Intl Student - Urgent Advice Needed Problem Navigating College System

Hey guys, 

I'm a 1st generation international college student going to school in the US and I really need someone's help for my situation. I feel like I'm going to have a heart attack from the stress and I can't stop crying.  I just finished freshman year and my college enrolled me in all business classes saying you could do them one after the other since our calendar has classes for a couple months and once you finish those you go into the remaining classes for the next part of the term. In the end, it works out to being the same number of credits as a regular semester-based school. My school has a few advisors but I was not assigned to any advisor to help me plan out my degree/advise me to make sure everything is going smoothly. I started out taking an accounting class and when I got a perfect grade one of the advisors told me to keep taking those classes so I did. I took all accounting classes and I have just 1 accounting class left. But I got locked out of the class website for a few of my classes and my profs gave me an I for incomplete to submit the grade later. 

The problem is a new lady works in advising and she put me in 1 reg non business class (think math 2, science 2, English 2 etc.) when I did not have the pre-requisite for it (math 1, science 1, English 1 etc.) and when I got locked out ,the class grade automatically shows as an F after the last day of classes. This is NOT FAIR to me as the student because there's no way I could have taken the class but the school won't remove it saying I can take class 1 and 2 at the school which sounds like they just want $. I got locked out of a few other classes and IT was utterly useless in getting me back in; I spoke to the new advisor over the phone and she was making a bunch of excuses but told me she would ask around and email me back with what she can do. She was quick to register me as her student for advising but she was super rude and didn't help. I thought she would email me back with some solutions but she did not so I thought I could contact one of the profs and should I be successful, use that to get help from my other professors.

I contacted one of my profs who said to email him and he will correct the grade. So I did. I didn't hear from him for a few days and I followed up. He said he's going to grade it in a few days and I took that as a positive sign thinking that once he puts in his grade I can show my emails with him so the other profs could consider the same thing. Today I logged in to see if the prof updated my grade and I see all of my I grades are no longer an I and went to an F. There's no way that's possible since it's from a few months ago. My gut feeling is this new advisor lady emailed my other professors behind my back telling them to change the I grades to an F because there's no way all of them would change the grade at the exact same time. There was also something she said in the conversation which made it impossible for one of those I's to be changed until Fall. I can't stop crying, have really bad chest pains and I am super worried that my life is over. 

One of my parents health severely deteriorated this summer and I'm the only person taking care of them because my parents just announced they are getting divorced. I can only afford 1 other college but I may need to take classes at a slower pace to keep $$ aside for medical bills. 

If I transfer to the other college (I'm super worried now because of a few F's), they will show the grades I got at my college on the 2nd college's transcript and it counts in your major GPA but not cumulative. Transfer students can't get latin honors on their degree. I don't see anything on the other college's website suggesting they would notate if a class is transferred in or not on their transcript. 

What would your advice be for me? I'm super worried because my transcript is a mix of perfect grades and F's so it looks very strange. I'm afraid how the other college would look at my application since there are situations where I got a perfect grade on class 2 or 3 (the adv. level) class but the intro grade is now a fail and I feel like I was deliberately misled by my college to a place where I'm stuck. I can't believe someone like this works with students. This benefits my college since they know students will pay $$ to retake the intro class if they already passed the advanced class (I'm not even sure how a school can run like this because it's a big admin failure to enroll kids in the 2nd or 3rd class without having the necessary pre-req while issuing a failing grade, it reeks of being scammy). I feel awful and lost. 

There was something I thought of but I am super worried if this could land me in huge trouble. Do you think I should transfer to the other college and act as if all my classes are from them? Atm, I would be stuck transferring few classes (+/- 1 term) from my current college because of the Fs. I suspect the GPA calculation at the end of my degree would look lower than it actually is because my perfect grades wouldn't count towards it but do you think if I applied to grad school, they would take a second look at it? I could always say I noticed there was an error in my gpa calculation after submitting apps but I doubt I need to say anything because they would probably notice it if a person is reading it. If it's AI they may go with whatever the new college has posted for my graduating GPA. Tbh I think that's too far in the future. I really need your help because I feel super lost and scammed at the last minute. I thought maybe I should firmly tell someone else in the department to fix the mess with the I's since I was misled and paid for those classes and refuse to pay for future classes until it's fixed but I worry they will blacklist me to other professors or not care and make my potential transfer process hard. 

