[another rant]
Just found out from school that because of the way my classes are
structured this semester, I won't qualify for my GI Bill living stipend.
I have enough hours to be a full time student, but this is my co-op
semester. Half of my credits are in the first 8-week block and the other
half is the second 8-week block, when I have to perform my internship.
You have to complete both 8-week blocks successfully to get credit for
either one.
Apparently, the VA sees that as meaning I'm not a full time student in
either 8-week block even though I am a full time student for the entire
semester. They're just going to with-hold the stipend during the 8-week
blocks when they don't consider me to be carrying a full time load, i.e.
both of them.
Cuts my budget for this semester between 1/4 and 1/3.
It's partly because I've already completed all of my non-major course
requirements. I had something like 170 transfer credit hours in
non-photography academic courses when I first applied here, so I only
had to take a minimum of non-photography classes (1 psychology, 1
sociology, 1 math, and 1 elective). If I still had non-major academic
requirements to meet, I could take a course on-line that bridged the two
8-week blocks and be "full time" during both.
If I didn't have my retirement savings to draw from, I couldn't afford
to continue. I do, so I will.
But, I don't know how the younger people who don't have my resources
make it through. I keep hearing how it's a national disgrace that so few
of our young people pursue higher education, yet we keep erecting new
barriers to prevent them from doing so.
The department head has offered to write a letter to the VA explaining
that I am full time and have to complete both 8-week blocks in order to
get credit for either of them and for the semester. That might help.
We'll see.
Just to bring this semi-back-on-topic ... the trickle down effects will
limit my future buying power. Where I was planning on a new K3 next
spring, it's now more likely I'm going to have to look real closely at a
used K7 or K5 ... or maybe even keep using the K-20D.
Only a drop in the bucket where Pentax sales are concerned, but still ...
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