Virginia tech has always treated me well. Sports are a priority here and the hokie athletic programs fail to disappoint. The food is tops in the nation and West End will be dearly missed after my graduation. The students are friendly and we represent this campus very well. The one problem that I have with Virginia Tech is the bureaucracy. The steps one has to go through to accomplish anything meaning at this university are absolutely ridiculous. I personally have HAD IT with this garbage that Tech calls policy.
I wanted to change majors into the college of business, Pamplin College, here at Virginia Tech. I went to my advisor, who works for the Engineering Education section of the college of engineering, early in the fall semester after I knew I wanted to change majors. I went into his office based with the question of, "What classes should I take in order to be in good standing with Pamplin?" He responded with an unhelpful answer of, "Check Pamplin's website." I checked the website but was unable to find the information that I needed. I then went to the Pamplin college undergraduate advisors' office in order to seek answers about my questions. I went into the office filled out an appointment form and was able to see an advisor. The advisor gave me adequate answers until… a higher ranking Pamplin official burst into the office. She went on a long rant which included information such as, "You can't be here because you're an engineering student… go get answers from your own advisor… and check the website for answers." I told her that I went to the website but was unable to acquire the information I needed. I also told her that I went to my advisor and was still clueless but she cut me off before an explanation and told me to vacate the office as soon as possible. I had to swallow the words I would have told the lady, because if I stated them I'd probably face charges of verbal assault. I asked the advisor who I was seeing for some final info which she squeezed onto a Post-It note. I thankfully got enough information from the advisor to squeak by for the spring course requests. I again went to my advisor for information on how to handle this situation better and he told me to see them. I told him the situation and he told me he didn't know how to handle the predicament. I also asked him about going into University Studies to get more accurate and helpful advisory but unfortunately, I am an active member in the society of engineers at Virginia Tech called the Galileo Program. Galileo's policy does not include any details surrounding the idea of changing majors for first year students. I happened to HATE engineering here at Virginia Tech and wanted to change my major before I got far into my educational career (before sophomore year). I asked him if a change to US was possible but if I did I would be EVICTED from my dorm. One phrase can only describe my emotion, "WHAT THE FUCK!" I'm either eligible to keep my dorm but stay in a major that I despise, or I can opt to move with 8 weeks left in the semester and attempt to get into a major I'm not 100% sure I can get into based upon the courses I've taken because of poor advisement. Life sucks. I'm still trying to find a possible 'out' of this terrible policy pickle. To be honest I needed a muzzle while writing this blog because I would've gone Jerry Springer on this thing. I've had a great time this semester with all classes and my extracurriculars and the lone stress causer is the damn bureaucracy and shitty policies. If you have any advice on how to handle this situation please comment or talk to me because course request is soon and I'm almost "Sol."

Damn dude.... that sucks. I'm sorry. I know what you mean though about this bureaucracy crap. At the beginning of this year, I emailed my advisor and she responded saying she wasn't my advisor (wtf). I just gave up and tried to figure things out on my own. Wish I could help man.
ReplyDeleteThat sucks I thought about transfering to Pamplin but it crazy what you have to do and how high your GPA has to be.
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