Registration. I absolutely hate it. If I could give away part of my job to somebody else, it would be mass registration days. The days when hundreds of new students arrive on campus needing to enroll in a course, “fix” their financial aid, buy overpriced books ($165 for a basic math book is ridiculous #imjustsayin), etc. Some of them bring their children, parents, baby carriages, and significant others with them to share in this important moment in their lives. While I appreciate the sentiment, deep down I wish they’d all just stayed home as extra people only adds to the chaos. Everyone asks the same questions — OVER, AND OVER, AND OVER AGAIN. Our office is generally business casual. Today we traded in our cute heels for sneakers and flip flops so we can make our way through crowds of frustrated students who have been in one line at least two hours, only to be told to go to another line to wait for another 3 hours. It’s not unusual to have a student or two in desperate need of some home training who cusses out the entire staff just because she’s tired of waiting so long (and it usually is the females — when did young women get so aggressive?). At least this go-round, I was able to sneak away for 22 glorious minutes of peace during my lunch break. The first 8 minutes were stolen by a woman who cornered me in the kitchen asking questions about her courses. I obliged, knowing that she was just nervous about everything school related and just wanted to make sure she was doing the right thing.
All of which leads me to wonder why people enroll in summer school anyway. Most of the students I saw today are first time college students who are all gung-ho about school and want to do it — all or nothing. I explain to the student that summer school is only 6 weeks, as opposed to the normal 15 weeks. There is no time or space for “course shopping” or getting used to the whole pace of college. If a person has waited so long to finally “do school,” why not wait a few more weeks and start in the fall? What is it about American culture that makes people think they are “behind schedule” and that they must make up for their lack of a degree by putting themselves through summer school hell? I’ve taken a few summer courses myself thinking I was keeping myself “on schedule.” To be honest, I don’t even remember those courses as I was barely keeping up. I could maybe understand if a student is close to graduation and needed just a few more credits so they could finally “just be done with it” as folks often say. But is it wise to allow new students who had never been to college before and mostly deficient in basic skills? School should be enjoyed. Exercising your brain cells should be fun. It shouldn’t be plowed through like a chore.
Helena! You are hilarious… but this is a true fact. We are not behind… a few more weeks won’t hurt. Cramming 15 weeks of content in 6 weeks for a first time college student is a set up for disaster. I’ve seen it and had to console a few students in my capacity as well. Chat with your advisory team… or retention/persistence rates will suffer
But, you know that already:)
LaToniya, I am so glad you get what I’m saying! It’s not as if summer school was set up like a boot camp with additional supports. It’s the same old teaching, with the same minimal support offered during the regular 15-week semester! How can this possibly lead to success for those who are severely deficient in basic skills? There has got to be a better model out there. If you know of any, please let me know (seriously…).
Wait…you get to wear flip-flops AND you get to eat? What more do you want woman?? LOL Just kidding! Yes registration is a pain…I suggested that we have a separate room for students who didn’t bother to get advising right after testing, as opposed to us trying to advise and register at the same time..that idea was shot down. So we end up advising 50+ students because they let months pass after the day the tested instead of walking into the next building for advisement. *Sigh*
Yeah, those last minute folks… Do they know they are supposed to get advised after taking the test? Or maybe they were so tired, or maybe even upset about their scores that they figured they can be advised another day?
I love this post! Thanks for keeping things really! Love the picture!