I cannot win this appeal...now what?

Paying for College
1

<p>This is a long post, but the details are important. I need real advice and have had nothing so far in this journey but protocol. Please read...</p>

<p>I am currently under academic and financial aid suspension. I filed an appeal with my college and was denied. I am currently filing another appeal, based on the advices of my appeal counselor. But, the reasons why my first appeal was denied- are things that either cannot be corrected (as they have already happened) or things that cannot be done unless I am reinstated. </p>

<p>I was suspended because my completion rate fell to 67.9%. The requirement is 70%. I was under probation the semester prior when a landslide semester cause my rate to fall to 64%. I brought it up to 67.9% to no avail. This put me on Financial Aid suspension. </p>

<p>I managed to ruin my completion rate by recieving withdrawels from particular classes. This put me on academic suspension as well. And, since the classes that were withdrawn were classes that did not count towards my GedEd or major...I officially landed within the 150% maximum timeframe suspension. My GPA is actually good and intact. Amazing, isn't it? That's because the 67.9% of classes I completed, I passed with a "A" or "B". </p>

<p>My counselor said that aside from my withdrawels...I was doing extremely well.
My first appeal was denied for 3 reasons:
1) I would be unable to complete within the maximum time frame.
2) They did not feel that I would be able to make sound class choices, based on my past academic decisions.
3) They did not feel that the offers I made would help me to improve my status.</p>

<p>I talked to the appeal counselor, and she said that my first problem was in my appeal format. It was far too long, and didn't follow a linear timeframe. But, I was told by my advisor, "...what you need to do is site each class, in the order that you took them, talking about the goods and the bads, and be as detailed as you possible can."
Obviously, this does not work!!</p>

<p>This is what happened...</p>

<p>Fall 2010
No formal advisory available at this time
I took advisory on a walk-in basis
Took a math class, an ESOL class, a computer class, and English 111.
(failed the math class & withdrew from ESOL)</p>

<p>Spring 2011
Still no formal advisory available at this time
I took advisory on a walk-in basis
Repeated math class (passed!)
Took a history class
To a comparative study class
To a computer class
(A good semester!)</p>

<p>Fall 2011
Appointed to an advisor- it was her first semester advising!!!
Told to pick my classes
Took Algebra online(withdrawn by instructor as a merciful act of kindness)
Took Anthropology online (withdrawn by instructor for not understanding online classes)
Took computer class (passed)
((Officially on probation, at this point))</p>

<p>Spring 2012
Told by advisor that I didn't need Math classes or humanites
Took HR (withdrawn at midterm by instructor for failing tests)
Took Typo (passed)
Took graphics (passed)
Took Sociology (passed)
(( officially suspended))</p>

<p>Please help. Ask questions and I answer them. I just need to know what to do. I cannot blame advisory, because the are a "no fault" faction. I tried blaming myself, and it made me look incompetent. I tried taking responsiblity, and it made me look like a kisser. I would give up my FA and reduce my major, if it would keep me in school. Anything!!</p>

2

<p>What are you doing this semester?</p>

3

<p>Based on your account of how many courses you failed or dropped, I have to question your readiness to go to this college</p>

4

<p>Thank you for your reply. THIS semester, I am still in the process of appealing. I cannot take another class unless I win my appeal. My suspension was for one semester, however you cannot be reinstated at all, unless you win your appeal. That basically means, that if you do not win an appeal- you are expelled.</p>

5

<p>GMTplus7-</p>

<p>I agree. When I look back over what I have, it is clear that I was not ready to go to this college. I took advice that I should have ignored. I should have trusted the requirements that the college catalog stipulated, rather than selecting classes on my own accord. Rather than meeting future instructers and auditing potential classes, I plummeted headlong into courses that I was unable to comprehend. I took difficult classes that did not count towards my degree. </p>

<p>And, the worst part is that there seems no way out. I have been told that if I do not win this appeal, I will never be able to return to this school. This school basically controls most schools in my state. I feel like I am sunk. I cannot attend any satellite school or affiliated school, until I win my appeal. </p>

<p>I’m not ready. I have no idea on how to plan my college career, and would be quite lucky to find an advisor who knew. That’s why I am here.</p>

