Do you think this was rude?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I went up to my high school because I needed them to send an official transcript to the college I want to attend. The secretary asked if I had a stamp, and I replied, "no". I said, "well, I thought you all just would send it. I didn't know I needed a stamp" She said, 'no, if you were a student graduating in 2009 we would send it. there is a gas station right down the street. you can go get a stamp from there." Not only that but she wanted me to supply my own envelope which I luckily had in my bag already.

I felt that was a bit rude, and laughed it off. I went and got a stamp but on the way to the second gas station (first one didn't have any) I felt that this was just going too much out of my way and she could have just mailed it off instead of making me leave and come back.

To me it is a funny request (to provide an envelope and a stamp). I think that since they run a school that is part of the daily routine to mail out transcripts. On one hand I understand and on another I don't for the simple fact who walks around with an envelope or a stamp and who expects to have to run out and purchase one for a school. For that much they should have a system in place where you can just pay them for the envelope and stamp. And for the simple fact it is cheap but having to go out your way to go purchase one is questionable. I would have asked to see something in writing about the procedures on mailing out transcripts. But speaking of transcripts you might want to collect a few of them now for later cause it only gets rough when applying to colleges. I had to get my transcripts from several colleges and it was rough for instance. My initial college did not charge me for the six official transcripts I requested I only had to fax a form in with the name of the school and address. The second college I had to pay six dollars per transcripts and not only I had to pay, but then I had to come back the next day to pick it up after 12pm. Not to mention one time I requested it to be mailed to my house and that took a whole week and a half and the college is 8 minutes away from my house. I went up there and they said it takes 5 business days to process before they send it out. I still do not understand that but whatever and ended up paying another fee to get it right there that day cause I told the staff that I needed it for that day and she processed it so I still do not understand why you have to pick it up the next day any other time. Then I requested transcripts from the third college and I can not really complain I paid three dollars and recieved my transcripts same day and time. But everyone is different and as they say you get what you paid for. So just in case you might just want to collect a few to keep on hand because I am sure the procedure is bound to change in the future. Good Luck

Specializes in Post Anesthesia.

I thiink I would do the unexpected (if you can afford it) and buy a box of envelopes and a roll of stamps- all-in-all about a $40. investment, and drop them off at the HS in a box marked "for transcripts only". Other people must find themselves in your position and you can provide a "scholarship" for supplies for the school to use. Public schools are publicly funded and many cannot afford the supplies to teach the current students, let alone provide for mailings needed for former graduates.

No, nothing rude here. You asked for a transcript, and the woman who worked there told you what you needed in order to get a transcript....nothing rude there. Each school has their own peculiarities when dealing with transcripts. I always call and speak to the office that handles them to find out what their policies are.

And yes, there was a $2 fee....but that's minimal, schools are really huting for money these days.

Specializes in Cardio-Pulmonary; Med-Surg; Private Duty.

My high school charged $10 and that included the paper, the toner in the printer, the envelope, and the stamp.

My college charged $3 for the same.

The school should change their policy so that the fee is $3 and includes the envelope and stamp, with a discounted fee of $2 if you included a SASE for them to use.

As for being "rude" that would depend on the way she delivered the news... hard for us to say, since we weren't there to hear her in person. But the information about the fee AND the need for the SASE should be available on the school's website (both my HS and my college websites had the info and the form I needed) or over the phone if you called to ask what was needed for a transcript.

I have no problem with a fee in the $5-$10 range... some people may request 10-20 transcripts as they apply for different schools / scholarships / jobs, and it's unreasonable to expect the school (high school or college) to provide the manpower and stationery/postage for each graduate's individual personal needs. But anything over $10 (esp. if all your records are in a central computerized system that requires nothing more than a couple of keystrokes and mouse clicks to print) is just gouging, IMO.

Specializes in none yet.

I do think it was rude because she expected you to know something you clearly didn't know. It's her job to make sure you know the procedure, but she doesn't have to be rude about it. Luckily, since my high school is so small, they don't charge a fee or anything.

Oh, and by the way, my first degree came from the United States Naval Academy and I had almost 1000 in my graduating class and there is no form or fee for transcript requests -- all you do is fax your information along with the number of transcripts requested as well as any deadlines you have to the registrar and you get what you need. If the Naval Academy can handle it, so can other places. Some people just feel that we should be charged for things that are a part of the job anyway. An institution that graduates students expects that transcripts will be requested of them. Why can't they just budget for that instead of nickel and diming every student who needs the service they should be providing anyway?

I still don't get how she was being rude by saying that you need to go get a stamp. Did she say it in a rude way? Did she yell at you? Did she roll her eyes?

I guess we are lucky here in Alaska. I just called the School District main office and asked them to send the transcripts, they sent them that same day with no fees and no hassle.

I wouldn't have assumed that I would need to pay for that or bring anything for them to do that for me, I pay taxes... I would think that would be enough.

I don't think it was necessarily "rude", that's probably the policy. Granted, one stamp isn't going to bankrupt the school...but if they did that for everyone who needed a transcript sent off, it might be a nice chunk of change each year. Some people actually have to pay $5 or more for a transcript request, which to me is a bit excessive, but I guess it depends on the volume of requests the school receives each year (if they have to have additional staff for it, etc.).

You have to put things in perspective. This is a high school and the registrar is used to dealing with teenagers. As a former high school teacher, and unfortunate as it may be, the staff is used to dealing with kids who are totally unprepared for these kinds of situations and are usually rude to the staff, as well. Yes, it would have been nice if she had informed you in a kinder fashion that you needed an envelope and stamp. Yes, it would be great if the fee included the processing, envelope and stamp. Public schools are so beleaguered by cost cuts and downsizing these days that it surprises me that your fee was so low. One of the colleges I attended doesn't charge anything for transcripts and you can order them online and get them in a matter of days. Others don't charge for the first transcript and they don't require an envelope or stamp. Others charge megabucks for the first and more for the subsequent requests. Colleges have the process down pat and I've never had one ask me for an envelope or stamp. It seems like high schools each have different procedures. A good administrator/staff person would request the admin to have some envelopes and stamps on hand and then charge when a former student comes in. At least in that way you aren't required to make an extra trip.

there are going to be many instances in your future nursing career, as well as life in general, where people are going to ruffle your feathers.

some things just aren't worth getting upset about. this may have been one of those instances.

there are going to be many instances in your future nursing career, as well as life in general, where people are going to ruffle your feathers.

some things just aren't worth getting upset about. this may have been one of those instances.

I think that's what makes me (I'm sorry) laugh a little bit here. I WISH that the "rude" people I dealt with every day were like that secretary. That would be a dream compared to the general public I interact with for 40 hours a week. And, keep in mind, patients are a part of the general public. I've heard it referred to as being a "glorified waitress" at times, and I know that it's not because you're serving food...it's because people are going to be demanding SO much of you.

Specializes in ICU.

OP,

We all encounter mild annoyances, things we think are unfair, and things that are downright unjust in our lifetimes, at all ages.

It's okay to vent. It's healthy to vent.

You handled the situation well and that's really what matters.

Your ability to let it roll off your back and your willingness to bend to get the job done will serve you well as you get older and gain more experience.

Best of luck in nursing school!!

Triq

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