I can't get into much detail on this for legal reasons, so bear with me... As many of you know I work at a University. I'm not gonna say which one, and please don't ask. Anyway, my work involves making sure that students have what they need to get a degree. These requirements are BY NO MEANS a secret. In fact they are spelled out in detail in very easy to understand terms; you take this class, this class, this class, and this class and that requirement is fulfilled. In fact I often joke that if people would just take the time to read I would be out of a job. You and I both know that they don't and never will. So here is the problem I run into all TOO often. Someone comes in thinks they are done and they are not. They are missing something, paperwork, permissions, even classes. Then they are like "why didn't anyone tell me?" Fact is 99.9 % of the time, someone did, usually more than one person, wrote it down for them, and they signed a form saying that they understood what they needed, and it is in print in multiple publications. Yet they still scream "NO FAIR! It's not my fault!" This reminds me why I quit working with students and moved to computers. sheesh! If it wasn't so sad it would be funny.
I never ever ever talked to counslers during school, and never had a problem meeting requirements. You're right, its all written down for you and made very clear from day one. I don't understand why some people have a hard time with it either. If you are smart enough to get close to graduating, you should be able to at least follow simple instructions.
Thank you! When I was in college I was required to see an advisor for my major. They would put a bar on registration so that you couldn't sign up for classes. But when I showed up I had all the courses I wanted to take for that next semester and then a list of what I had left. 5 minutes, that's it. My department/college does not put bars on people, students do NOT have to come in but I stay busy anyway. The funny thing is when someone asks a question and the answer is in the schedule of classes or catalog (which is almost always), I ALWAYS show them where I got the answer. Yet they NEVER seem to catch on. 'Oh so if I just read the first 5 pages of this little magazine or searched for the answer in the index of this book I could find it?'
The only problem I have with colleges and their requirements for a degree is that they change the degree plan every couple of years.. I have been going for 3-4 years, and they have changed it 2 times since I have been going. Is this normal? or is it just because I'm a computer major, and the field changes so fast? They give you the option of using the degree plan that was in effect at the time you started, but then you have to figure out what new class number and name goes with the ones listed in your original catalog. but for the most part, I agree. Most people these days want it spelled out to them or handed to em so they dont have to think. Lord forbid you should have to actually keep up with what you need to graduate on your own! btw Mulder, Im not asking for you to tell me what school you are at online...but are you in Houston? Im about to finish my AAS program and will be moving on to UH for my BS...any in general suggestions to make the transition easier?
YESSSS!!!! That is so true... Try going to an office where they require you to sign a form, and read the contents of the form meticulously, and the person waiting for you to sign the form will say: "RIGHT THERE, sir...!" As if you didn't know where the signature is supposed to be. I simply answer: "Yes, thanks. I am reading what I am signing." They don't want to "wait" for you to sign, because their lines are so long... I work at a University too (you can see my profile, if you want), and have gone through this many times... with counselors here who don't want to wait for you to sign but know that it's better if I do read the fine print. The SUBJECT in this topic says it all: "People don't listen " and should also be "Don't Read, either"
One of the schools I used to go to just started requiring students to meet with their adviser before being able to register each semester. For years and years, the school treated students like adults and allowed them to register without consulting their adviser (except for the first time they attended classes at the University). I assume the change was made because they ran into problems with people not taking what needed to be taken, etc. In taking classes at UTA, I've made a point to see my adviser more often because there are rules I'm not aware of.... rules that seem to go against what the catalog, etc. says is required of me. For example, I applied and was accepted for the summer of 2002. I had previously signed up for courses at UTA in 1991 and 1994, but was forced to withdraw before the census date. I attended again in 1998 and actually went to class, though I dropped before the end of the semester (but I was there long enough to get an X grade on my transcript at UTA). Since I had attended college (a lot) between the time I was at UTA and when I came back in the summer of 2002, I assumed I would be under the 2002 catalog and registered for classes accordingly. Early in the Fall semester, though, I visited my adviser at the advice of one of my professors. While there, I was told I was to follow the 1995-97 catalog as that was the one that applied to me. And as part of that, there were some classes I didn't have to take. But, when I asked about another rule that's listed in that catalog, I was told that I didn't have to worry about that because that's not the rule anymore. So, I could see how someone might not be able to navigate the college waters by themselves because it apparently can get relatively complicated (I would never have guessed that I was under a catalog from a period in which I didn't even attend the University), but all it did take was listening to the adviser to find out what was needed of me. So, I agree with much of Mulder's point.
I am in H-town. If by AAS you mean Associates of Applied Science degree, what most likely will happen is that the classes that you take will have to be evaluated by the transfer department at your 4 year school to see where they fit, if at all, into your degree plan. If you had an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree (usually right at 66 hours) that would make you Core Complete, meaning that the requirements for darn near any degree short of the specifics for that degree have already been knocked out and you would be over half way done. This is why is super important that you go to Transfer orientation so that you KNOW what you have left to take. I know since this is the first thing I have said about my work it may seem like I am burned out. That's not the case. I get a LOT of fulfillment out of talking to students who are active particpants in their education. What makes me nuts is when they want to be spoon fed and then act like it is OUR fault when they don't listen... or READ.
It is a well known fact that college counselors mislead students on purpose to increase the revenues of the school. If a student follows the recommendations of a counselor, that student will spend an extra 6 years in school and $424,000 in expenses (these figures are from San Jac 1980-91). J/K
I dont think you are. . . . . my advisor didnt tell me I had to take an extra methods class, after I asked them repeatedly if I would have to. Guess what, they only offer it in the spring. I will be in school a whole year for 2 more classes . Now I will agree that some students dont do any research on thier degree and expect someone to hold thier hand through the registration process. That is lame.
