16th July 2014

So I found out recently from IUSB Financial Aid that I was almost to the 150% limit for my pursuit of my degree. This seems mainly due to the transfer credits from Ai and VC. In order to continue there I was told to fill out a High Hours form and have it signed by my adviser and turn it in to Financial Aid. So I did this and yesterday I got a letter from Financial Aid in response saying that because It was going to take another 30-some units to complete my degree and that would put me WAY over the 150%, my Financial Aid would just be cancelled. WTF. I have the opportunity to appeal the decision but I'm not sure it will work out in my favor. Jamie seems to just want to cut and run and just have me enroll at Ai Pittsburgh's Graphic Design program. UGH. For one, I had grown pretty attached to the idea of getting a reputable degree from a school NOT being sued by former students and their parents. For another, I don't think I have the patience to deal with Ai again, especially in an online-only context where I can't show up at someone's office and yell at them because they (inevitably) fucked something up. I can't think of a single thing to put in the Pro column for attending Ai again. Other than the fact that I'm already aware of their bullshit and can't be as easily scammed.

I just sent Jamie an e-mail ( I know, but she's so set on me going back into the clutches of Ai that I can't talk to her face to face about it ) outlining the difference in tuition cost between IUSB and Ai Online. While it is currently slightly cheaper to go to Ai with my non-resident status at IUSB, once October rolls around I can claim residency in Indiana and pay less than half what Ai would charge me for tuition. I also told her I'd look into changing majors to get out of school sooner, which I'm not happy about but I know it can't be easily helped. We'll see how this shit show goes.

So Jamie made an interesting point about going back to Ai, one that I doubt will actually end up having any impact on the situation. She asked me, what if Ai only needs me to take half as many credits as IUSB thus negating the difference in cost of tuition. I highly doubt they will let me simply enroll and require a small handful of credits to get one of their degrees. No, it'll be twice as many units as what IUSB wants me to take at twice the cost. I can see it now. The school that keeps on screwing. We'll see if that actually happens.