
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As the title says. I've been put on academic probation on OSAP due to my poor GPA last year. I just really don't know what to write. How formal should I be? Any specific things I should say? I was battling depression by the way, but i'm in a good place right now.
Any help would be appreciated.
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Rank: Student Body President
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/4/2008
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Location: Ottawa
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If you believe that being on academic probation has something to do with being depressed (particularly if you can point to a medical diagnosis) then it's definitely relevant.
Remember that it often takes just as long to do a search or two on Google to try and find the answer to your question as it takes to type it in a post here, let alone the time waiting for a reply. If your question is "What mark does it take to get into University X", or "What are the requirements to get into University X", it's on their website and/or electronicinfo.ca (for Ontario schools). Particularly for Ontario schools, those ranges are a pretty good picture of what kind of mark will get you into the program, and if you're more than a couple percent higher it's practically guaranteed unless it requires a supplementary form.
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Rank: Senior Student
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Joined: 7/16/2008
Posts: 257
Location: Hamilton
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ramo13 wrote:As the title says. I've been put on academic probation on OSAP due to my poor GPA last year. I just really don't know what to write. How formal should I be? Any specific things I should say? I was battling depression by the way, but i'm in a good place right now.
Any help would be appreciated. You have to explain why you were on probation. It doesn't have to be that formal, but if you try and give a legit reason (like a medical raeson) you will have to provide supporting documentation (like a doctors note). Generally they shouldn't be too hard on you if this is your first probation. So if you don't have a GREAT reason, don't stress...just explain how tough it was to adjust, you took some classes that didn't interest you, you're rethinking your career path, you worked a lot, you had terrible roommates, etc-whatever it is. This won't get it REMOVED unless you appeal it through your OSAP advisor at school, in which case you'll need GOOD supporting documentation...like doctors notes. It will be super important that you get good grades this year. If you are put on probation a second time, your funding is suspended for one year.
4th Year Mac Science Student. Mac Psych Society Executive Member 2008/2009 Mac Community Standards Assistant 2008/2009 Vote for me: http://www.cbc.ca/nextprimeminister/candidates/shilodavis.html
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Rank: Valedictorian
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Joined: 6/25/2008
Posts: 569
Location: waterloo, ontario
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Since this is relevant, I'll ask-
What causes an OSAP probation?
Is OSAP probation different than university academic probation, and how are their criteria different? i.e. can someone have academic probation (from university) but not OSAP probation per se?
Thanks guys!
Environmental Studies & Resource Management, Earth Science
University of Waterloo '11
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Rank: Senior Student
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Joined: 7/16/2008
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seamoraine wrote:Since this is relevant, I'll ask-
What causes an OSAP probation?
Is OSAP probation different than university academic probation, and how are their criteria different? i.e. can someone have academic probation (from university) but not OSAP probation per se?
Thanks guys! OSAP probabtion is caused by a 'failure to maintain satisfactory grades'. I don't know the exact number that puts you on probation offhand, but I think you can get in trouble if you're under 70ish%. You can also be put on probabation for failing a class (even if your GPA is still decent) or for dropping classes. The criteria is different, but the differences depend on the university in question. If your university doesn't put you on probation until you end up with a 55% GPA and OSAP puts you on probabation with a 65% then you'll have probation with one and not the other...but that would depend on your schools standards 
4th Year Mac Science Student. Mac Psych Society Executive Member 2008/2009 Mac Community Standards Assistant 2008/2009 Vote for me: http://www.cbc.ca/nextprimeminister/candidates/shilodavis.html
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Rank: Valedictorian
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Macgirl wrote:OSAP probabtion is caused by a 'failure to maintain satisfactory grades'. I don't know the exact number that puts you on probation offhand, but I think you can get in trouble if you're under 70ish%. You can also be put on probabation for failing a class (even if your GPA is still decent) or for dropping classes. The criteria is different, but the differences depend on the university in question. If your university doesn't put you on probation until you end up with a 55% GPA and OSAP puts you on probabation with a 65% then you'll have probation with one and not the other...but that would depend on your schools standards I looked this up so I thought I'd share it XD According to OSAP, if you fail 60% of your course load in a semester, you are put on probation. i.e. you're taking 5 courses, and get below 50% in 3 of them. Also, university and OSAP probation is different. A student may have an unsatisfactory average (defined as less than 65% in most universities/programs) but they're still passing 60% of their course load in a given semester. They will be put on academic (university) probation but not OSAP probation. Don't quote me on these yet haha but I'm fairly certain this is the case.
Environmental Studies & Resource Management, Earth Science
University of Waterloo '11
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Rank: Senior Student
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Joined: 6/14/2008
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Location: East York/Toronto
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I am on OSAP probation and Academic probation this year.
