I’m not here, and I’m paying for it.
To help me get out of bed I often check my e-mail, if I happen to have anything interesting from the UK it puts me in a good mood. Today I got an e-mail from Durham University. That’s where I’m actually a student, on the G401 course “Computer Science (European Studies)” which they kept assuring me would be changed to International Studies. The e-mail I got this morning did not put me in a good mood.
“Apologies for the lateness in replying to your email but we have been discussing the problems you have encountered at length.” Blah, blah, blah, not letting any other CompScis go abroad. “Therefore it is necessary for me to request a concession from the Faculty to put you back on the G400 [standard Computer Science] programme and essentially you have taken a year out.”
Because I failed one class here (last semester) my university does not care about the rest. They have removed all motivation for me to go to the classes, I might aswell get on a plane and go home toomorrow just waiting for my final year to start in October. But what about this year’s tuition fees (as it happens I paid Durham the last installment yesterday)? I’ve paid them for this year, plus I’ve put in a lot of money for flights, accomodation, books, residence life. That money could have been saved on my ‘year out’, in fact I could have made approximately three times the amount I spent if I had got a job for a year.
Durham, you are not just geographically challenged, you are extremely good at demotivating those that study. You failed to give me support this year and had nobody who understands the Canadian system to help me with class choices, now you don’t want to make use of what I’ve learnt.
For those many good friends I’ve made here, and my group work partners, do not worry I am not leaving tomorrow. Hopefully me and Durham University School of Engineering (which I am part of as a CompSci!) will work out what I’ve paid for.
Update: I’ve been found (I’m still paying) 3rd Feb.
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I am sorry to read this Greg. I was annoyed that they would not let me even apply, but to let you down like this while you are actually over there is terrible.
William Song told me that if I went abroad and had trouble with any classes, he’d be able to contact the department and get me taken off that particular course – was that not the case for you?
I was never told that Jake, and you could say one mistake is that I contacted Durham too late, after the class had finished.
I learnt once I was here that students can add and drop classes/courses online themselves, but it is advised against doing it after a set date (about 3 weeks in) as normal students get a ‘withdrawn’ mark rather than the class disappearing. Most students do change classes in the first few weeks.
Knowing this I made a change at the start of the semester. I had to go to the department here (without going via Durham) as the system doesn’t know I did the required 1st/2nd year classes and so won’t let me sign up for 3rd/4th year classes. I showed the UBC department the Durham website where it lists the relevant modules that Computer Scientists do. Still, I did this in the first week to avoid the withdrawn mark.
Hey Greg, that really sucks but even if the year doesn’t count towards your degree, it’s invaluable experience. Loads of employers look for students who have worked or studied abroad and it seems that, up till now, you’ve been having an amazing time. Even if it is just classified as a year out, would you have spent a year in Canada otherwise? And you’ll have learnt loads so, although it might not count towards your degree, you’re still better off for having done it, albeit not financially. I’ll be praying for you xxxx