<p>Hi,
SJSU accepted my friend as a junior transfer from community college. Unfortunately! a class he excepted to transfer over, Intermediate Algebra, could not be counted toward his credits. That left him with only enough credits to be classified as a second semester sophomore. One class shy of becoming a junior.</p>
<p>Because of this, he cannot matriculate in the fall.</p>
<p>SJSU does not accept summer courses. Does anyone have any ideas?</p>
<p>Has he called them up and talked to admissions at SJSU? Seems like they would have run into similar situations in the past and would be the ones to know the best solution if there is one.</p>
<p>SJSU has been extremely harsh with all of its rules regarding transfer students. I’m not saying that one shouldn’t go ahead and ask administration at SJSU–but I am saying that it is very possible this student will have to look at “plan B” – waiting an extra year before going to SJSU or trying to transfer to another school.</p>
<p>Among other personal stories I have heard with SJSU woes have included students being accepted into programs (a teacher certification program) and mid-year cuts halving the program. Meaning, the students were IN the program one day and the next day they were told they’d have to wait a full year before starting their teacher certification program. </p>
<p>As far as I know, minors or double majors are no longer allowed. CURRENT students who are double-majors are being forced to finish a single major and ditch the other – but not allowed to choose <em>which</em> major to keep – they are forced to finish the one they are closest to finishing. On a radio show a student complained that he was a double major - Biology and German. His intent was to go into the Biology field as a career… but because he was <em>closer</em> to finishing off a German degree he was cut off from his Biology classes. How useless is that in terms of career options?</p>
<p>So on and so forth. If SJSU is brutal enough to make the above type cuts, I doubt they will be too sympathetic to incoming students short some credits. But good luck - hope I am wrong. Would love an update so that others know what the environment is like at SJSU for transfer hopefuls.</p>
<p>Adding on to what annika said, I’ve heard a fair share of horror stories regarding SJSU. It’s a nightmare transferring in and out.
Do tell your friend to speak to the admin… and hopefully one of them will be sympathetic.</p>
<p>We apologize for any confusion, and ask that you read and share our response. Yes, we have had to reduce admissions, which means being very careful to ensure that all applicants comply with posted rules for fairness reasons. Having said that, it is always a good idea to contact our admissions office to learn more about your specific case. You can call, email or walk into our Student Services Center. </p>
<p>[SJSU</a> Admission](<a href=“http://info.sjsu.edu/home/admission.html]SJSU”>http://info.sjsu.edu/home/admission.html)</p>
<p>We do our very best to work with each applicant on an individual basis. Due to budget cuts, SJSU is also encouraging students with enough credits to graduate to do so in order to free up seats for new freshmen and transfers. Please understand that the budget shortfall we face - $44 million last year - is enormous, and must be addressed through multiple means, often after making decisions with no good choices. We regret the challenges all this brings upon our applicants and students, and ask that you join us in voicing your concerns to our elected officials. The two principal sources of funding for SJSU are your student fees and the state general fund. [url=<a href=“Office of the President”>Office of the President]San</a> Jos</p>
<p>“SJSU is also encouraging students with enough credits to graduate to do so in order to free up seats for new freshmen and transfers.”</p>
<p>Hahahahaha. “Encouraging” students to graduate? The students at SJSU are not being given a choice. Super-seniors (those with high credit counts) are mandated to graduate as fast as possible. They no longer have freedom to choose their path toward graduation - like the German & Biology double major student who was forced to finish the German degree and leave. The student no longer signs up for classes, an Advisor picks the fastest path and physically signs them up because the student is locked out of the online registration system. The student is also not allowed to drop a class without permission, either. If a super-senior student veers from the set path, such as dropping a class without permission (!!!), they are put on an administrative notice/probation.</p>
<p>This is not “encouragement” – this is a strong-armed march to graduation with no room left to take a random elective, finish a Minor, or even CHOOSE between two majors.</p>
<p>I understand there is a budget crunch, but let’s not get ridiculous and use euphemisms like “encourage” when the reality for high-credit seniors (and it happens for lots of reasons, especially if a student started one major and switched late in his/her academic career) is that they are forced/required to graduate asap.</p>
<p>Here - read it from their own internal memo</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.sjsu.edu/advising/docs/enrollment_management/SJSU_Admission_and_Enrollment_Changes.pdf[/url]”>http://www.sjsu.edu/advising/docs/enrollment_management/SJSU_Admission_and_Enrollment_Changes.pdf</a></p>
<p>(ALL CAPS my own emphasis):</p>
<p>“6. Super Seniors. INTRUSIVE advising will be implemented for students who have high number of units […]. We must INTRUDE in the students’ explorations in order to ensure they are making good progress toward their degree objectives. […] The plan involves establishing appropriate CONTRACTS with students that WILL BE ENFORCED. Some groups of students will NOT BE PERMITTED to enroll themselves in classes, but will be required to have an advisor from the advising and retention center register them with input from major advisors when appropriate.”</p>
<p>The rest of the 3 page memo is equally grim. Zero tolerance for missing even less-than-critical deadlines. In today’s SJSU, the slightest misstep means having an acceptance withdrawn. I know one person who was accepted, but because they did not check their SJSU <em>email</em> account in time had their offer rescinded. We’re not even talking about accepting the SJSU admission offer, or late final transcripts or being short a required class – we’re talking about missing an email check-in deadline.</p>
<p>I have a copy of the PDF in case SJSU removes it from their own website. If you really want to know the tone of what is happening at SJSU, start reading all the impaction memos.</p>
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