Any advice would be super helpful! Thanks guys.

P.S. If I wanted to do grad school it would be away from my current college since they don't have grad programs in my area of study/finance. If I transfer to the other college, the worst case scenario is to do the 4+1 MBA (idk if it's worth it since the MBA is ~25k more than other masters programs but cheap for a US MBA I guess and in my home country a masters is needed if you want to climb the ranks in government/large companies - I don't think it's needed for IB maybe a bonus if you have one). Just thought I'll throw this out there in case a senior student/someone working in the industry can shed some light on this. Thanks.

4 Comments
 

Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are some steps and advice for your situation:

Immediate Steps to Take:

  1. Document Everything:

    • Keep a detailed record of all communications with advisors, professors, and IT support. This includes emails, dates, and summaries of phone calls.
    • Save any evidence that shows you were misled or improperly advised.
  2. Contact Higher Authorities:

    • Reach out to the head of the advising department or the dean of your college. Explain your situation clearly and provide all documented evidence.
    • Request a formal review of your grades and the advising process.
  3. Seek External Help:

    • Consider contacting an educational consultant or a legal advisor who specializes in academic issues. They can provide guidance on how to navigate the situation and advocate on your behalf.

Transferring to Another College:

  1. Understand Transfer Policies:

    • Research the transfer policies of the potential new college. Specifically, look into how they handle transfer credits and grades.
    • Confirm if they will include your previous grades in your major GPA but not in your cumulative GPA.
  2. Explain Your Situation:

    • When applying to the new college, include a detailed explanation of your current situation. Highlight the issues with advising and the administrative errors that led to your current grades.
    • Provide any supporting documents that can help your case.
  3. Focus on Future Performance:

    • If you transfer, aim to excel in your new classes to demonstrate your true academic capabilities.
    • Consider taking a lighter course load initially to manage stress and ensure high performance.

Long-Term Considerations:

  1. Grad School Applications:

    • If you plan to apply to grad school, be prepared to explain the discrepancies in your transcript. Admissions committees often consider personal statements and letters of recommendation, which can provide context to your academic record.
    • Highlight your strengths and any improvements in your academic performance after transferring.
  2. Professional Advice:

    • For career-specific advice, such as whether an MBA is necessary for your goals, consider reaching out to professionals in your desired industry. They can provide insights into the value of different degrees and certifications.

Mental Health and Support:

  1. Seek Support:

    • Given the stress and emotional toll, consider speaking with a counselor or mental health professional. They can provide strategies to manage stress and anxiety.
    • Reach out to support groups or communities for international students who may have faced similar challenges.
  2. Self-Care:

    • Prioritize self-care and ensure you are taking steps to manage your physical and mental health. This includes regular exercise, a healthy diet, and sufficient sleep.

Additional Resources:

  • WSO Forums:

    • Engage with the WSO community for additional advice and support. Many members have faced similar challenges and can offer valuable insights.
  • Educational Resources:

    • Utilize resources like the WSO Academy for courses and guidance on navigating academic and professional challenges.

By taking these steps, you can address the immediate issues and set yourself up for future success. Remember, many students face setbacks, but with the right approach, you can overcome these challenges and achieve your goals.

Sources: Ask mbaMission about Business School Admissions, My Advice for International Students in the US (F-1 Visa, OPT, CPT, H-1B), Advice from an ex-IB MD - The Importance Of Failure, Are transfers really screwed?, 5 Steps To Becoming A Rockstar Freshman (Undergrad Advice)

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

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