Hello,
Now before you judge me for this decision, please listen to my story.
I am 22 years old, and I have been in college on and off for four years. I have completely experienced all social aspects of college, and I'm very happy to have had those experiences. All my friends and my longtime boyfriend are graduating this year, as I should have..if I hadn't messed up so badly.
Due to 'unsatisfactory academic performance' to say the least, I was suspended from my university in Spring 05 after my sophomore year, and I have been an academic nomad ever since, taking classes at whichever college would teach me.. from community colleges galore to Harvard (extension).. although mostly bumming around and wasting time, hardly racking up credits like I should have been.
I should have been done with college and graduating this sunday with my friends..but I am stuck with only 45 credits and I know I only have myself to blame. I have forgiven myself and am ready to move forward.. my only regret in all these failures is the amount of money my father put into my education. I go to a private university and he has already spent 100k. If I continue at the normal pace of a college student, he will spend 100k more.
He wants me to graduate from this university since he already invested so much into it, and he doesn't believe that I should give up..and I agree with him. I see this as a personal effectiveness challenge and it could very well change my life.
I told him I would graduate in Spring 08 and I will do anything to make this goal happen. I am going to make it happen. Can some kind soul here please help me make it a reality?
It would seem like a bit of challenge. I have 40 credits and need 128 to graduate.. and a private university with VERY strict policies (unlike Steve's state university) so that they can profit from my education as much as possible.
(Meaning..they do not accept CLEP scores, they will not allow me to concurrently enroll in another college, there is a strict 20-unit cap for each semester..goodbye Steve's 30+unit plan..and absolutely NO credit from online or distance learning classes will be accepted).
Here is the math..for those of you not bored to death and kind enough to help..
I have 40 credits from this university.
5 from a class taken years ago that I can probably transfer credit for.
This summer I am taking two sessions and taking advantage of the fact that I can overload.
9 credits (3 classes) for session 1.
12 credits (4 classes) for session 2.
=66
Fall and Spring semester back at my university, I will attempt to take 20 credits (5 classes) both semesters, but this is considered overloading and I may only be able to take it for spring.
I can graduate in Spring 08 (thus redeeming myself and making my father proud) if I am 16 credits shy of 128.. the university's policy.
So if I can overload both semesters, that is 122... SO CLOSE!
If I can only take four classes in the fall, that is 118..
I CANNOT GRADUATE EITHER WAY! At this point my plan was to plea to the deans to make an exception for me, although I do not trust this. There has to be another way..
I could comfortably graduate in Fall/Winter 08..but then I couldn't have a traditional graduation that my dad paid 200k+ for. It doesn't seem right to graduate quietly in the winter time.
Please please, give me some advice or comfort... I am sorry for all the number crunching, please give me anything but negativity and pessimism.. because I know this will be the greatest challenge in my life so far, I am going to attempt it. It will be a great story to post on the boards once it's a reality.
