<p>I go to a CUNY school in NY (they are a set of 4 year commuter state schools. In the New York City area). I am currently a Freshmen there however they seem to be making everything impossible. It feels as if they want me to be there forever. Before I even got to the school they messed up my financial aid; after I resubmitted the verification form three times at three different occasions but somehow it still got lost.</p>
<p>My first semester I had to withdraw from Pre-calculus because it was taught by a bio teacher, and everyone was doing very poorly. In H.S. I finished my math requirement two years early, and ended up taking AP biology my senior year therefore my mathematics skill were a bit rusty. It was too time consuming sitting through a 4 hour a week class just for attendance, when I had to reteach myself at home & had other more demanding classes such as Computer Science. Withdrawing was my best option. Everyone was doing so poorly (I kid you not) that the administrators unlocked all the online homework to increase students chances of simply passing the class. (I had already withdrawn by then).</p>
<p>My second semester I try to re-registering for Precalculus however the system did not let me. After various failed attempts I call the mathematics department; to which I am met with a ridiculous explanation. The math department stated that due to low performance in mathematics the previous semester they had changed the grading scale of the old placement exam, based on the new placement exam & I was left off the curve by a margin of 2 points. I therefore had to register for MATH 101 (college algebra, a pre-req for precalculus) which basically set me back a semester. This also makes no sense as I passed computer science & the pre-req for computer science was precalculus therefore I passed a harder class. What angers me about this predicament is that there was no notification sent to the students. They send out countless e-mails on redundant activities, but somehow leave students out of the loop for truly important things. My mother & various other adults believe that so many people withdrew the first semester (due to inadequate teaching) that the college saw it as an opportunity to make a quick buck. Even so if the students were not prepared for the math class they were placed in this should be organized the previous semester not RIGHT BEFORE registration. I then register for Math 101 & chemistry but then I find out that there is a difference between the health science chemistry and regular chemistry which was not differentiated. I then had to withdraw from chemistry because I have to take a different chemistry of the same level which can ruin my financial aid. So I am up to 3 W's Freshman year.</p>
<p>I figured out what I am going to major in, but I realized that I am a year behind due to science classes only being offered in certain semesters. This is also due to the fact that ALL students start out as undecided taking random classes, which is not good to do since the school has so many requirements. I have a boatload of General Education requirements that have no purpose whatsoever. I also need to take 2 years of a language although I am already fluent in English & Spanish having passed the Spanish regents(3 hours new york state h.s. test) with a 100. I just feel very discouraged, and that I will be in that school forever. I want to transfer, but transferring seems impossible since my grades are not amazing. I feel stuck & am doing poorly due to depression as a bi-product of my horrible college experience, but I cant leave the school because I am doing poorly it is a vicious cycle. Oh. You also need a recommendation letter to transfer but most Freshmen science classes are 400 students therefore I don't really know my professors on a personal basis. Apart from that I don't have time to know them since their office hours conflict with my internship & other activities.</p>
<p>In short I wish I had gone away to school, but I have a conscience and do not want my parents to take out a ludicrous amount of money, however being in they city is not going very well. Depression is taking its toll & this semester might me a disaster as well.</p>
<p>Note: I already suffered from depression due to the termination of a 3 year relationship, and other familial difficulties. I feel the school I am attending is only adding to my stress. Commuting everyday to school in the NY transit system is not helping me either, I just feel that I need to get away, and don't know what to do.</p>
<p>As you have painfully discovered, unlike in HS, it is up to the student to do the research and figure out which classes to take. The handholding through course choices is over.</p>
<p>You mentioned that you completed your HS math requirement 2 years early. Did you take the minimum required or did you go above the minimum and complete math through HS calculus? It is not the fault of the college that you’re HS math curriculum did not prepare you well for college level math. Even you recognize that your math skills have fallen by the wayside because you spent the last couple of years in HS not taking math. </p>
<p>If you had researched the requirements for your intended major well before the registration date, you would have realized which science class you should have signed up for and avoided your mistake of signing up for the wrong class.</p>
<p>Have you tried setting up an appointment with your academic advisor to discuss class choices and requirements? If you’re not happy with your current advisor, have you researched possible new advisors and spoken with them? At most colleges, it’s a relatively simple process to change academic advisors.</p>
<p>Getting a 100 on a NYS Spanish Regents does not translate into being fluent in Spanish. It’s a very easy test. A college’s foreign language requirement is set for all students so I don’t understand why you feel that you’re being treated differently than any other student at the college. Simply put–if your HS foreign language rigor did not satisfy your college’s minimum foreign language requirement, you have to take a foreign language in college until it’s fulfilled. </p>
<p>IMO–your issues have more to do with your readiness for college than the college itself. If you’re not happy with your current college experience, take some time off and re-evaluate some things. Maybe take a summer class or two to explore courses of interest. Maybe take them at different local college and in order to compare the experience.</p>
