I go to Miami University during the typical school year, but for reasons out of my control, I had to take a chemistry class over the summer. Since Miami is around 3.5 hours away from my house and very expensive, I couldn't afford to go there over the summer when I wouldn't receive any federal grants or loans. So instead, I looked to the other four-year universities in my area. The only one that offered what I needed was Bowling Green State University.
Luckily, they had a "guest student" program so I didn't need to transfer everything over and then back to Miami in the fall. I figured it would be a challenge, but I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
1. I was given no information.
Not an orientation, not a welcome email. Nothing. They left me to figure everything out for myself. I was basically a first-year student, can't you help me at least a little bit???
2. Administration never emailed me back in a timely fashion.
After being assured that my transcripts from Miami would go straight into BGSU's system, I discovered that they couldn't actually transfer my credits because they don't do that for guest students. Instead I had to send a screenshot. Money wasted.
3. I was added to my class after it had already started.
Due to the above ordeal, I wasn't added to my class until after the class had already started! Thank God I had the wits to show up at class anyway!
4. Neither of my professors ever emailed me back.
I knew they had always read them because they knew what I was discussing with them when I came to class. But even when time was of the essence, no response.
5. Driving over an hour to and from class every day.
I do not do early, and my first class was at 8:30 every day of the week, so I had to leave my house at 7 a.m. to make sure I got there in time. I do not do early.
6. TAs were often not helpful at all.
This might just be because it was summer, but the TAs were always saying the opposite of each other or my professor. (They also never followed the dress code in lab...)
7. The strange hours of the student center.
Once again, probably a summer thing, but the cafeteria in the student center was only open for a few hours. I had to rush there after lab for a chance at food before I studied until the center closed at 5.
8. Why did I need a BGSU ID???
I paid for it and finally found out where to get it halfway through my class. But what would I even use it for? I'm not even an actual student there, which was made pretty clear!
9. The students that came into class thinking they owned the place.
Wow, you already took this once, so you know EVERYTHING. Clearly not, because you're taking it again. Get off your high horse and start doing the work with the rest of us.
So yeah, my experience at BGSU wasn't amazing, but I still had a pretty good six weeks. The campus is beautiful, the bunnies are so cute and I made some pretty good friends in my classes. If you go to Bowling Green full-time and also have these problems, I'm so sorry, but hopefully, these were only problems for guest students.
Bowling Green State University might not have been horrible, but I will definitely still be attending Miami University in the fall.
Redhawks > Falcons. Love and Honor.
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