I’ve been lying to you all. This whole blog has been a lie. The truth is, I don’t know what you can do with a Bachelor of Arts, because I don’t have one. Gasps, shrieks of horror; I can hear you all now. My whole ‘life as a university graduate’ thing is a big farce because I haven’t actually graduated yet.
Why not? The short answer is, I’m lazy. Basically, the second I left Australia, I stopped dealing with anything related to my home university. When I finally did check my Sydney University email 9 months later, I was bombarded with emails telling me how I didn’t fill out my subject approvals properly and that my exchange report was due 6 months ago. I skimmed the subjects of my 300 unread emails that included words like ‘Important’, ‘Overdue’ and ‘Urgent’. I read one about how the orchestra had a concert a few months before, then calmly shut my computer, saving the rest for another day.
That day never came. I still have to get approval for two of the subjects I took on exchange. It’s not hard, I just don’t want to do it. Partly because of laziness, but now there’s a new reason as well; maybe I don’t want to graduate.
Allow me to elaborate. I’ve never been the most studious of students, but I have embraced student life with open arms. 4 month holidays, 5 day weekends, being able to go to the beach on a Tuesday. In truth, I can probably maintain this quality of life in my post university state. What I can’t get, are the student discounts that I love so much. Transport, movie tickets, entry into pretty much anything, and most importantly for me, student flights. I want to be a ‘concession’ forever.
So here’s my idea. I was supposed to graduate in November, but that’s not going to happen. If I got my act together now I could graduate in May. But now I’m thinking of NOT getting my subjects approved, enrolling in a full course load for next year, waiting til they send me my student card, then dropping out before they charge me.
Does this sound like a good idea or what?
Cast your vote on the right hand side of the page.
Two things: first, you should just use your Queen's student card, because there is no date on them and people still fall for it years after you've left (or so I've heard). Second, you're starting to sound like that guy at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee who has been in university for 12 years without graduating. I'm sure it has its perks...but he's hitting on girls that are more than 10 years younger than him. Make of his situation what you will.
ReplyDeleteSo what you've really proven is that, anything that you CAN do with a Bachelor of Arts, you can just as easily do WITHOUT a Bachelor of Arts.
ReplyDeleteHmm.... ;)
Maya I am really not impressed with this line of thinking. Let me put it gently - it could bite you on the bum one day..... Don't be such a smart arse and think of your inheritance!!!
ReplyDeleteJody- Thanks for the tip. I might use it if I ever come back to Kingston and need free bus travel.
ReplyDeleteC-Coch- I think we all knew that already.
Mum- You love it.
At Queen's there's an (I believe non-refundable) $1000 fee involved with registering... check for those... you should graduate sometime soon lol so make sure it wont like, void your exchange credits or something... or like, dont do it lol....
ReplyDeleteI would be re-enrolling not registering so I don't think there would be a fee. It's as though I'm doing my last year of class. Again. As if this plan isn't totally full proof. You can't scare me with your fancy words. You don't even have a degree yet.
ReplyDeleteRemember my epic joy at getting Queen's to waive the $300ish 'late payment' fee they wanted to charge me before I could register last year? The fee that stemmed from the fact that I apparently owed them $30ish b/c that much of my summer term tuition wasn't covered by funding? A $30ish amount I had no clue about b/c while they did send me a refund cheque for $100ish for over-payment for spring term, they didn't send me anything saying I owed them $30ish b/c they apparently don't issue fee statements for amounts under some magical #?
ReplyDeleteYeah. So my point is this: it's a huge pain in the arse, but just do it. It will give you good material for future stories (if you want to write something like Kafka's Trial, Dante's Inferno, etc.) Also, even though the actual B.A. is just a piece of paper, I've found mine useful in the same way a passport is--grants admission to future life experiences.
Consider this advice from twelve years(ish) in the future, and good luck!
Ha! thanks for the advice Miss Canadia. You always were a wise one.
ReplyDeleteSNAP maya - i haven't graduated from my undergrad yet either! same stupid reason - usyd and their exchange credit f'ups.
ReplyDeleteand i don't plan to do so until i graduate from my masters. that's right, i'm going to be a postgrad, before i'm even a grad. formidable.
and yes, you should absolutely enrol then pull out once you've claimed the student card. my brother has successfully done that a number of times - he's 29 and still getting student-priced movie tickets.
Bec Whalley- you are frickin AMAZING!!! My hero. Your brother isn't bad either. Thank you so much for this inspirational comment.
ReplyDelete