This week is "registration season" at my school, i.e. the time when all the sleezy, slimy fucktards that are currently failing all their classes slink out of their hiding places and decide they want another go at this "school" thing next semester. The wait is ridiculous. Which brings me to my first point. They need to hire more staff. I understand that there is an influx of people, but a 2+ hour wait is just ridiculous.

So yesterday, I waited in line like a good little girl for my turn. I waited two hours, and still didn't get in, at which point I had to go to work. So I crossed my name off the list and left. I went back today. I waited another hour and a half, after which I was told to go to a desk and get my transcripts. When he looked me up, he said "Oh, you have a hold on your account."

Well this I knew. It was due to the payment for this semester not having been paid, even though I sent it over a week ago. My impression was that I could not register online, but could do so in person. I was told to go to the registrar, which I did. I obtained a copy of said transcripts, but was told to go to Student Accounts, wait in ANOTHER line, to see if this hold would "be a problem." I did as instructed, and was told that I couldn't register. After waiting THREE AND A HALF hours this week to get the classes I NEED to be able to graduate next semester, I can't do it until my damn check clears. I had an argument with the lady, that consisted of several four-letter words, and it was a rather one-sided argument, as it was getting me nowhere. She stared at me blankly with a hollow smile plastered on her sour face and tried to placate me. I asked to speak to a manager, to which she responded she "wouldn't do anything." I asked to fill out some kind of complaint...because if I was TOLD I couldn't register, even IN PERSON, I wouldn't have come. But I wasn't, so I wasted three hours of my life waiting in their miserable lobby waiting for classes I couldn't schedule. I came to the conclusion that no one would read the complaint (I know how it works where I work) and left.

This leads me to my next plan of action:

Kill them. Kill them all.

I know what you mean. University is always a fucking run-around to get this thing from here, and wait for that thing over there, but wait! You Forgot to do this other thing! So go over there and fill out these forms and come back with them plus an arm and a leg, and then you can go wait in that other line!

Can't they just mail me this shit like they did all those brocures when applying? How about filling them out online?!

*Pulls some hair out*

How about On-line Course Registration...which was fairly new when I was in university, which required you to be logged in at a specific time and for a limited time, and then only to discover that the course you need is closed/filled blah blah or better, tele-register, with a phone, pressing numbers usually at 3 AM during your designated registration period to discover that course is full, closed 'we're sorry...we cannot process your request at this time' etc.

Posted by KublaKhan How about On-line Course Registration...which was fairly new when I was in university, which required you to be logged in at a specific time and for a limited time, and then only to discover that the course you need is closed/filled blah blah or better, tele-register, with a phone, pressing numbers usually at 3 AM during your designated registration period to discover that course is full, closed 'we're sorry...we cannot process your request at this time' etc.

Yup, it's still like that at some places. The poorly-developed, poor-to-navigate course selection software doesn't help, nor does the lack of instruction on how to use the system.

This is why I am such a strong advocate for private colleges. They rock. State and Community (well, most of them in my experiences) treat you like a number. Private? I had people bending over backwards to help me out with things like this.

Posted by Emma Peel This is why I am such a strong advocate for private colleges. They rock.

hehehe
no they don't.
*first-hand experience*

Agreed. Private colleges for the loss. State Universities ftw.

I went to a private two year college for a year, I was asked to return and to this day I wish I had been able to graduate, but I was so sick from having my gallbladder removed that I couldn't go back, and they told me not to bother coming back.

Community college is like...education on sale. You don't pay as much for it and it may not be as good as a real one, but most employers don't care as long as you have the piece of paper that says "Diploma" with your name on it.

I have one of those pieces of paper...not like it means much where I work, trust me, but I have one and it's valid and would get me upstairs. So...don't knock it till you try it.

Shael

i quit college.
i got thrown out of community college.

I'm here, in the lobby, waiting, AGAIN. I finally got that damn hold removed, after I made myself a MAJOR problem to the Student Accounts section of the building. I ended up having to talk to the manager, who oozed out of her corner because her employee didn't want to deal with me anymore (it was the same girl I had yesterday, surprise surprise). I offered to show her my statement, which listed this bill as PAID. She made it very clear that she would take off the hold until FRIDAY, at which time my courses would be DROPPED, which should be fine. I have a feeling it will hit on Monday.

I finally registered online, but it being my last semester, I really need to talk to someone and make sure I'm up-to-date on my credits.

I did, however, decide on a course of action. It being that I work for the school newspaper (which is fortunate to be WIDELY read by the student population), I decided to write an article about this madness. So the first hour I've been waiting, I went around interviewing people about this craziness and how it should/ways it can be stopped.