I will try to make a long story short,
I started at SMU’s undergrad B-school this semester. I transferred with 55 credit hours, but 7 of them were taken over the summer.
Getting admitted and finishing up summer requirements was a mess, I wasn’t officially admitted until 3 days before classes, and things were pretty manic for the majority of this semester.
I was surprised when I didn’t get any academic money when I transferred because I had a 4.0, and assumed that I would have been considered for merit scholarships. I need scholarships and a half-time job if I am going to be able to stay at SMU (it’s an amazing school and I desperately want to stay here), so I was looking at scholarship options tonight.
I realized that I missed out on a half-tuition scholarship when I transferred because the 7 credit hours that I took over the summer weren’t considered and I only transferred in with 48. The scholarship required 50 credit hours.
I applied in January and at no point did anyone from admissions, financial aid (I didn’t get my financial aid award until the last week of July), or anyone else with the university tell me that the summer courses wouldn’t transfer and I would need to take one extra spring course to save ~$22,000. There was constructive knowledge, but no actual knowledge (I should have known and am not exculpating myself of any responsibility).
I am meeting with my academic advisor for spring course selection tomorrow and will ask him his advice, but how would people with more experience advise that I approach the financial aid office about this?
I realize that the chances of getting this awarded beginning in the spring are slim to none, but I have to pursue it because if I don’t get it I’m likely leaving SMU for SUNY Albany, which is like leaving the Ritz Carolton to stay in a Motel 6 in a bad neighborhood that just had the crime scene tape removed from the front door.
My game plan at the moment is just to put on my best begging shoes, beg for help from the financial aid office, and hope that God has been listening to me because I would be absolutely devastated if I had to leave here.