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View Full Version : There's a chance I won't be able to graduate on time


zeoquean
10-19-2006, 03:02 PM
Okay...I go to college as you all know. Well, this is my last year...I hope. It's already been too long.

I suppose I should tell you all the brief backstory of my college career. I started right out of high school in Fall 2000. I thought after my first semester that I found what I wanted to do: criminology. So I declared a crim major and did that for a while. Until the middle of my 3rd year (with 30 credits left) when I realized I had no idea what I wanted to do with that degree anyway. I go to the career center and do the personality tests and skill tests and whatnot...and the first things listed were pharmacy and accounting. I thought about pharmacy, and took general biology and chemistry. Then I didn't know if that's what I wanted to do either, so I switched to accounting. I thought about that one some more, then I switched back to science. So now I'm a cell biology major. I want to go into research. Okay. That's about it.

I had it set so I can graduate next May. I did the credit check balance sheet and everything. I had every class I need laid out perfectly, and it all worked out fine. Now there's a problem. In the cell biology program at my school, there is a physiology requirement on top of the other required classes. You can take plant physiology, or organ systems I and II. I chose the latter, and am in organ systems I right now, with the second next semester. They also say you have to have 2 elective classes, at least one with a lab. That's not too bad, right?

So...I do the credit check and everything...and plan out my last semester. It can't be easy, can it? I get the thing back saying my GPA needs to be up higher (in the major...but I read that you just need a 2.0 overall GPA...I'll have to ask about that one...but I'm worried about the next part more) and the classes that I need. There was no surprise there.

Until I look at the elective list again, and look at what's offered next semester. There is only ONE course offered with a lab, and it's during a required class time. So I can't take it. There is no other approved elective for me to take. I talked with the department, and they said that I could take animal physiology for the phys requirement, and use organ systems II as the lab course (it does have a lab)...but of COURSE animal phys isn't offered next semester. I suppose I could switch to a regular bio major, but I can't do that cause you need ecology and ecology lab (NOT offered next semester). Ugh!

I did hear that a prof of mine is going to offer Virology...and that is an approved one. i have to find out when that will be. Otherwise, if that doesn't work out...I have to e-mail my advisor, and the department head, and try to petition for any random class with a lab to be counted as an elective. I've been going to school for so ****ing long that I want out!

You think they'll work with me on this because I've been going so long? You'd think they'd want me out of here. Maybe I'll just e-mail them anyway and have that as a backup plan.

Phoenix79
10-19-2006, 03:13 PM
I don't know if they offer this option at your school, Zeoquean, but at the university I work at, there is an option called an Independent study course.

It is often used for students who need a required course to graduate on time, but the required course isn't offered that semester. You may check with the head of the biology/chemistry department at your school and see if they have any independent study options that would fill the requirements you need to graduate. Maybe they would allow you to do readings and/or research with a biology/chemistry professor for 3 credits that could count as an elective or something. Just a thought.

I totally understand the being in school forever thing. I work here full time, and can take up to 6 credit hours a semester. I have a total of 32 credits so far . . . at this rate, I'll have my bachelor's degree in another 5 years or so . . . I'm sure it will be worth it, though. At least that's what "they" tell me! ;)

Hope things work out so you can graduate when you want to!

Phoenix

Greenday
10-19-2006, 03:43 PM
Heh, so many schools are making it nearly impossible to graduate within four years. Like for my sister, her college told her she had a new class she has to take. They two previous classes and combined them. She took both previous classes. They tell her she still has to take new combined class. What a load of crap. Just trying to take more money out of her pocket.

AFpheonix
10-19-2006, 06:24 PM
I was >< close to getting done in 4 years flat, but apparently I was short 1 friggin' credit hour at graduation. How did I find this out? I went up to the podium, got my little diploma holder, did the shake hands- smile thingy, went back to my seat and opened it up to check out my diploma.


It wasn't in there. Just a little note saying that I needed another credit. Didn't even need to be a specific kind of credit, since I'd met all my other requirements.

So....I raised a little hell and let the registrar's office know that they needed to do a better job on letting people know where they were on stuff like that (honestly, I added incorrectly when I was putting my class list together for my last term, and my advisor didn't catch it either.)
So, I earned it that summer through an internship at the hospital. The school then attempted to charge me tuition for that internship, and between my advisor and I managed to talk them out of that. Especially since I went and got the internship myself and didn't use any college resources for it.
School keeps asking me to donate $$ now, and wierdly, I keep throwing the requests away....hmm.....

BrassCowboy
10-19-2006, 07:39 PM
Greenday speaks the truth. I know many people who were told that they could graduate, only to be told days before the ceremony that they are missing 1 or 2 credits. It's the school's way of making a little extra money. What I dont understand is: why do they piss people off like that, you know, with trivial credits that dont mean squat? Don't they want them to come back and try for a masters degree?

zeoquean
10-20-2006, 06:21 PM
I just checked on that one course, and it's at the same stupid time as that other one I wanted to take. So either I will have to do the petition for another class, or maybe I'll see if I can do directed research or something and if that would work. It certainly won't hurt ot try...