Readmission-a small rant

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Just had to share a little bit of frustration that I've had today with the process of trying to get readmitted to WGU. Sorry in advance for my rant.

I had began my RN to BSN nearly 4 years ago at WGU, just shortly after I had finished my earning my RN at a Community College. About six weeks into the program, I realized that I was just not at the right point in my life where I was going to be able to concentrate on school due to various things going on in my personal and work life so I made the hard decision to withdraw from school. Fast forward four years. I am in a very different place than I was four years ago. Things have settled down in my personal life and I finally have a work environment that is encouraging me to finish my degree, rather than being negative. So I made the big decision to re-enroll at WGU to finish my degree.

It was a lot harder than I thought it would be. First, I was asked to write an appeal statement explaining why I had dropped out and why exactly I felt that I should be allowed to re-enter the program, as well as an academic plan on how I was going to do things different when I returned to the program. It made me feel a little like a puppy that had tinkled on the carpet having its nose rubbed into the mess, but okay. I could swallow some pride and write the essay. Then I was told that I had to give them a $100 readmission fee. 'Would this guarantee that I would be allowed back into the program?' I asked. 'No,' was the answer. They didn't "have to" allow me back into the program but this was the process. Again, I decided this must be fair. After all, if I was a new student, I would be paying an application fee so I scraped the $100 together and sent it off.

After waiting for two weeks to find out an answer as to whether I'd be allowed to re-attend WGU (I was informed that this could take 4-6 weeks so this wasn't too bad), I got my answer today. I will be allowed back in on the following conditions:

1. I will be placed on a Probationary term (okay, that's fair, though I only need 24 credits to graduate and I might get through it in one term)

2. I have to complete satisfactory progress in at least 12 credit hours during this Probationary term or I would be removed from the program (again, what I was expecting)

3. I have to attend all weekly calls with my mentor (yep, not a problem)

4. I have to complete ALL learning resources as directed by the courses of study and at the discretion of my mentor ( I interpreted this to mean all assignments, not just the ones that will be graded (not happy about that, but if this is what it takes, it will be worth it)

At this point the puppy being rubbed in urine feeling is so strong that I am almost, but not quite, ready to say forget it, there has to be another school that won't hold that 6 weeks against me when I read this last part of the terms of my readmission:

5. I will have to re-enter WGU in Financial Aid Suspension status and will not qualify for financial aid during this probationary term.

WAIT! What? How do they expect me to pay for their school? I know that it is reasonably priced but I have two teenagers that are starting to drive and a mortgage. I can't come up with thousands of dollars just like that. Not to mention that feeling of shame that I wasn't able to go through the program when I planned. I literally cried when I read that last part because that was the straw that broke the camel's back. I have wanted my Bachelor's degree for nearly four years and now that I was so close to being able to go back to school, my dream is now that much further away. I checked into private loans but there is no guarantee that I can get one and I am confused as to whether this would count as financial aid to WGU. I'm so frustrated and shamed that I'm ready to just pass on getting my BSN.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I am so sorry to hear of your uphill battle with the readmission process.

When WGU refers to financial aid, they're specifically referring to federal forms of aid (Stafford loans, Pell grants, so forth). You could obtain a reasonably-priced private student loan through Wells Fargo, Citibank, Sallie Mae, Bank of America, or your local credit union.

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Specializes in Emergency, Case Management, Informatics.

First of all, good on you for trying to jump back on the horse to get your BSN. Don't give up.

Have you tried to appeal the financial aid issue? It's worth a shot to ask your enrollment counselor what the process is for appealing this. If he/she doesn't know or tells you that you can't, ask to speak to someone higher up.

Failing that, try to enroll in a local community college (where you will be able to get financial aid) and take a couple of gen ed classes over the summer that will transfer back into WGU. I have read stories of people being flat-out denied readmission to WGU, taking gen ed courses and earning good grades, then successfully reapplying to WGU. This may also help with the financial aid appeal.

Finally, consider just biting the bullet and getting a private loan for the first term. If you go into a second term, you can use the excess federal loans to pay back the more-expensive private loan from the first term.

As for all the other hoops you have to jump through, consider this -- most nursing programs at brick-and-mortar colleges won't even let you back in if you drop out. Or, if they do, the sanctions are quite a bit more strict.

Good luck to you. Again, don't give up. You'll never regret pushing through all this mess and coming out with your BSN. You will regret it if you give up.

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Are you sure that is a Wgu thing and not a federal loan thing?

Back when I obtained my original bachelors degree, I ran into this. My grades were poor so I was placed on financial aid suspension and unable to get aid for a semester. It had nothing to do with the school, it was part of the federal financial aid requirements.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

When you dropped out, you got Fs (not passed) for all the classes you were enrolled in. This is a permanent part of your transcript and, as such, has made your GPA exceptionally low most likely. This is why you are having the restrictions and why you can't get federal aid. It isn't WGU, it is the federal aid guidelines.

Get a private loan or a credit card (one that gives airline miles would work well for you with this) until you are back in good standing. Good luck!

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Are you sure that is a Wgu thing and not a federal loan thing?

Back when I obtained my original bachelors degree, I ran into this. My grades were poor so I was placed on financial aid suspension and unable to get aid for a semester. It had nothing to do with the school, it was part of the federal financial aid requirements.

I was approved for financial aid already for this next term so I think that it is just WGU's policy, though I noticed today when I logged in to my WGU portal that it says that I am in good standing for financial aid. I am going to contact the bursar's office tomorrow to find out what is going on with it.

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Thank you everyone for the encouragement. I appreciate it. I did a lot of thinking since I received that email to make sure that I was still dedicated to getting my BSN and I decided to accept readmission through WGU under their terms. It will be worth it when I make it through the program and earn my BSN.

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You lost me when I read the term "probationary status". Weren't you in satisfactory standing when you withdrew? If so, you don't deserve the puppy nose in urine treatment. If that were me, I would just plain find another school and start over again. But if you were failing your courses when you withdrew, and thus not in satisfactory standing, then they have the academic right to treat you this way. Even so, I would strongly consider another program. That's just me.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

WGU doesn't have withdrawals. It is a pass/fail university. If you withdraw, no matter how you were doing in your courses, you receive a "not passed" grade for those courses, which on a transcript is the equivalent of an F.

I am super glad you got the financial aid thing worked out and can now pursue your studies!

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I finished wgu two months ago and I promise it's worth it. I really do already see the differences in having a BSN.

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So was it a Financial Aid (NelNet) policy or a WGU policy as far as not receiving financial aid and having to pay out of pocket for your first term back at WGU since your withdrawal?

Did you not complete all of your classes or just some of them prior to withdrawing?

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I'm pretty sure this student did not have enough credits to attain good standing to receive financial aid. This is not just a WGU policy (Federal), but all universities. Please see below for more info.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy | WGU Financial Aid | Western Governors University Online

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