I know this post will cause a lot of controversy but I am writing it for those of us who are older adults struggling to earn a spot in a program. The program I am applying for has changed its policies to be an unbelievable contradiction to itself.
I was a first time college student 30 years ago when I was 18. I was immature and irresponsible and did poorly in school for three semesters which obviously and deservedly lowered my GPA. In 1992, I went back and over the years took a class here and there as I could between children and jobs. I earned A's in every one with the goal being to earn my nursing degree when my children were grown.
This past year when my youngest turned 16 I decided it was time for me to finish up and apply to the program. I was encouraged and pursued by the local community college. I was initially denied admission once because my math skills were thirty years old and my compass score stunk and they had just raised the score needed to be accepted. (since then they have lowered it back to it's original number) Yes that was frustrating but I stunk at math and that's an important skill and my own fault so I relearned some of it on my own then retook the compass.
I was admitted and then took an intermediate and college level algebra with and A and a B. I retook the science courses I had already taken previously with A's because they were too old to be counted being six years old instead of five. I raised my Regents GPA to a 3.81. I took the PAX and earned a 97.
As of this semester, I am finished with all of my pre-reqs and ready to apply. However, this week I was told by my advisor that my ranking score will be based not upon my Regents GPA by on my Hope GPA which is cumulative of all college courses taken in my life. This will include the courses from 30 years ago that have been retaken and in which I earned A's.
Let me get this straight, my ACT which was excellent and my A's in science courses taken six years ago are too old to be counted but my bad grades in theater and history which have been retaken are fair game??
Before anyone here blasts me for whining, hear me out. I am a parent. I tell my kids there are repercussions in life for everything you do. That is true. But when you pick and choose what is too old and what is not and when straight A's for the past years are not enough and your efforts at jumping through all the academic hoops are never enough that is not right.
None of my multiple letters of recommendation from my professors will be considered nor my prior health care employment. At this point, going to take both the ACT and SAT again and hope I do as well as I did before. I cannot do anything about my GPA unless I continue to pay for classes that I do not need. Funny thing I am being ranked by the Hope scholarship GPA but will never be eligible because I am from out of state. I still don't know how my ACT is too old to be a judge of my academic performance as I was told but my grades when I was 18 are not.
As for my GPA, my Regents GPA of 3.81 will be tossed aside in favor of my Hope GPA of 2.83. Having said all of this, I have two words of advice. When they say it is on your permanent record IT WILL BE so don't screw up when you are young.
If you are my age, make sure you read all the fine print and find a school that will take into account your circumstances as an older student and work with you, not against you. If this makes you mad, please don't give me a lecture. I'm writing it for those of us who are struggling against the systems that are contradictory and who are frustrated with our best efforts not being enough.
