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julymom
Certifiably Imperfect
Joined: 28 Dec 2002
Posts: 1200
Location: Wherever the Army sends us
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 Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 5:44 pm Post subject: Fucking schools! |
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Cooper is away visiting my parents, and I'm using the word Fuck a lot to get it out of my system. You've been warned.
Anyway, I've decided to start working on my Master's, 12 years after getting my undergrad degree. I've decided on a school (it's all online) and part of the requirements for admission is 18 credits in English. No problem. I took a ton of fucking English classes. 3 Shakespeare classes, 1 Comp (I didn't have to take comp 1), 1 British Lit class, and 1 course in The Modern American Play. These are the only ones I can remember, but there might be more (my transcripts are at home). Now when I went to college, a hundred years ago when we had to use pencils and paper to take notes, my school was on the quarter system. When they translate quarter hours over to semester hours, they multiply by .67. This means that the 24 quarter hours I earned only equate to 16.08 semester hours, 1.96 hours short of the required 18. How is this fucking fair? If I took the class, I took the fucking class! My 4 quarter hour class wasn't any easier than a 3 semester hour class, and should just count as 3 semester hours. Because of this, I might have to take a fucking undergrad English class before being admitted to the program. I'm so fucking angry. I feel like I'm being punished because I went to a school on the fucking quarter system (they are now on the semester system, FYI). |
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becky2005
Seen Better Days
Joined: 17 May 2005
Posts: 395
Location: Baltimore area
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| Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 7:00 pm Post subject: |
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That really fuckin' sucks! (Michael just started picking up a new word or two every day so I'm venting my swear words here. I don't want his next word to be shit or fuck, which are two of my favorite words.) Can you take an online undergrad class to meet the requirement? Maybe you can sneak one in this summer. Summer sessions are usually short and sweet--some of the classes I took were only 5 or 6 weeks long.
The nosy part of me wants to know what you are thinking of studying in graduate school. I'm considering going back too but the application with all the letters of recommendation, ordering transcripts, etc. seems like a lot of work right now. Maybe I'll be more in the mood for it when Katie is a little older. |
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julymom
Certifiably Imperfect
Joined: 28 Dec 2002
Posts: 1200
Location: Wherever the Army sends us
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| Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 7:32 pm Post subject: |
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I'm looking at an online degree in English and Lit with a specialization in Creative Writing. I can take some undergrad classes online, but I shouldn't fucking have to. I don't think it's fair that my classes count less than classes taken at another university. I attended a 4 year brick and mortar and worked my ass off to get my degree and now I find out that my classes don't count for full credit because they were on the quarter system at the time. It's not fucking fair.
And yeah, the task of applying is daunting. I'm supposed to have 2 letters of recommendation, but I haven't got a clue who to get them from. I'm going to have to investigate this. |
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Petulant Pixie
Queen of Imperfection
Joined: 22 Apr 2002
Posts: 4140
Location: flyover country
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| Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 5:59 am Post subject: |
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| In my undergrad school, we had semesters. You took one bunch of classes in the fall semester and one bunch of classes in the spring semester. I don't understand how a quarter system works. Did you change classes each quarter, as in 4 times a year? If that's the case, then I can see how a 4 credit hour class on a quarter system would be worth less than a 3 credit hour class on a semester system, because the quarter class would only be half the time of the semester class. Is that right? |
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Jessica
Queen of Imperfection
Joined: 20 Apr 2002
Posts: 4754
Location: Chi-town
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| Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 6:59 am Post subject: |
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My undergrad was also based on semesters, but my brother and sister went to Depaul University in Chicago and they were on trimesters (3 quarters a year). From what I saw of their requirements, each quarter was accelerated compared to mine. It always felt like semesters were at a slower pace, which was perfect for my college, partying self. 
A while back, I was going to go get my teaching degree and felt that my marketing degree would account for something, but it didn't. The University said I would have to start over, so I just bagged the whole thing.
Any, I will let out a big ol' FUCK in solidarity!! |
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3boysmama
Slightly Flawed
Joined: 17 Oct 2006
Posts: 16
Location: Ohio
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| Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 8:45 am Post subject: |
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that fucking sucks!!!  when i went to college, it was quarters also and btw it wasn't that long ago.have you talked to a live person about the prbl.?? best of luck!! and good for you for going back to school ~> someone needs to boot me in the ass so i will do this too!! |
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julymom
Certifiably Imperfect
Joined: 28 Dec 2002
Posts: 1200
Location: Wherever the Army sends us
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| Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 2:48 pm Post subject: |
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| Petulant Pixie wrote: |
| In my undergrad school, we had semesters. You took one bunch of classes in the fall semester and one bunch of classes in the spring semester. I don't understand how a quarter system works. Did you change classes each quarter, as in 4 times a year? If that's the case, then I can see how a 4 credit hour class on a quarter system would be worth less than a 3 credit hour class on a semester system, because the quarter class would only be half the time of the semester class. Is that right? |
Yes, there are 4 quarters to a school year, each being 12 weeks long, except for summer quarter which was only 8 weeks long.
