Need to vent!

[xptp29a]

I'm not a nursing student, yet. I'm still finishing my bachelor's degree in biology and that's what this rant is all about.

My mom had two brain aneursyms that burst back in mid-October. I was going to school at that time as a full-time student. After her aneursyms burst, I decided that I needed to be with her at the hospital more than at school so I withdrew from school.

I have been working with a college dean on getting my withdrawl taken care of. The University gave me 90% of my $14,000 tuition back for this semester. This dean has a lot of pull in getting tuition refunds when students withdraw.

I was curious why they could not give me a 95 or 100% refund. Part of the refund process requires each of my instructors to verify my last day in class. The dean was told by several of my instructors that I hadn't been in class for several weeks. This really made my blood boil because it was totally inaccurate. I missed one day of class late in September due to a cold but nothing more than that.

The dean also went on to say that the University does offer more generous refunds when there are extenuating circumstances regarding the withdrawl. My mom was in ICU for two weeks and for the first week and a half we did not think she was going to live-- if that is not an extenuating circumstance then I don't know what is? On top of all this, since my mom is a single parent and I have a younger brother, I was helping take care of him. I was also trying to coordinate all of her finances and legal documents. School and work on top of all this...I think not!

I'm really mad by the comments this dean made. This is a private, Catholic University that I go to. When I first went to this dean, he was very supportive and was willing to help me out in anyway but now it seems like he is kicking me when I'm down.

The difference between a 90 and 100% tuition refund might not sound like much, but I already have about $85,000 in student loan debt. He is either being vague in his emails or is getting inaccurate information. I'm frustrated by all this and need to vent before I reply to his email.

If you have any comments, please share them with me.

[collegebound]

First, I would speak to your teachers to verify with them your last class day. Maybe they are confusing you with someone else. I have discovered there is nothing that can beat written documentation so perhaps you can write a letter stating what your actual last class day was and have all your teachers sign off on it. Make copies and give the dean the one. I would also try to find a way to ducument the other things--the duration and severity of your mother's illness and hospital stay, ways you had to help out with your brother, meetings with attorney (you mentioned legal docs), checks or anything showing that you have taken over your household. The more papers you have to prove your case, the less your case can be refuted. It also seems to light fires on otherwise uncooperative people, when they know there is now a paper trail that may hold them accountable. I wish you the best of luck in this battle, and, for what it is worth, I am sorry to hear about your mother.

[babynurselsa, RN]

I know you are frustrated, but many schools would not have even been this generous. In many places you would have gotton a word of condolonces and NO money back.

Maybe you can talk to him again.

Good luck

[BSNtobe2009]

I have never attended a college that would grant a 100% refund past the 1st full week of classes.

$14K a semester? I about had a stroke when I read that.

[xptp29a]

I have never attended a college that would grant a 100% refund past the 1st full week of classes.

$14K a semester? I about had a stroke when I read that.

My advisor suggested that I push for a full refund. There was no harm in trying. The dean basically blew me off again when I emailed him but I needed to let him know how I felt.

Yeah, $14,000 a semester. Pretty absurd isn't it? Glad I only have a year left. I thought about transfering but have decided against it since a lot of my credits won't transfer to other schools. The important credits, though, will transfer to the nursing school I want to attend.