I spent six or seven hours talking to this bloke online last night, and then I got up reasonably early so I could go to financial aid and crack skulls.
Okay... I didn't do that because the gentleman I spoke with was kind and reasonable. He looked at my records and said, "Your GPA is fine, and you had enough credit hours this year, but you got hit by the new rule."
Confused, I asked, "What new rule?"
He replied, "They've created a rule that says you have to pass a certain number of credit hours each term. It goes back to Fall of 1999. Unfortunately, you took six credit hours that term and dropped both classes, so that counts against you despite the fact that you're doing so well now."
I growled.
He chuckled.
I growled again and said, "So what do I do now? Something that happened in 1999 is counting against all of this work the past year? I thought I cleared that when I sent in my appeal last year."
He sighed a bit and said, "Yes. This is affecting a few people, actually, and I feel bad for you guys. I can say right now that you'll be clear to receive financial aid this year, but you have to go through the hoops to get it. You'll have to download the appeal form, fill it out, write a letter, and show documentation supporting why you dropped those classes. Additionally, you'll have to do this every year until you graduate since your records will always show that bad semester."
:shocked: :eeek:
I felt , but I was still acting 
because it wasn't his fault.
"I already did all of that last year, and they sent me a letter saying [my reasons - psycho rat bastard roommate abused me, and I had to run away and get a restraining order] were acceptable. Then they put me on probationary aid, and I fulfilled the requirements."
"Did you save that letter," he asked.
"Um, I'm pretty sure. I'll send it in with my letter of appeal and the [restraining order]."
"That's a great idea. I assure you... You really shouldn't have a problem. I'm sorry you have to deal with this. When Western makes a rule and doesn't grandfather the rule, it hits hard." He was SO nice.
He added, "It will take them about three weeks to process your letter, so expect a response by the end of June. You might not get your refund check as scheduled, but it will come."
I left, feeling pissed at Western and sorry for him, since I'm sure not everyone is a customer service empath like me.
So now I'm writing a letter -- again -- sending in documentation -- again -- and waiting for a response and desperately-needed money... again. And did I mention I'll have to do this every year? Fuckers.
Okay... I didn't do that because the gentleman I spoke with was kind and reasonable. He looked at my records and said, "Your GPA is fine, and you had enough credit hours this year, but you got hit by the new rule."
Confused, I asked, "What new rule?"
He replied, "They've created a rule that says you have to pass a certain number of credit hours each term. It goes back to Fall of 1999. Unfortunately, you took six credit hours that term and dropped both classes, so that counts against you despite the fact that you're doing so well now."
I growled.
He chuckled.
I growled again and said, "So what do I do now? Something that happened in 1999 is counting against all of this work the past year? I thought I cleared that when I sent in my appeal last year."
He sighed a bit and said, "Yes. This is affecting a few people, actually, and I feel bad for you guys. I can say right now that you'll be clear to receive financial aid this year, but you have to go through the hoops to get it. You'll have to download the appeal form, fill it out, write a letter, and show documentation supporting why you dropped those classes. Additionally, you'll have to do this every year until you graduate since your records will always show that bad semester."
:shocked: :eeek:
I felt
, but I was still acting because it wasn't his fault.
"I already did all of that last year, and they sent me a letter saying [my reasons - psycho rat bastard roommate abused me, and I had to run away and get a restraining order] were acceptable. Then they put me on probationary aid, and I fulfilled the requirements."
"Did you save that letter," he asked.
"Um, I'm pretty sure. I'll send it in with my letter of appeal and the [restraining order]."
"That's a great idea. I assure you... You really shouldn't have a problem. I'm sorry you have to deal with this. When Western makes a rule and doesn't grandfather the rule, it hits hard." He was SO nice.
He added, "It will take them about three weeks to process your letter, so expect a response by the end of June. You might not get your refund check as scheduled, but it will come."
I left, feeling pissed at Western and sorry for him, since I'm sure not everyone is a customer service empath like me.
So now I'm writing a letter -- again -- sending in documentation -- again -- and waiting for a response and desperately-needed money... again. And did I mention I'll have to do this every year? Fuckers.