Our classes were not an hour long though, they were 1.5 hours. Based on that, if a semester is 18 weeks long at 1 hours per class, that means you spent 90 hours in class 18 weeks x 5 days/week x 1 hr/day=90 hours spent in class. On the quarter system we spent 90 hours per class 12 weeks x 5 days/week x 1.5 hr/day=90 hours spent in class. Same amount of time. Even if it wasn't the same amount of time though, I still learned the same stuff. It's not like in my history classes we stopped at WWI because we were only there for 12 weeks. I don't think it's fair. No wait, I don't think it's fucking fair. I'm going to be really pissed (fucking pissed) if I have to take undergrad courses before they'll allow me into the graduate program. |
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Jessica
Queen of Imperfection
Joined: 20 Apr 2002
Posts: 4754
Location: Chi-town
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| Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 4:03 pm Post subject: |
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| julymom wrote: |
| I'm going to be really pissed (fucking pissed) if I have to take undergrad courses before they'll allow me into the graduate program. |
You know you can appeal the decision if it comes back that you have to take undergrad courses again. Any reputable school has that option and it usually works out to your favor.
The thing I don't get is I thought an undergrad degree was just that, and it was the only requirement before a masters. I didn't know that the school looks at each individual class you took to deem it acceptable or not. It's like, that degree is over with.
I swear, I think it's just a way for schools to get more money out of you. |
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julymom
Certifiably Imperfect
Joined: 28 Dec 2002
Posts: 1200
Location: Wherever the Army sends us
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| Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 5:08 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| I didn't know that the school looks at each individual class you took to deem it acceptable or not. It's like, that degree is over with. |
Well, some graduate programs require a certain number of hours in a certain area for admission to that program. My undergrad degree is in theatre and english and the graduate program I'm wanting is in english. Seems simple right? The requirements for admission is 18 SEMESTER hours of english courses in the undergrad degree. Shouldn't be a problem except if they don't give me full credit for my courses. I believe I have 24 quarter hours (16.04 semester hours). I'm going home to TN this weekend where I have a copy of my transcripts. Once I get this I'll know if I have more than 24 undergrad credits. If I do, then I shouldn't have a problem getting in, but if I don't, then the advisor said they might require me to take 1 english class at the undergrad level before admitting me to the graduate program. Fuckin A. Why does it have to be so difficult to get a damn degree? Should people be applauded for wanting to further their education? |
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ExCareerGal
Seen Better Days
Joined: 13 Sep 2005
Posts: 416
Location: Memphis, TN
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| Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2007 8:51 pm Post subject: |
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If you want I letter of recommendation, I can write you one. I do it all the time. Just send me a message with your address and info and I will mail it to you. (I am an Associate Professor at The University of Memphis).
Secondly you may challenge a course and test out of it instead of taking it if you want. You may not get an "A" but who cares?
Sorry about this!
Janna |
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julymom
Certifiably Imperfect
Joined: 28 Dec 2002
Posts: 1200
Location: Wherever the Army sends us
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| Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2007 7:24 am Post subject: |
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Janna! You rock! I just might take you up on the offer. I have been wracking my brain tryong to figure out who I could get to write these stupid letters.
I'm going home to TN tomorrow and I'll be picking up my personal copy of my transcripts so I can see exactly how many english sourses I have. I did find out that I could challenge a course and get out of it. That makes me feel better, but still grates a little bit. Thanks again for the offer. I'll let you know. BTW, what do you teach? |
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ExCareerGal
Seen Better Days
Joined: 13 Sep 2005
Posts: 416
Location: Memphis, TN
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| Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2007 9:29 am Post subject: |
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I am an Education Professor. (Special Education). I will just write something vague about how I am quite familiar with your writing and believe your intelligence and enthusiasm will make you a fabulous ______ ( whatever you want to be). You would also be an asset to their program with your excellent skills blah, blah, blah . . . Is it an RODP program you are applying too? If so I am well known with that group (State of Tennessee online programs).
Janna |
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