Can't Graduate on Time. Help!!!

Hi All,

I am an incoming analyst at a BB. Sadly I find that I might not be able to graduate on time this summer.

It is not really my fault since there is a sudden change of graduation policy in my university. They used to allow students to use the last summer school courses to graduate but it won't be allowed from this year. The university did inform all the students early in Sep. and ask all graduating students to finish their courses during fall and spring semesters. The problem is my core curriculum involves a summer course and I deferred the course last summer in Jun. (ironically for Summer SA stint)...so by the time they change the policy the damage is already done.

I have been actively arguing with the university and have came up with several remedies plans. But there is no one in school now able to give me any guarantee on my successful graduation or not. That to be said, I might have a 50% chance to graduate on time this summer. I won't know the result till the graduation day...

As any investor would take into consideration, I want to take care of the downside here. So if I do not get my degree on time, should I not tell my employer, get onboard and pretend nothing happened or should I tell them honestly and hopefully to negotiate some way out?

Thank you very much for any thoughts! I am kinda of exhausted these two semesters worrying about the issue.

10 Comments
 

iirc I had to supply a transcript at onboarding when I started ft

Might be different at other places, but I have a hard time imagining that you'll get onboarded with no degree, short of forging a transcript

Either way, good luck...I'd be sincerely pissed at my school if what you say is true and you had no ability to graduate due to a sudden change in the rules.

 

I do blame the university though, but it really doesn't help. I will have no problem getting my official transcript and my work Visa done. The funny truth is that transcript here is just a inventory of the courses I have taken, which actually do not reflect whether I will graduate on time or not. I will never forge any documents btw.

The problem is graduation certificate which I may not get on time...

 
Best Response

Prior to earning your degree, you are correct. However, once you earn your degree, your transcript will have a "Degrees Awarded by [insert university here]" section.

You are right...maybe HR won't notice. However, if I were you, I'd be up front about it. The longer you wait, the more stupid you'll look when you try to rationalize your situation to your employer. If you are caught working without a degree, you will get the axe on the spot. Without question. If I were your boss, I'd fire the shit out of you for even considering trying to hide it in the first place.

Or maybe you'll be like Mike Ross on Suits and your employer will be totally cool with it. Try that and let me know how it works.

Rereading this post, I realize that I sounded like a dick...but you are objectively being an idiot. Do not try hiding it from your employer. Continue trying to resolve the situation with the school. If it doesn't work itself out in 2 weeks, then own up to it and tell your employer. It's already April...the longer you wait, the harder it will be to plead ignorance without looking stupid. From your employers point of view, you've known about this since at least the beginning of the school year. Owning up to it in April (or later) makes you look either: 1) totally inept/stupid or 2) dishonest. Take your pick. Neither is a good way to start your career.

 

Right... Since they award the degree once in a year. Because of the summer school policy change, I will not make to this year's degree awarding schedule. So I may not get my degree on time. I might only be able to get it one year later in 2017...

 

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