<p>Some of the things you’ve described in your original post are due to you not fully doing your part in researching classes, requirements, etc. If you have questions about anything at your college, it’s up to you to find the answers. Make a point to meet with an academic advisor more than one time per semester. </p>
<p>Have you been officially diagnosed with depression by a doctor? If not, you may want to make an appointment with a psychiatrist for a mental health evaluation. This may be another good reason for you to take some time off from college–to address your mental health and get treatment for it if a diagnosis is made. </p>
<p>It’s not uncommon for students to take some time off from college. Time spent away from formal academics and exploring different things can help to find a new passion or new plan for one’s future. Full time employment may help to put things in perspective. Maybe take some time off and engage in the real world for a while. Get a job, do some community service, find a new interest or passion, and start paying your own bills and expenses. Get out in the world and gain a sense of independence, confidence, and focus. You may end up going back to college at a later date with a new perspective and focus. On the other hand, you may find a new direction for your future that doesn’t require you to go back to college.</p>
<p>If you don’t want to take time off (which is a really good suggestion), then definitely go talk to your academic advisor. They might be able to help you pick better classes next time around.</p>
<p>I am not sure you understand, but the classes that I took the first semester were from a list of pre-determined schedules that the college selects to ensure they maintain a high retention rate since they are a commuter school. Students start off without a major. Talking to an adviser is no help since they recommend you take general education classes, which was why I registered for the inappropriate science class. They recommend you select a major by the 60 credit mark, which is not very helpful as many classes are only offered certain semesters, therefore it seems inevitable to loose time due to the pre-established system. </p>
<p>I finished my mathematics requirement in 2 years, because I skipped a year of math. My school only required Math A & B. Math A was 1 Year, and Math B was 1 semester. I took Math A & B in one year & Precalculus the following year. Due to budget cuts & reshuffling to teachers my school did not offer anything higher since there were no available teachers. My senior year AP calculus was offered, but I opted to take AP Bio since it was closer to my interests. </p>
<p>I should be able to skip the F.L. requirements since I definitely am fluent in Spanish. It is my first language. My school requires for the student to have taken 3 years of Spanish, but since I am a native speaker when I was H.S. I only took Spanish 1/4. I was then skipped to Native Spanish which is the equivalent of an English Literature class, but in Spanish or a Spanish 5, which is why I did not meet the 3 year language requirement. My school only offered Spanish as a foreign language which is why I ended up in this mess.</p>
<p>I already do countless community service, have worked a full time job in the summer, which I am currently still employed in as an intern for a major agency (I will be there for 1 year in July). I also manage,edit, and populate my fathers web store, so I don’t know how much more real world experience I can possibly gain. </p>
<p>If anything my internship has taught me that nothing I am learning at my college is applicable to the real world. I have learned more from my job than I have in college thus far. I am just very unhappy with my school, but see chances of leaving as slim. I don’t think I need a break, but perhaps I need to find a school more specifically catered to my needs, or that is a better “fit” for me.</p>
<h2>I never implied I needed “hand-holding” while selecting classes I just don’t know what to do in a school with a such a skewed administration. The whole problem with my math class was not my lack of preparedness, but lack of information regarding the course. If the school is going to make such administrative changes bound to affect many students, they should warn students before making such changes. You bet if I had known that the grading scale had changed I would have stuck it out in the class since the curve was bound to be good as no one was doing well. However I decided to leave so that I could learn the material more efficiently in another semester with a different professor. Therefore instead of coasting by I would have a firm foundation & understanding from which to build on for the next course. </h2>
<p>DEPRESSION</p>
<p>I was never properly diagnosed with depression. I did go to counseling throughout high school, but due to changes in governmental policy my family lost insurance & I was no longer able to go. The fact that my parents are entrepreneurs and self-employed also means that we are left out of the loop for insurance making any type of health care difficult to obtain.</p>
<p>Since I don’t dorm at the school my college does not offer health insurance, and since I am not a full time worker I can not get it from my job. My mother also recently got major surgery which takes precedent over my emotional needs.</p>
<p>& thank you nysmile for your input and guidance. I apologize for elaborating so much but I feel that despite the fact that I tried to cover all the logistics in my first post, there were still some gaps that needed filling in.</p>
<p>Oh: On another note about math. Many students that did take Calculus level math in reputable high schools & decided to take precalculus for a review after summer vacation were performing poorly in the class as well. That was also a contributing factor to my decision to withdraw. I believed that I needed a different professor, teaching style and point of view to do well, because it was apparent whatever he was doing was not working well for the majority of the class.</p>
<p>The school is reputable and I admit some departments are very good. But the administration basically murders all the good efforts that some professors put in. I didn’t know it would be this disorganized.</p>