Thanks so much for all of your kind and supportive comments today!
I want to vent just a little here. It will be short and sweet.
Well, maybe not sweet. And not so short.
I was accepted to college by my junior year in high school. I had been an advanced placement student, and the only way I could actually test was if I was applying to college.
So I applied to a fabulous women's college in Virginia and lo and behold! was accepted.
I got a great score on my AP exam and started college with a number of credits already under my belt.
Eventually I was homesick and transferred back here (with credits) to my home state at the community college. I went to school, I fell in love and got married when I was 18 (no comments from the peanut gallery, please---I thought I was a grown-up!).
Although I got a job in the magazine industry, which was my ultimate goal, I kept in with my studies sporadically.
I had Number One Son a month before I turned 20. Then the Little Guy when I was 23. I always "planned" to go back to school to finish my degree, but it just never seemed to be the right time.
The story of oh-so-many women's lives.
Now that I'm going back, I called the admissions office and asked about my previous credits.
Well poo.
Since it's been longer than 15 years, my credits are gone with the wind.
Ok, I accept that.
So I applied from scratch.
I go to test today for placement and get a printout of my information.
I'm identifed by my previous married name, and my "permanant address" is my ex-father-in-law's house. Which he hasn't owned for at least 12 years.
WTF?
I go to the admissions office.
Let me set the scene. There is NOBODY there, but me and two admissions ladies.
What is this? I ask. This isn't the information I spent 20 minutes filling out! My name has been X (my new married name) for over 10 years!
Plus I'm not applying for financial aid so there couldn't be any tie-in with that.
The admissions lady is totally uninterested in my dilemma. This is what you're listed in under our system.
Me: Well how do I change this?
Admissions Lady: You have to bring us a divorce decree or a marriage certificate.
Me: You have GOT to be SHITTING me! How in the world is this YOUR business?
Admissions Lady (getting up out of her chair and looking around wildly for help from her co-worker, who sits there looking amused)*: It's just our policy!
Me: So how the heck do I prove a "change of permanant address?"
Admissions Lady: You have to fill out this form!
And sort of "throws" it at me.
My big bitch is this.
If they still have me listed under the info I had over 15 years ago, why in the hell are my college credits invalid and non-transferable? Did Algebra really change that much since then?
I need a hug.
*The college has been heavily promoting their "Women's Re-Entry Program". I suspect I'm not the only pissed off divorced mom they've had in there with that freaking policy.
25 comments:
What a load of crap! If you have a drivers liscence or other form of valid picture id, they should accept that as your name and address. Giving them your divorce papers or marriage certificate is ridiculous. Since your name is changed even your social security card has a different name and I know that they use your ssn to identify you to some extent probably. What a bunch of idiots!
I can't believe that! That's freaking nuts! Take your marriage certificate and slap it in her face, hehehe! I love doing that with my ID :)
I like Sam's idea.
Mom, I believe this situation has triggered my PMS and I just got rid of my "friend". I think you're absolutely right and demand to speak to a supervisor. Or at least someone who gets off his/her ass and cares.
Have a virtual (((hug))) at least.
This does sound most perculiar. I don't now about the US, but here I think the only time we have to prove marital status is when it comes to tax purposes, getting remarried or registering a death. As Tracie says, any form of ID should prove your current name and address...
Anyway, good luck with it all!
Welcome to the wonderful world of acadimia, where common sense and real world work ethics are not allowed.
My condolences. You DRIVERS LICENSE should be good enough, but your bealing with bueracrats, and they have to dot their I's and cross their T's.....
Your right, if YOU are in the system under that name, why dont your credits apply? What was their answer? I would take it up with the dean or president if I were you....
Oh and here:
*hug*
those fucking bitch whistles. I hate those snobs! they are all cut from the same moldy hunk of shit no matter what college you are in.
They are like the old phone company, remember the old addage "You can't fight Ma Bell"? well that is the way those snatch baskets act. They can lose all of you paper work just because they don't like the shirt you have on. I wish someone would do an audit on admission people just to see how many vindictive cunts they have working in a low power yet necessary posistion.
I hate them bitches.
Driving licence should be enough. What you need to do is askto speak to her superior and make a clear point of taking her name. Then when you meet her superior you write down his or her name in your book right in front of them then if they aren't helpful you ask to see the Dean. It's complete bollocks the way they're treating you.
