FUCK!

[hellziggy]

Goddamn it! I just went online to double check the start dates of my classes this semester and to see what books I would be needing. I wasn't registered for anything!!!! They fucking dropped me for non-payment even though my financial aid status says "ready to pay"
So I tried to reregister and only one of the three classes I had been signed up for was available!!! One of the classes that isn't available anymore is only offered in the fall. If I can't take it this semester I can't graduate in the spring. And if I can only take one class I can't get financial aid.
So now on top of everything else fucked up, it looks like I'm not going to be in school this semester either, and that means I won't be in school until next fall because most of the spring classes were portfolio & graduation prep, except for one that has a prereq that you have to take in the fall.
Well at least now I can look for jobs that don't have to work around my school schedule. And I can stop trying to find Photoshop jobs since I'm now two years from graduating instead of just one.
fuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuck!!!!!!!!

Comments

[windelina.livejournal.com]

Whoa there!
Two important things to do: Contact your advisor immediately. You have an advisor, I'm assuming?
Second, contact the instructors of the classes you need.

Instructors will often let people into classes once they are full if the student can demonstrate they *need* that class. Also, your tale of how you DID register and then had the registrations reversed should be a point in your favor.

All is not lost -you're just going to have to fight for it a little bit.

[hellziggy.livejournal.com]

If I have an advisor, I don't know who it is. They just have a general "advising day" in our department once a semester, and it's such a small department that when you have a problem you can pretty much go to anyone with it.

I did send an email to the teacher of the class I need letting her know what happened, and telling her that if I can't get the class this semester that I need to put everything on hold until next fall when I can get it. I just got a reply from her saying to just come to the first class and she'd see what she can do. Unfortunately I've never seen the school let anyone into a class that is full. They say they can't because it affects their funding.

[freyjakj.livejournal.com]

You are just having a day, aren't you?? :-( blah!

[hellziggy.livejournal.com]

Yup. Was definitely having a day!

[scubagrrl.livejournal.com]

Definitely talk to the instructors. And the school office. And your adviser. And anybody else you can find who might be able to help you fix this.

You'll graduate. Worst case, you go to the first day of class and add them with instructor signature. I know I got bumped from a class last semester that I wanted to add, but there was a senior in the class who needed the spot.

[hellziggy.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the teacher got back to me on my email and said to just come to the first class and she would see what she can do. I did manage to get into a different session of Painting 1 than the one I was originally in, so at least I have 6 credits again to qualify for financial aid!

[tx-cronopio.livejournal.com]

Yes, call someone! Start at the Dean's office, work your way down if need be. You need an override, and you need the class to graduate. You have a good case. If that fails, show up first day of class and talk to instructor. Good luck! xox

[hellziggy.livejournal.com]

*pout*
You would have never let this happen to me at your school, would you? *clings to cronopio* Stoopid school!
Yeah, I got an email back from the teacher and she said to just come to the first day of class and she'd see what she can do.

[tx-cronopio.livejournal.com]

I never would! I'd take care of you :)

[hellziggy.livejournal.com]

Except for the me having to live in Texas to be at your school part... *grin*
I was able to stag a spot in a painting class when ONE seat opened up, so I've at least now got the 6 credits needed for financial aid. It's not the same time slot I had before, but it was my second choice so it's not all bad.

[boliviafang.livejournal.com]

Back when I started a career as a "marketing coordinator" I had no class training in any desktop publishing or graphic design programs. But I was self-taught.. and not very well, when I look back on it now. But when my ex decided he wanted a divorce the day after I quit a full time job, I told the temp agency I'd take anything "marketing or sales" related. I never would have considered working for a construction company.. just because it never would have occurred to me. The industry has changed, of course, over the last ten years, and the larger companies have an appreciation for continuing education, but many of them (and especially the smaller companies) don't really "get" graphic design and don't see the point to spending money hiring a college degree when more than half their staff never attended. If you get my drift.

..okay.. uh, that was the preamble. The point is that if you're willing to consider "non glamorous" industries, you can get in and start working at the sort of work you want, and maybe even get your classes paid for. My old employer paid for thousands of dollars worth of classes and seminars over the years. And now my current employer thinks I'm golden and, while I'm sure they would pay for training, they seem quite happy with what I picked up at my other job.

Nearly every company these days produces proposals of some sort, and internal and external newsletters.

OMG, that reminds me, my city (Maplewood) just printed in their newsletter that they had awarded the contract to produce their newsletters to some one-guy agency for $35,000 a year. That nearly made me choke on my coffee. Of course there's the cost of printing and what not, but if he landed three six-times-a-year publications like that he'd be set. And believe me, there is no Photoshop in my city newsletter.

The.. ah.. point, again, is that maybe you could offer to produce newsletters for local groups, small churches,

.... please... offer to produce and edit small restaurant menus. Those make me crazy.

Look for small insurance agency offices, or title processing offices.

I see some really nicely prepared "brochures" for homes that are for sale. Granted, the market is struggling, but maybe a local realtor's office would like help putting together home "sell sheets". My former boss sold his house (several hundred thousand dollars) and his realtor prepared a whole book. Upscale realtors might like the service, and they can afford to pay for it.

Day care centers. Nursing homes. VFWs. ...these are just places to pick up onesie twosie jobs. But each flyer, newsletter and event poster you produce can go on your resume. I have done a couple charitable event posters and ticket packages. If I was in business for myself I could have written off the value of the contribution on my taxes. I'm not, so I didn't bother with it, but the work is still in my portfolio. (Or would be if I ever organized my portfolio.. but I do keep samples. Everywhere.. but I keep them.) I also did lots of free work for local bands and events in the goth/industrial scene. All that stuff is in my sample files, even if I didn't get paid for it, it still represents work that other people requested and accepted.

Oh, and check out the Minnesota DNR and any affiliated companies and organizations. Call on some ornithologimacalistic group with a batch of your bird photos. Do up a dummy newsletter with your photos. Use that exceptional talent of yours in addition to your design skills.

How about a landscaping company or those companies that put in ponds and waterfalls? They always talk about attracting wildlife.. you can suggest that they hire a professional brochure designer and you already have some great stock photography.

Lots of those service companies operate mostly by word of mouth because they don't have much in the way of advertising budgets or printed material.

And since we're on that subject, check out all the service booths at the Minnesota State Fair in the buildings where they show siding and saunas and windows and fireplaces.

....

Did I give you enough to think about?

[hellziggy.livejournal.com]

No! Not sales! I don't like people!

I actually found that there are several photo places around the cities hiring and I have over 2 years experience at a photo lab, one of those years as Assistant Manager. That's my next application step.