I too suffered depression last year due to my nana's death (I loved with her until I was 11 so we were very close) and being away from home combined with adjusting to a new a city with no friends really took a toll on me. I am disability student and I get accommodation for it as well. I have medical documentation for my mood disorder that I send in to OSAP. So hitting a depression wall with good reason is just part of it all.
I just wrote exactly that (in better terms) and said that I would make sure I get counselling if needed and get extra help for my studies so that I can do better this year.
If you're on Academic probation you're only allowed to take [approx] 5-6 classes total.
I am taking 1 full year course, and 4 regular classes. That was all I was allowed to take.
I just need to prove myself this year.
This semester I have right now is my hardest and I'm stressing out hardcore.
Child and Youth Worker Graduate
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Rank: Senior Student
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dansflObtch wrote:I am on OSAP probation and Academic probation this year.
I too suffered depression last year due to my nana's death (I loved with her until I was 11 so we were very close) and being away from home combined with adjusting to a new a city with no friends really took a toll on me. I am disability student and I get accommodation for it as well. I have medical documentation for my mood disorder that I send in to OSAP. So hitting a depression wall with good reason is just part of it all.
I just wrote exactly that (in better terms) and said that I would make sure I get counselling if needed and get extra help for my studies so that I can do better this year.
If you're on Academic probation you're only allowed to take [approx] 5-6 classes total.
I am taking 1 full year course, and 4 regular classes. That was all I was allowed to take.
I just need to prove myself this year.
This semester I have right now is my hardest and I'm stressing out hardcore. You're not always restricted on how many courses you're allowed to take. Many schools (including Mac) allow you to take the maximum courseload even on probation.
4th Year Mac Science Student. Mac Psych Society Executive Member 2008/2009 Mac Community Standards Assistant 2008/2009 Vote for me: http://www.cbc.ca/nextprimeminister/candidates/shilodavis.html
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Macgirl wrote:OSAP probabtion is caused by a 'failure to maintain satisfactory grades'. I don't know the exact number that puts you on probation offhand, but I think you can get in trouble if you're under 70ish%. You can also be put on probabation for failing a class (even if your GPA is still decent) or for dropping classes. Where in heaven's name do you get information like that? There are tons of university students with marks in the 60s and are having no trouble getting OSAP year after year. There are also tons who fail one course and still get OSAP. If you post on a bb you need to post facts not something ridiculous.
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Rank: Senior Student
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Macgirl wrote:
You're not always restricted on how many courses you're allowed to take. Many schools (including Mac) allow you to take the maximum courseload even on probation.
Well, I wasn't. I was even pulled from a course because of it.
Child and Youth Worker Graduate
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Rank: Senior Student
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dansflObtch wrote:Macgirl wrote:
You're not always restricted on how many courses you're allowed to take. Many schools (including Mac) allow you to take the maximum courseload even on probation.
Well, I wasn't. I was even pulled from a course because of it. I know that different schools have different policies, that's why I specified that *many* schools allow you to take the maximum courseload on probation. I know there are a couple of exceptions to that, which must be really hard on students at that school!
4th Year Mac Science Student. Mac Psych Society Executive Member 2008/2009 Mac Community Standards Assistant 2008/2009 Vote for me: http://www.cbc.ca/nextprimeminister/candidates/shilodavis.html
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Based on a personal experience. I had a 67% average for the one semester (and then was allowed to take a semester off for family reasons without penalty) and I was put on OSAP probation. Because one of my courses was a failure though (which was my reason for my low average, I was put on probation despite my overall average being higher than the minimum 60% cutoff. Which is why I said you can 'get in trouble' not neccissarily put on probation at that level. There are circumstances once you drop under 70% that can result in a nasty warning letter from OSAP. (2 warnings=OSAP suspension). Generally you are put on probation if your marks are under 60%, however there are exceptions to that if you've failed a course or dropped a number of classes. Just because you get that 60% you're not always safe. Most of the time-but not always. Now I had circumstances surrounding my one course failure and had my warning removed after submitting all my supporting documentation. Just because a student is warned doesn't hinder them from receiving their funding unless they receive a second warning within a certain time period. So yes, there will be tons who fail one course and still get OSAP. But that DOESN'T mean they didn't receive a warning from OSAP. They would only have trouble getting OSAP if they received that SECOND warning within a certain time period (which I'm unsure what the time period actually is before your warning is taken off file). I know a number of students that had perfectly fine averages and STILL received a warning from OSAP because of a course failure.
4th Year Mac Science Student. Mac Psych Society Executive Member 2008/2009 Mac Community Standards Assistant 2008/2009 Vote for me: http://www.cbc.ca/nextprimeminister/candidates/shilodavis.html
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