Kicked out of school.

[thechief86]

So with all the crap going on with my dad, and trying to find a job, and everything else that's been going on, i ended up letting my grades slip something fierce this semester. i have been on probation before, but had thought that several consecutive semesters of having A's and B's would have gotten me in good standing, and i would just be on probation this spring, with the option of retaking the classes i failed. well, anyway, a couple hours ago, i tried to confirm my enrollment, and was denied access, with the computer saying that i'm suspended for a year. I had everything set up to graduate next december, so this is really messing up any plans i had for getting a job, and possibly even getting out of murfreesboro.
needless to say, my wife is pissed at me, but she has never failed a class in her life, and has never had any type of major catastrophe happen in her lifetime, so she has no idea how i possibly could have let things get out of hand like this. my dad is getting better rapidly, and is having his last surgery this week, so i'm going to try to appeal the suspension, and see if they'll give me one more last chance, although i've used a bunch of those up already:gee:
i am really stressed out about all of this. i DO NOT want to have to pay back student loans on a factory worker's salary. this is probably going to kill me.

 

[YJ-GENRAL]

wtf? thats stupid, what do they care for? you are paying to take classes at their school, why would they tell you you cant, thats rejecting money on their part and education on yours... thats stupid... thats like saying you cant come back to my restaurant because you have consistently left food on your plate...

is there another college you can attend in the area?

 

[thechief86]

there are community colleges, and a few private schools, and probably some others, but mtsu is the only one with my major, and i don't have any classes left that i could take at other schools.
i was thinking the same thing about the money, and it drives me crazy. i am going to school on grants though, and i could see where someone with better grades would be more deserving than me. although i wouldn't care if i had to take out loans to pay for it. i'm going to spend all day trying to either get back in school, and looking for fulltime jobs. I need something to fall back on if the appeals thing doesn't go my way, which i'm pretty sure it won't. i've already appealed before, and they let me back in, although i didn't even have a good excuse then, and now i have a really good one. i emailed my advisor, and the teacher whose classes i failed, hoping to get some type of support or recommendation from them. they both know why i didn't do well, but they aren't on the appeals comittee, and my suspension was more of an automatic thing done by the computer, based on my semester gpa.

 

[ChiXJeff]

I've been in your shoes. A couple of bits of advice.

If you can get your advisor, and possibly your department chair, in your corner, that should go a long way with the dean.

Secondly, any time you go in to see the staff, be clean and neat. Ripped jeans & t-shirts send the wrong message. Clean jeans, and at least a golf shirt should make a much better impression. Don't be confrontational, I'd expect you to get bounced with that approach. I'd suggest politely inquiring if there's any way to reverse the decision, and what would be expected of you if it is reversed.

I don't know what's happening with your father, but it sounds like he's still around. Hope he gets better.

 

[YJ-GENRAL]

okay, well that makes more sense if you are going on grants.

 

[MrShaft696]

My wife has alot of loans from law school and if she got into a pinch I know she would be able to "Defer" the loans for a peroid of time, but it would just collect interest. Might be something you could look into, while you get everything straight.

 

[thechief86]

thanks guys.... i think it will work out, i just have to kiss a lot of ass for the next month or two, and try to get my poop in a group.

 

[Stallacrew]

I graduated from Alabama back last December and I have done much much much worse. Slept through finals, neglected finals and ended up taking then 3 weeks after school was out, bombing my first two semesters, forgot to register to graduate (not just the ceremony) etc etc etc. If you go in time with a decent reason as to why things are the way they are, and be very nice, they will help you out as much as they can.

They have "rules" but really those are just guidelines I have found in my experience.

Best of luck and hope you can get through things well.

 

[smartass_kid]

............. and try to get my poop in a group.

THIS, does not sound fun.

i think you should be able to convince them otherwise. especially since you have been there a while.

is this the RIM program?

 

[97XJ_Country]

Most colleges offer an "Academic Renewal" program. Depending on the school, you can either have individual classes removed from your GPA or an entire section of time removed. The grades may or may not still appear on your transcript, but they aren't factored into your gpa.

This was used by a colleague at work. His college didn't allow him to pick and choose classes, but he could pick a span of time. All classes, even those with decent grades, were wiped from his record during that time span.

This is something you should look in to. I would be preferable to lose the classes instead of losing an entire year to probabation.

