So, there seems to be a snag with my application to go and learn how to stick needles in people. I don't have the requisite general education classes. See, in the good ole U.K. if you do a bachelor's degree in English Lit., that's all you do. If you do a degree in German, that's all you do. If, like me, you are a science nerd, your entire degree is composed of science classes.
The acu school website talks about all the requirements, including 19 credit hours in general education classes. I knew there were requirements. So I emailed them last December and said "hey, I'm a cool English chick and I have a degree which doesn't meet all your requirements, but will it be OK seeing as it's a proper degree and all. Pretty please?" Or words to that effect. And this nice guy wrote back and said "yes, if it's a proper degree, everything should be hunky dorey". Or words to that effect.
But it seems that that was not accurate. And now they are getting their panties in a wad, or knickers in a twist if I am being true to my English roots, about the fact that I...gasp...don't have any general education credits! And the courses I do have aren't listed in terms of credit hours (well, duh, we don't do things that way over there).
So now I might have to go off and spend time at the local community college doing English, and Social Studies and all those fun things. The woman I spoke to this morning decided that I need 13 credit hours. Fun, fun, fun. Just to stick needles in people. I wonder how many other people fail to get into acu school? Not that I've actually failed to get in yet, as they are going to discuss me again, but it looks likely.
Anyway, it's not the end of the world, it probably only means a semester delay in my starting acu school, as I'd probably want to go to community college full time just to get it over with. But. Ugh. If I'd been aware in December, I could have been doing a few online courses since then.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Sarah the....community college student?
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8 comments:
UGH. Just make sure you truly double and triple check. Many do not realize your classes and education were likely far superior to what is required for you and they just have no experience interpreting those classes to credit here. Big schools do though so maybe do some research.
Ugh, what a pain. I had a similar problem when I left journalism to teach middle school language arts. No teacher degree but BA in classical studies and English. But somehow I never took speech or any American lit (preferred Brit lit) so I had to go take those at the local colleges before I got my emergency teacher license. It was annoying but turned out to be kinda fun.
Good luck. Hopefully they'll credit you with all or most of what you need.
Do you have the email from last year when they told you it was all good? Can you use that to prove your point?
Sheesh! Stupid annoyance!
I had the same issue when I came from the USA to the UK. There is an international organasation that does a "conversion" of qualifications. I'll try and email you tomorrow with the information. I'm sure your A levels would fulfill their general education requirement.
Sarah - I was going to say exactly what almamay wrote - there is an organization that will translate your educational records into American. My DH used them as well.
Ditto on what the others have said. You may need to explain the European educational system to them. Most colleges in the know understand that the final years of secondary school are equivalent to fresh/sophomore years of US colleges. For example, in Germany, students attend different "high schools" depending on their career objective. This streamlines their secondary education. In the case of university-bound students, their secondary education is much more rigorous than the US “high school” equivalent. Thus, by the time they enter the Uni, they have completed their gen ed core requirements and only take classes relevant to their “major” at the university.
Sarah, re the bag, ebay is your friend. Less than half the price and brand new. http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=Timbuk2+hacker
Well, at least it will get you back in the swing of things, school-wise and not hurt your brain at all.
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