What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? OHIO
I started at Hocking College when I was 23 years old, didn't know what I wanted to go for so I went a year undecided. After going through a rough separation with my husband and coming down with menengitis, and completely stopped going to school. About a year later I started back at Hocking and researched the programs they offered, and with the information provided off Hocking's website, I decided E-Commerce & Web Design would be a good choice, based on job availability and paygrade. The last quarter upon completing my degree I started searching for employment. To my surprise, there were no jobs with less than a Bachelors Degree, even though the whole way through my degree they talked of us working for companies, never once mentioned we'd need a bachelors. I was devastated.
Less than a month after I graduated I found out I was pregnant. I didn't want to continue to get a bachelors once I found out the only jobs available, even with a bachelors, were in Columbus (for me is an hour and a half drive,) So I started working at Aldi in Athens, Oh. (They hired me knowing I was pregnant). After my son, Cole, was born, I decided I needed to further my education. Many people suggested I should apply back at Hocking for my second Associates degree in Physical Therapy (I would have job security and a decent salary). I applied, was accepted, submitted my fasfa and was approved for financial aid, everything was in order, gave my notice to Aldi, and out of no where found out my financial aid through Hocking had been denied. Everyone I'd talked to told me I should be fine going for a second associates so I didn't understand what the issue was... I went in to Hocking to speak with the woman who denied my financial aid (Denene Merchant) and she told me she didn't feel I would be able to complete the program in the allotted amount of time financial aid/student loans would allow me to including the 2-3 year wait list involved for clinicals. She requested Bonnie Allen Smith (the dean of Allied Health) to submit to her the amount of time it would take me to complete the degree. After receiving the information Bonnie Allen Smith sent to her, she approved my application. I went to speak with Denene Merchant again and asked her if in fact I would be able to complete the degree in time, and she said yes, as long as I passes my classes.
Three weeks into PTA, I realized it wasn't at all for me. I originally wanted to go into natural resources but had been discouraged by others saying it was difficult to get a job locally. After talking it over with my significant other, he and I decided I should transfer and take the risk, so I went to the natural resources building and explained my situation, and Ken Temple spent the entire day helping me figure out classes I could still get into and catch up on the curriculum. When I went to Admission Processing to switch from PTA classes into Natural Resources I asked if it would create an issue with my financial aid in doing so, and they said no, not as long as you pass your classes and can catch up as needed..
Life was good. I felt I was on the right track for once. This past year has been wonderful. I enjoyed my classes and haven't had any problems. I passed the first semester with all A's and one D (in psychology), and completed this last semester on the Deans List with all A's and one B. I enrolled for summer semester into an internship here at Burr Oak State Park and was loving life. A couple weeks into my internship I find out my financial aid wasn't available. After meeting with a woman named Kelly from financial aid, and her speaking with Denene Merchant, she informed me that Denene said to tell me that changing my degree was the cause of them denying my financial aid. I didn't understand. My first experience with Denene was unpleasant. She acted like I was a burden, was very impolite, and unkind. I felt her denying me was a result of our first experience. I was told by other faculty members she was always rude and simply not a nice lady... I went to talk with Denene to find out what the cause of the denial was, but she said she was busy, I knew the ladies that worked in the Presidents Office so I went to explain my situation to her (Anita Wisenbach). I explained the situation and of course started crying, and she said that Denene was going to make time. We walked to her office and Anita asked politely to make time to speak with me and Denenes response was that she had to get the paperwork in, that some students didn't know if they'd be going to school tomorrow. (I thought, am I not a student too? and I don't know if I'm going to school tomorrow...) At that point Anita made an appointment with Carl Bridges over Provost. In our meeting he explained that it was correct. That switching my degree the credits I dropped counted against me. Even though I was told by Admissions that it wouldn't be an issue. Now I'm left with one degree I can't use, and half another one.. ??
I started at Hocking College when I was 23 years old, didn't know what I wanted to go for so I went a year undecided. After going through a rough separation with my husband and coming down with menengitis, and completely stopped going to school. About a year later I started back at Hocking and researched the programs they offered, and with the information provided off Hocking's website, I decided E-Commerce & Web Design would be a good choice, based on job availability and paygrade. The last quarter upon completing my degree I started searching for employment. To my surprise, there were no jobs with less than a Bachelors Degree, even though the whole way through my degree they talked of us working for companies, never once mentioned we'd need a bachelors. I was devastated.
Less than a month after I graduated I found out I was pregnant. I didn't want to continue to get a bachelors once I found out the only jobs available, even with a bachelors, were in Columbus (for me is an hour and a half drive,) So I started working at Aldi in Athens, Oh. (They hired me knowing I was pregnant). After my son, Cole, was born, I decided I needed to further my education. Many people suggested I should apply back at Hocking for my second Associates degree in Physical Therapy (I would have job security and a decent salary). I applied, was accepted, submitted my fasfa and was approved for financial aid, everything was in order, gave my notice to Aldi, and out of no where found out my financial aid through Hocking had been denied. Everyone I'd talked to told me I should be fine going for a second associates so I didn't understand what the issue was... I went in to Hocking to speak with the woman who denied my financial aid (Denene Merchant) and she told me she didn't feel I would be able to complete the program in the allotted amount of time financial aid/student loans would allow me to including the 2-3 year wait list involved for clinicals. She requested Bonnie Allen Smith (the dean of Allied Health) to submit to her the amount of time it would take me to complete the degree. After receiving the information Bonnie Allen Smith sent to her, she approved my application. I went to speak with Denene Merchant again and asked her if in fact I would be able to complete the degree in time, and she said yes, as long as I passes my classes.
Three weeks into PTA, I realized it wasn't at all for me. I originally wanted to go into natural resources but had been discouraged by others saying it was difficult to get a job locally. After talking it over with my significant other, he and I decided I should transfer and take the risk, so I went to the natural resources building and explained my situation, and Ken Temple spent the entire day helping me figure out classes I could still get into and catch up on the curriculum. When I went to Admission Processing to switch from PTA classes into Natural Resources I asked if it would create an issue with my financial aid in doing so, and they said no, not as long as you pass your classes and can catch up as needed..
Life was good. I felt I was on the right track for once. This past year has been wonderful. I enjoyed my classes and haven't had any problems. I passed the first semester with all A's and one D (in psychology), and completed this last semester on the Deans List with all A's and one B. I enrolled for summer semester into an internship here at Burr Oak State Park and was loving life. A couple weeks into my internship I find out my financial aid wasn't available. After meeting with a woman named Kelly from financial aid, and her speaking with Denene Merchant, she informed me that Denene said to tell me that changing my degree was the cause of them denying my financial aid. I didn't understand. My first experience with Denene was unpleasant. She acted like I was a burden, was very impolite, and unkind. I felt her denying me was a result of our first experience. I was told by other faculty members she was always rude and simply not a nice lady... I went to talk with Denene to find out what the cause of the denial was, but she said she was busy, I knew the ladies that worked in the Presidents Office so I went to explain my situation to her (Anita Wisenbach). I explained the situation and of course started crying, and she said that Denene was going to make time. We walked to her office and Anita asked politely to make time to speak with me and Denenes response was that she had to get the paperwork in, that some students didn't know if they'd be going to school tomorrow. (I thought, am I not a student too? and I don't know if I'm going to school tomorrow...) At that point Anita made an appointment with Carl Bridges over Provost. In our meeting he explained that it was correct. That switching my degree the credits I dropped counted against me. Even though I was told by Admissions that it wouldn't be an issue. Now I'm left with one degree I can't use, and half another one.. ??