<p>I did not actually “drop” any courses. I withdrew from two. Any other withdrawels were made by my instructers, without my permission, for their reasons. The reason why my Algebra instructor withdrew me, is because she said that I never should have taken that course…the structure of the course was for math majors looking to quickly come up to speed on coursework. Not for remedials like myself. Also, the only reason I took all those math courses is because I was told by the walk-in advisor that I had to have them to graduate. It was only when I was assigned a permanent advisor that I learned the truth. I didn’t need them and had wasted 12 credits that I could have used on business courses. I’m studying Business Administration. I don’t need extra math classes or humanities. I’m not a transfer student. I was told by the appeal counselor, that if I had only not taken those math courses and use those credits on business courses instead, I would NOT be suspended right now.</p>

6

<p>If you did win your appeal and you stayed in the school, what will be different in your situation, which would improve your performance at there? Is staying in this school the best path for you? </p>

<p>I’m not trying to discourage you, but am only trying to help you to be objective. </p>

<p>You are not “sunk”. Remember you always have other options.</p>

7

<p>GMTplus7-</p>

<p>Thank you for your reply. If I won my appeal, there would be so many things that I would do differantly. Just by the act of investigating ways to win this appeal, I have learned so much. </p>

<p>The first thing I would do, would be to trust in the current requirements stipulated by the college. That means that I would use the written requirements as my guide to course selection above all said by academic advisors. This would eliminate my chances of taking pointless courses that count against my completion rate and degree.</p>

<p>The second thing I would do, would be to start making myself known to these business instructors of mine. I am trying to secure a degree in business, and I feel my focus needs to be on my future peer group. I heard recently that it’s easier to get a job in the business field, if you know someone who knows someone and so forth. Networking. </p>

<p>I seem to have issues with online courses that do not involve my major. I would avoid those in the future, as I don’t seem to pass them. I need face time/class time, and have learned that the hard way.</p>

<p>Instead of my goals being to make good grades each semester and rack up credits, my new GOAL would be to graduate and do so in a timely manner. </p>

<p>I would make sure that I met my instructors if possible, prior to either taking a course or before the start of a course. I would also audit a class I was unsure of. This would have made a huge differance in my HR course and the online Algebra. </p>

<p>I have also learned that advisors can help, but you should not let your college career rest in their hands. They are human and make mistakes that could have a serious impact on your transcript. So, I would do my homework and make sure that I was justified in my choices according to the college’s standard…not the advisors. </p>

<p>I would never take another class that I didn’t need. And, if I had any trouble at all with a needed course, I would solve it. I would sign up for a tutor in a heartbeat, not worrying how it would make me look or if it took more time. </p>

<p>If there is anything else that I should or would do, I am not entirely sure what it is. But, I am trying hard to learn how to navigate college. I am 38 years old, and a college degree to better my career chance is paramount to me. It is the most important thing in my life. I also happen to love school. I always have. I just made some really dumb choices and messed myself up. Now, I’m trying to pick myself up from the ashes and succeed.</p>

8

<p>Your explanation of the past got you nowhere. I suggest focusing instead on the future. Sit down with an academic advisor, map out a plan of the classes you will take, commit it to writing, and both you & the advisor should sign it. That will provide proof that you CAN make wise choices for your coursework. Explain that you will follow the written academic plan, and state what has changed in your life that now allows you to focus on your work … or what changes you have made so that you will be able to focus in the future. It’s worth a try.</p>

<p>If you are denied again, you have no choice but to work & pay your own way until you have proven that you can handle it … or borrow a private loan to pay (and prove that you can handle it).</p>

9

<p>kelsmom-</p>

<p>I was hoping that if my appeal was denied, that I would be allowed to pay my own way. But, one of the points that I cannot secure any real advice on- is whether or not I would even be allowed to do that. It is looking is if that I don’t win my appeal, they are not going to care if I pay my own way or not…they simply don’t want me there. THAT is what I am so upset about. And, I have not been able to find anyone who knows enough about this system to tell me if I am correct or not.</p>

10

<p>The only person who can really answer that question for you is someone at the school itself – no one on here will know. You might be allowed to take classes as a non-degree student, and if you do well, use them as evidence to be re-admitted to a degree program. But again, only someone at the school can tell you that. You need to ask THEM what your options are going forward. Good luck!</p>

11

<p>With all due respect, I’m really confused by information in your posts.
You say you want a business degree, but there is not a SINGLE business course listed in your work to date.</p>

<p>I also don’t understand what kind of college you’re at that has so many online classes. Is it a traditional college/university, or some kind of for-profit school?</p>

<p>At 38, what are you expecting from a completed degree in terms of vocational opportunity? Is this actually worth the fiscal burden and the non-productivity of not working FT because you’re in school? </p>

<p>By now I would think you’d be in the “or equivalent experience” category :wink: In other words, I wouldn’t put a LOT of stock in the degree being a career panacea.</p>