The scramble begins.
I've got my student ID and access to WSU's (Go Cougars!) students-only site. I called this morning and have an appointment tomorrow afternoon with an advisor. Seems that I can't register for classes without meeting with an advisor--and that's every term. Not that I mind. It will be nice to have at least a little hand-holding as I go through this.
And yeah, I'm still scared about having to take yet another math class. Let's hope I can assuage the Powers That Be with a statistics class. After all, anthropology and statistics makes sense.
Middle-aged woman goes back to finish her degree and, eventually, get her masters. Hilarity ensues.
30.8.10
29.8.10
I'M IN!
Yesterday, Washington State University (Go Cougars!) sent me an official welcome-to-our-school package. YAY! Too bad classes started last Monday. Oh well. The package has a letter with my WSU identification number (necessary to create my network ID and password, so I can "conduct University business through" the WSU website), a brochure, and a WSU Vancouver (Go Cougars!) window sticker.
Now, do I scramble to find classes, buy books, and catch up the past week of lectures? Or do I wait until the Spring semester? I'm leaning towards throwing myself into the mix, taking that leap of faith that I'll be able to get into classes and catch up.
Tomorrow, I'll call admissions and see if I can get an appointment with an academic advisor and get my shit together.
Eep.
Now, do I scramble to find classes, buy books, and catch up the past week of lectures? Or do I wait until the Spring semester? I'm leaning towards throwing myself into the mix, taking that leap of faith that I'll be able to get into classes and catch up.
Tomorrow, I'll call admissions and see if I can get an appointment with an academic advisor and get my shit together.
Eep.
23.8.10
PIN!
Hoorah!
Got my PIN and accessed the University of Maryland College Park transcript request form. Made my request, and got confirmation that they received the request. With any luck, they'll let me know when they send the transcripts.
I just wish I knew this was the correct route from the git-go. Oh well. I expect that I'll make a lot of novice mistakes, going to wrong places and chasing after incorrect protocols. Yay.
Got my PIN and accessed the University of Maryland College Park transcript request form. Made my request, and got confirmation that they received the request. With any luck, they'll let me know when they send the transcripts.
I just wish I knew this was the correct route from the git-go. Oh well. I expect that I'll make a lot of novice mistakes, going to wrong places and chasing after incorrect protocols. Yay.
19.8.10
Update
Two and a half hours after sending my e-mail, I got a call. The nice lady sounded as though she had a very large slice of clue cake.
She asked when I'd attended, then asked which campus I'd gone to, and suggested that I try to contact the College Park, MD campus.
Well damn, that would have been nice to know at the git-go.
She gave me a phone number with which to contact that campus. I'll try it tomorrow.
Meanwhile, I've gone to the UMCP/Testudo site and requested a PIN. If I can go that route, I may be able to avoid actually talking to anyone. Which would be, frankly, my preferred mode of dealing with bureaucracy.
She asked when I'd attended, then asked which campus I'd gone to, and suggested that I try to contact the College Park, MD campus.
Well damn, that would have been nice to know at the git-go.
She gave me a phone number with which to contact that campus. I'll try it tomorrow.
Meanwhile, I've gone to the UMCP/Testudo site and requested a PIN. If I can go that route, I may be able to avoid actually talking to anyone. Which would be, frankly, my preferred mode of dealing with bureaucracy.
In Which I Try to Resolve the Great Transcript Mystery
Here is a copy of the e-mail that I sent today to both the registrar's and bursar's offices:
Please note the subtle threat to show up. I hope they'll be so horrified at the prospect of dealing with a real person that we'll be able to get this show on the road. If not, well, impromptu trip home for this woman. Yay for scrapple at the Tastee Diner!
I attended the University of Maryland (College Park) from the fall 1985 until the end of spring 1987. It was not a glorious college career, and ended with academic dismissal. Life goes on.
In 2001, I applied for and took one course at Santa Monica College. My academic probation was lifted after receiving a 4.00 in that course. In 2002, I applied for and entered Portland Community College, ending up with an associate's degree in 2005. I will be finishing my undergraduate degree at Washington State University with the goal of a master's degree in library science from the University of Washington.
What can I say? Sometimes it takes a while to figure it all out.
On July 7, 2010, I sent a request and a check for official transcripts to be sent to Washington State University in Vancouver, Washington.
On July 16, 2010, my check was returned with a form letter saying that my request for official transcripts could not be processed because my records could not be found. A request for proof of my taking courses in the University System of Maryland was made, I assume so that further research could be done. Luckily, I had requested, and received copies of my University of Maryland transcripts in 2002, and still had them. I made copies of the form letter and of the transcripts dating from 2002, enclosed a check and a cover letter, and sent everything off. (See attached file for .pdf copy of those same transcripts.)
On August 10, 2010, my check was returned again. I received another copy of the same form letter, except that this time, I was informed that my request could not be processed at this time due to an undisclosed hold.
How odd.
On August 16, 2010, I called the 800-number that is on the letterhead of the form letter that I received. I spoke to a couple of different people and was assured that I would be contacted by phone no later than Wednesday, August 18th regarding my situation. I have not gotten that call.
