Oh My God I think I am going to vomit

So I'm moving to California in exactly one month to attend a Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program. Since I was like 15-16, it has been my dream to become a psychologist and now I'm finally about to start the program that will allow me to do this. This is a really big deal for me, so I'm really excited about it!

Well, time goes by, I get an apartment, I take care of all the paperwork I need to do. And now all I need to do is apply for a student loan so I can pay my tuition. So no bill arrives. But I get an email last week on Friday from the director of admissions telling me tuition is due 8/6. I write him back to say that I never got a bill and I don't know what to do since loans obviously take time to process.

Don't hear back from him. So today I emailed the financial aid department and the bursar. According to Financial Aid they never got my FAFSA or Financial Aid Application. Ok...WTef? So I send that along. Then I get a call back from the director of the bursar's office. Apparently I'm not a registered student. Or even an admitted student according to their information.

REALLY!?!?!?!?

So I explain to her that I've been getting all the mailings about everything (welcome packet w/ my letter, stuff about housing, emails about orientation, etc.) and she says 'do you have a password to the school's student website?' No. 'do you have a schedule?' No. I have nothing. And apparently I'm not in their ******* system.

But they cashed my check (which I have a copy of that I emailed them, thank god for internet banking), and the director of admissions knows who I am and knows I'm an accepted student.

So the woman from the bursar's office says to me, 'This is really worrying me, I'm going to start making phone calls and you email me things as I email you about them.' So now the bursar and I are trying to figure out what the hell is going on while I dig through my emails and forward her all the info that I've been told that she claims she has no idea what I'm talking about.

I think I'm going to die. Really?! After everything I've been through to get into this program (mentally/emotionally (I can't even put into words all the **** I've gone through to get to this point), financially, I mean, hell, I am moving across the country with my husband for this!) and now this is happening?! I don't know whether to cry, throw up, or jump off the roof.

don't panic yet! as someone that works for colleges this has happened before to other grad students (they are always thrown under the bus, which is annoying).

just e-mail the director of graduate studies through your psychology department (if you don't know who that is, e-mail the psychology department head or your advisor if you were assigned one), and LET THEM KNOW what is going on. things will speed up if you have the department on your side! keep us posted and feel free to vent!

ETA: One more thing about your FAFSA: Some students wait until the last month of school to get loans. That will not be a problem whatsoever, esp. since it's the school's fault your paperwork is messed up.

that sounds like a nightmare but I'd just try to take a deep breath and know it will all sort itself out. .

you are clearly accepted and they can't take that back. . I do hope that financial aid ends up working out though. .

I hope it all works out!

Just want to say I hope everything works out!!!
No jumping off the roof

The best things are worth fighting for. You have enough proof. this will all work out.

good luck. try to stay calm.

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Posted by meara



that sounds like a nightmare but I'd just try to take a deep breath and know it will all sort itself out. .

you are clearly accepted and they can't take that back. . I do hope that financial aid ends up working out though. .

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ita..i hope it works out for you

oh nooooo
i cant believe this is happening to you!!!

what the eff??!

try not to panic because im sure someone knows what is going on and it will all get worked out!
just keep calling and try to get to the bottom of this!

Oh no!! If you have all the proof they have to let you in there!!! I hope everything works out okay!!!

bump for update lila!!!!!!

how is everything?

As a PhD student myself I totally understand why you are freaking out but as long as you have your acceptance letter and the deposit to hold your spot in the class you should be OK. Student loans are processed pretty fast (usually in a couple of days) and most schools will take a guarantee from your lender since the loans are not usually dispersed until after classes begin. Do not freak out (I know it is easier said then done) and just work with the school to figure out what happen- Provide them with the paperwork they require and hopefully you will be able to resolve this by the end of the day. Good Luck! Try to stay calm.

its going to work out. like everything in this world we really want for some reason we have to go through a million hoops. you have your cashed check proof bottom line. try to stay calm and not put physical stress on your body. vent away on teh forum and then distract the brain all you can do now is jsut wait for them to get their sh8t together youhave done everything you can do on your side.

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Posted by gina409

bump for update lila!!!!!!

how is everything?

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So it turns out the woman who works at the bursar's office is new and had no idea what she was talking about. I'm fine and there was no issue, she just didn't realize when I said 'a new 1st year PhD student' I meant an incoming student. Really?!!? Ridiculous. I talked to the woman from admissions and she basically said that the other woman was stupid and only talk to her until the semester starts...ok. Will do.

As for the financial aid, the woman there really did never get my stuff. But now that I've received my awards notice and I've been trying to talk to her about it I realize that the woman is a complete retard and will never be of any help to me. So it's not even worth going there.

At least I'm an actual student!

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Posted by MrsInglima

At least I'm an actual student!

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Hooray!

I know it would work out, but I am glad it did!

I have gone through this before with one of the colleges I went to...I really wonder sometimes if anyone really knows what they are doing in those schools

I hope you get everything figured out and your move goes smoothly