If your college doesn't offer the renewal program, talk to an adviser about your personal hardships. Also point out that you had been doing well since your last encounter with bad grades but that your personal life has made it impossible to keep up.

They see it happen all the time - divorces, money problems, family deaths, working two jobs, etc. They can often input a Withdrawal even after the class is over.

Best of luck.

 

[UNCC_99XJ]

Sorry to hear that. My advice: Advisors tend to be useless...atleast at my school they were. You might be better off calling the dean of the department and setting up an appointment to meet with him/her ASAP. Sit down and explain your situation. I'd be willing to bet that sitting down one on one will get you some results that you'd like. Not saying that everything will be reversed, but there may be another option that you're unaware of.

4+ years of college with out a few major personal incidences is damn near impossible from what i've seen. Just about all of my friends had a few hiccups along the way (deaths in the family, too much partying, and one that accidentally became a father when he was 19).

Personally, i've had my fair share of crap happen as well. Made one very stupid mistake that almost blew my entire college career my junior year. Explained my situation to the dean of the college of engineering and was able to come up with a solution that penalized me enough to "sting" but not enough to wreck my career or chances of landing a job.

Hang in there dude...every thing happens for a reason right?

 

[thechief86]

yeah, i think the appeals process might work for me. i am just scared. if it doesn't help me, i'm completely screwed, and will have to come up with a completely new plan of action that might include moving or just about anything.

 

[5-90]

(... and one that accidentally became a father when he was 19).

I hear they know what causes that these days - howcumzit "accidental?" Gotta watch where you put that thing, y'know?

 

[Lowrange2]

I didn't read the whole thread but I thought I'd add...

April just went thru this ordeal. Before she met me she had to take care of the kids, work and go to school and let her grades slip two semesters in a row. She gets the Pale Grant and Lottery. They suspended her until she paid for one semester out of pocket and make above a C in every class. I paid for the semester and in return she made straight A's. We got a letter in the mail a couple days ago saying she will recieve her grant and lottery assistance next semester.

Try the appeal but once they've said you were suspended you pretty much are going to have to pay out of pocket and get your grades back up first.

What's tuition to that school these days? I had to shell out $2,600... ugh. It'll pay for itself in a year or so...

 

[Lowrange2]

Stupid ass work computer...

 

[Lowrange2]

I didn't read the whole thread but I thought I'd add...

April just went thru this ordeal. Before she met me she had to take care of the kids, work and go to school and let her grades slip two semesters in a row. She gets the Pale Grant and Lottery. They suspended her until she paid for one semester out of pocket and make above a C in every class. I paid for the semester and in return she made straight A's. We got a letter in the mail a couple days ago saying she will recieve her grant and lottery assistance next semester.

Try the appeal but once they've said you were suspended you pretty much are going to have to pay out of pocket and get your grades back up first.

What's tuition to that school these days? I had to shell out $2,600... ugh. It'll pay for itself in a year or so...

 

[Lowrange2]

... made me re-post 3 damn times!

 

[bigalpha]

My wife works at APSU, which is another TBR school.

1. Remember that the Dean can only help you to a certain degree. The Dean is not the students' miracle worker, though having a letter or email from him/her will substantially help.

2. You need to print your transcript and take a hard copy when you go to talk to anyone - keep any and all copies of paperwork in a folder, organized.

3. Be polite to everyone you encounter, even if they are douches. Also, take Jeff's suggestion about dressing nicely anytime you go to talk to people.

4. Go to the school ASAP and start this process. If you wait too long, people will be less inclined to help you.

5. Get everything in writing and keep a hard copy with the rest of your records in that folder.

The reason why colleges don't admit everyone that pays is because there are a number of metrics that colleges are graded on, and it affects their funding. TBR schools have been moving (and mostly are moved to) caring more about retention and graduation than growth. So, if you're a terrible student and make terrible grades, they are less inclined to make exceptions for you.

 

[thechief86]

it's over 3k now, and yeah, i know all about that. i'm to a point where i'd almost be ok with being kicked out of school, but i was kind of relying on student loan money to pay for january's rent. if i can't get a job lined up, on top of all this, i'll be moving out of my place, too(most likely without my wife, who's fed up with my problems.)

 

[bigalpha]

Don't worry about student loans - you can generally get them refi'd under a payment plan that calculates your payments under your current income. Thus, it will be small or non existent.

Sticky subject, but, maybe you should go to some counseling with your wife.