Programs I may not get my bachelor degree for political reasons help

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on a student's concern about potentially not graduating on time due to administrative issues regarding credit transfer from another institution. Despite having strong academic credentials and recommendation letters, the student faces the possibility of losing 32 credits, which include significant graduate-level courses. The conversation highlights the importance of petitioning the dean for assistance and clarifying the university's policies on credit acceptance, especially regarding courses taken at different schools. It emphasizes that graduate programs typically require proof of an undergraduate degree for admission, although conditional acceptance may be possible. Participants suggest that the student should gather documentation supporting the acceptance of these courses and remain proactive in communicating with both the undergraduate and graduate schools to resolve the situation. The discussion also hints at potential bureaucratic challenges and the need for patience in navigating university policies.
xdrgnh
Messages
415
Reaction score
0
I applied to PhD programs, have good grades and got good five really strong recommendation letters. However I may not get my Bachelor degree by may. On paper I completed all of the course requirement for my degree and so far took 132 credits. However the administration is thinking of shaving 32 credits off of my transcript because I took those classes at another school. These classes include a graduate classical mechanics class and a PDE class. If they do this I will not graduate on time and I don't have money to spend an extra semester in undergraduate institution. I took Junior level E@M,Statistical Physics,Mechanics and Quantum Mechanics plus math all the way up to PDE and Complex Analysis. Even if I don't get my degree because of these bureaucratic reasons do you think I can still attend graduate school if I get in for Fall of 2015?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
You need to petition the dean of your college for extenuating circumstance and see if he/she can help you.
 
  • Like
Likes TomServo
If you don't get a bachelor's, grad schools are likely not to accept you.

I think it would also help you if you toned the drama down. There is a difference between a university having a policy for acceptance (or not) of transfer credit and "political reasons".
 
  • Like
Likes TomServo
It's political because I took those classes in the same university just at a different school. I was initially given the okay to take them. But now I'm getting a run around from all the administration. Whoever ever heard of a undergraduate physics department that doesn't accept a graduate Classical Mechanics class as an elective.
 
OK, then keep the drama level up. But don't complain to me if that doesn't get you where you want to be.
 
When graduate schools admit you, they generally give you conditional or provisional acceptance. The idea is that you have until a certain date to provide them with evidence that you have been awarded an undergraduate degree.

In your case you might be able to petition the graduate school to extend the date of your conditional acceptance, but the school will eventually expect that the undergraduate degree will be awarded.

While I don't know the details involved, it's best not to jump to conclusions either. Sometimes there are "fine print" details that need to be understood in these situations. A school may very well refuse to award you elective credits for courses taken outside of their program for a number of reasons. Maybe they need to verify that those courses were taught to their same standard as the courses taught in the rest of your program. Maybe "elective" is defined by excluding courses in your major subject area so as to give you a broader education. Maybe it's just a bureaucratic hiccup that will be addressed in time.

Do you have anything that says these courses are allowable from before you took the courses? That would go a long way to help your case.
 
  • Like
Likes TomServo
Are those classes and your scores on them still on your transcript?

Because if you've met your graduation requirements but would only not graduate on a technicality and have demonstrated that you can handle graduate-level coursework, I'm sure there is something you can work out between the dean of your own college and the admissions of whichever graduate school you wish to attend, especially if you were led to believe that coursework would allow you to graduate.
 
Why do you say "political reasons"?

I get the feeling there are missing parts to this story.
 
Back
Top