*vitual* hug
You already know they're wrong. Now you'll just have to suck it up and give them what they want. It's a pain.
The guy who works next to me recently had a huge fight with his school. They forgot to process one of his fA forms. Suddenly he owes $5,000 because of their mistake. They fought. They kicked him out of school because he would not pay the money. Yuck.
HUG HUG HUG HUG HUG HUG HUG HUG HUG!!! And to "make you feel better"... it's no better for non-re-entry students... at least not over here... I work at a University Medical Center and often have to deal with the student office and I think all of them are related to Admissions Bitch with u over there... Either that or they are REALLY stupid...
Awww guys, you make me feel so much better!!
Thanks so much!
<---gonna have to remember "bitch whistles" and "snatch baskets"!
Big hug after I slap that condoscending biotch that gave you all that attitude...
What the heck is all that about???
It is just beacuse they can not override the system...
Hell you would have your drivers license, not good enough????
I would write a letter to the president of the university... This is not how higher education should be represented...
You are a customer and are not pleased and you have not even started...
Pendullum:
Your right, its not how it SHOULD be, but I think we ALL have stories, eitehr our own, or know someone,who has acadimia horror stories.....
Attila:
Just WAIT. If you thought the adminssions office was bad, just wait till you get one of those crazy left leaning wackjobvs they call professors.....oh the stories I could tell.....
Sadly, you have to play "the game" if you want the credits....
If you have no credits there, because they are too old, and you have to take another placement test anyhow, then you should be able to reapply under your correct name and address.
I work in customer service, and as much as you have every right to be annoyed I know the attitude of these two care-nots is what is the most annoying. A little empathy goes a long way.
Well, you know you are hugged, virtually anyhow, all the time.
Isn't it amazing that the people at learned institutions can be such morons....duh huh.
That is just SO wrong!! As someone else mentioned, you ARE the customer. People tend to forget that when it comes to schools. I know I do, and I think they forget it too. They are used to dealing with ignorant 18 year-olds that they can push around. I say go up the ladder until you get satisfaction. I know I have had to do it!!
Oh, that is awful. Here's a hug
((((you))))
Bureaucracy never ceases to amaze me, these people seem to make it up as they go along. I agree with Kim, if you have a driving licence that should count as valid id. If not a credit/debit card and utility bill.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed it works out for you!
wow, that takes me back to the bureacratic madness of college. fight it, sister. don't let this b.s. discourage you from doing it. I can't believe they won't accept your hard earned credits though. Any way to appeal that?? Good, lord.
Lisa
This is bullshit. your point - exactly. As soon as you began writing about all that old info, my first thought was, okay, then you still have her credits as well....
disgusting pigs.
I would take this up with someone a bit higher than those two poo-heads.
maybe even say that you're a writer and your reader's might be interested in knowing their demonstrated hypocrisy.
That doesnt make any sense! When/If you decide to bring in your proof of residence (divorce papers?) wear a straight jacket and froth at the mouth a little
I cannot believe that. As someone who works in the financial aid industry, the only thing we need for a new "permanent change of address" is a fax (or a copy) of a recent piece of mail adressed to you. So, IMO, that is pretty wrong that to get money mailed to a NEW address that's all you need, but yet, at that college, they make you go through all of that, but your credits won't transfer? @@. Ugh!
bureaucracy sucks!! It's also a load of rubbish wrapped in garbage.
Atilla! I totally feel for you here because god knows the number of times I dealt with "it's our policy. can't do anything about it."
How can they not accept other proofs?
I love how that other lady didn't even bother stepping in! Urrg, you should at least get school credits for dealing with that shizz.
Ha! I called the admissions office at the MAIN campus yesterday.
All I need is my driver's license and to fill out the change-of-address form.
Alas! My credits ARE gone. When I asked why they still had my info, but not my credits I was told that MOST colleges only hold them for 10 years. This college holds them for 15.
Like I should be grateful. ;-)
Thanks everyone for all your support.
You guys are the best!
I occasionally take a class at our local junior college and was surprised a couple of years ago that all my credits still appear from back in the 70's. It was fun to look back at that stuff.
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