Again, I will recommend that prospective transfer applicants contact the specific departments they are looking to major in via email (so you have a paper trail) about how and if credits will transfer. This is not something to try to deal with over the phone with a generic school advisor, and it isn’t something to not have an answer for before you start at the new school.
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I agree but it’s too late for that.
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Also my parents said that if a lawsuit is not possible, they’re interested in getting a claim letter from a lawyer. This also seems unfeasible and likely to ruin my reputation with my school. Also worried about that.
And you can get a degree in history from an Ivy league college instead of Poli sci. This isn’t a problem…neither are “corporate job with large salary” specific which is your stated goal.
Again, this is a tempest in a teacup. Not a big problem.
You aren’t in charge of your parents. If they want to sue, you aren’t going to change their mind. Your best path as of right now is to concentrate on your classes, find a good internship for the summer, and let go of the idea that you have any control over your parents or the choices that have come and gone.
This won’t ruin your reputation; colleges are well acquainted with crazy parents and threats of lawsuits. You probably should look into therapy to help put this into perspective and reduce the amount of catastrophe thinking you are engaging in currently.
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Right. It is just a bit hard to do that when my parents insist on me calling them to discuss finding a lawyer.
Lol, as if anyone would think a 19/20 year old has any helpful knowledge of lawyers. it is time to laugh next time your parents ask for lawyer recommendation and ask them where they think you would have gained that knowledge?
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Any legal action will be handed by the university’s lawyers. It’s unlikely it will even get communicated to your professors. If it’s a frivolous lawsuit, lawyers can be sanctioned for filing one and the filing party ends up paying the defendants legal bills. If your parents pursue a lawsuit despite your protestations it could be an expensive lesson. But you have repeatedly warned them. They are adults and if they choose to go forward I don’t believe your professors will hold it against you.
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Your parents cannot succeed in a lawsuit against the college, since the college did nothing to them. You are an adult, not a minor, and as such, any harm that was done, was done to you.
First, you are an adult, and, so long as you are alive, not incapacitated, and have not given them power of attorney, they cannot sue in your name. Second, if you are not willing to claim that any harm happened to you, they really have no case.
Again, you are an adult, and your parents have no agreement with the college, and no business with the college. Really, the only thing that the can do is refuse to pay for your tuition. Since you were thinking of withdrawing anyways to help with your mental health, that could be for the best.
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A few comments:
–Did you and your parents read the transfer acceptance carefully? Did your new school promise in writing to take all of your credits (highly doubtful)? If not, I don’t see where there is a case. (I’m guessing the wording in the acceptance and/or on the website says your courses would be reviewed to see which would be accepted.) As one example here is Dartmouth’s policy stated clearly on the website. Credit Evaluation | Undergraduate Deans Office
–If possible you should have spoke to a Dean or advisor at the college BEFORE you make a decision to transfer there and find out in advance (or at least get a sense) of what credits would be approved by the new college.
–FWIW I transferred colleges (many years ago) and did lose a few courses. I don’t think it is an unusual occurrence.
–I also don’t know why the college would care if you took a summer class or two at your own expense (which you should get pre-approved by your college if not taken there).
–Agree that I don’t think the major would matter for job opportunities. You can include on your resume that you have taken a great deal of poly sci coursework.
–Can you get a history major and polysci minor if it is important to you?
–In general I’m confused – weren’t you looking to transfer schools? Did you transfer once already?
Many transfer students do so between colleges where there are articulation agreements or listings (e.g. community college to same-state state university), so transferability and course coverage will be known ahead of time. But when there is no articulation agreement or listing, the student takes the risk here, since transferability and course coverage is not determined until after matriculation.
The other option for the student is to transfer back to the original college (assuming that it is a four year college) and complete the desired major there.
A few thoughts on the thread:
History = Poli Sci major as far as any employer is concerned.
As others have pointed out, unless there is something you have not told us, the lawsuit will go nowhere because your parents don’t have standing to sue.
My recommendation to anyone looking to transfer is: Don’t. If there are truly exigent circumstances, such as a family, financial or personal situation driving it, then fine. Otherwise, don’t bother. Your experience of losing a bunch of classes is not unusual.
Schools are usually not very kind to transfer students. The transferee also ends up losing their old social network from the old school and not typically building a new one at the new school. And employers won’t care much about the 2 years you spent at the #25 ranked school instead of the #48 ranked school, or whatever their relative rankings are. It just doesn’t matter.
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Go with the history major.
Stay as far away from that lawsuit, if they go forward with it, as you can. Don’t become part of it in any way.
But, I am curious as to the specific reason for not allowing those credits to transfer?
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I’m confused OP. You just transferred, but you want to transfer again but your parents will not let you, you’re not doing well but your parents won’t acknowledge your struggles, you’re studying history but your parents want you to study political science etc. Do you see a common theme? I’m not sure a lawyer can help you guys. Sorry to be so blunt. I also don’t think the CC community can be of much help either.
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My current school accepted all my classes from my old school as credits for graduation, but the Poli Sci dept at my new school didn’t accept them for the major if that makes sense.
There is. Don’t want to say it as I fear it’ll doxx me — DM if you’re interested.
Basically what happened, as I transferred from one four-year school to another. I can’t go back to my old school as when I left, I signed a contract saying that I understand that I won’t be allowed back (which is what they force every single student who transfers out of the school to sign).
To clarify, my parents want to see a lawyer for the following three reasons:
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They believe a lawyer will convincingly let the school allow me to do Poli Sci (unlikely).
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If (1) doesn’t work, they are convinced a lawyer will get some sort of claim letter.
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If (2) doesn’t work, they are convinced a lawsuit is for the best.
Yes, that can happen, especially if a class your took at your first school does not have an equivalent class at your new school . Again, I highly doubt that the new college promised to accept all of your credits - either for graduation or for your major - without evaluating your transcript. Be grateful the credits were accepted for graduation.
I see no grounds for a lawsuit as: 1) you parents have no standing to sue and 2) I’d guess that there was no guarantee made in writing by your new school to accept all of your credits towards your major prior to a full evaluation of your prior coursework. IMO no ethical lawyer should take on this case, especially without your consent.
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My parents believe that they can find a lawyer who will sue on their (not my) behalf, so they believe they won’t need my permission nor cooperation. I am scared an unethical lawyer desperate for billable hours will go ahead with their plan.
I cannot, due to my new school’s extensive core requirements.