I certainly understand that a lot can happen over 25 years. Even an unpaid parking ticket may come to light. It's also difficult sometimes to deal with the three hour time difference between Maryland and the state of Washington. I know, I spent a lot of years working with California clients while working in DC.
I would like to know what I need to do to expedite the sending of my official transcripts to Washington State University. If needs be, I will be happy to make arrangements to see to this matter in person.
Please note the subtle threat to show up. I hope they'll be so horrified at the prospect of dealing with a real person that we'll be able to get this show on the road. If not, well, impromptu trip home for this woman. Yay for scrapple at the Tastee Diner!
16.8.10
Yay! Bureaucracy!
Last Friday, the 13th, I got another response from the University of Maryland. Hope springs eternal. I thought it might be notification that they had found and sent my official transcripts to Washington State.
Foolish hope.
They returned my check to me again, with the same cover letter as before. However, instead of saying that they couldn't find my transcripts and requesting proof of my having attended (check box five), they checked box number four. That says that "We cannot process your request at this time due to an undisclosed hold. Please contact the appropriate office/division for further information." Which is followed by three addresses with check boxes next to them; none of which were checked.
I was pissed off last Friday and ranting. I've calmed down a little. It does still bother me though, the last time I requested official transcripts from the University of Maryland, in January 2002, there was no problem. Now? Now there's a fucking problem? What. The. Hell.
I suspect that the actual searching for transcripts is being done by underpaid interns. And, since my records go back to 1985, no one's willing to go the extra bit to track the dang things down. I suppose they don't expect me to show up, as I'm on the other side of the country.
They may be very, very wrong. Because if I need to take a week and go back east to get this shit done, I will.
Today, I called the 800-number for the Stateside Student Accounts office. I went through level one of the automated phone answering system, chose an option, and got looped back into the same menu (the recorded voice was different, the script was the same), and finally got a live person. Yay! (One must take one's triumphs where one can.)
This operator was helpful and seemed to care about solving my dilemma. She also had an awesome Southern Maryland accent and I could feel mah Myrrlin' accent coming back to life. I explained what had happened and what I was trying to do. She put me in contact with the Student Accounts office--yes, that's what I thought I was calling initially, but quibbling over such things can drive one barking mad--and another woman who had an even thicker southern accent answered. I explained again what I was trying to do and, after several attempts for her to get my information so someone could call me back, she confessed that our connection was terrible. Hilarity ensued. Eventually we got everything together, and I included my e-mail address so there was another avenue to contact me.
If all goes as I'm told (Yeah, you know that hope thing? My middle name is Hope. I either have very optimistic or very cruel parents.), someone will contact me by Wednesday. I hope that they'll have some way for me to break through this muddle.
After I got off the phone, I tried to call the admissions adviser at Washington State, thinking that she might have a suggestion about another way to pursue getting my official transcripts from the University of Maryland. *laughter* She no longer works for WSU.
Awesome.
Foolish hope.
They returned my check to me again, with the same cover letter as before. However, instead of saying that they couldn't find my transcripts and requesting proof of my having attended (check box five), they checked box number four. That says that "We cannot process your request at this time due to an undisclosed hold. Please contact the appropriate office/division for further information." Which is followed by three addresses with check boxes next to them; none of which were checked.
I was pissed off last Friday and ranting. I've calmed down a little. It does still bother me though, the last time I requested official transcripts from the University of Maryland, in January 2002, there was no problem. Now? Now there's a fucking problem? What. The. Hell.
I suspect that the actual searching for transcripts is being done by underpaid interns. And, since my records go back to 1985, no one's willing to go the extra bit to track the dang things down. I suppose they don't expect me to show up, as I'm on the other side of the country.
They may be very, very wrong. Because if I need to take a week and go back east to get this shit done, I will.
Today, I called the 800-number for the Stateside Student Accounts office. I went through level one of the automated phone answering system, chose an option, and got looped back into the same menu (the recorded voice was different, the script was the same), and finally got a live person. Yay! (One must take one's triumphs where one can.)
This operator was helpful and seemed to care about solving my dilemma. She also had an awesome Southern Maryland accent and I could feel mah Myrrlin' accent coming back to life. I explained what had happened and what I was trying to do. She put me in contact with the Student Accounts office--yes, that's what I thought I was calling initially, but quibbling over such things can drive one barking mad--and another woman who had an even thicker southern accent answered. I explained again what I was trying to do and, after several attempts for her to get my information so someone could call me back, she confessed that our connection was terrible. Hilarity ensued. Eventually we got everything together, and I included my e-mail address so there was another avenue to contact me.
If all goes as I'm told (Yeah, you know that hope thing? My middle name is Hope. I either have very optimistic or very cruel parents.), someone will contact me by Wednesday. I hope that they'll have some way for me to break through this muddle.
After I got off the phone, I tried to call the admissions adviser at Washington State, thinking that she might have a suggestion about another way to pursue getting my official transcripts from the University of Maryland. *laughter* She no longer works for WSU.
Awesome.
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