N.C. State students can choose to do a variety of things with their summer. For some, the break opens up enough free time for much desired vacation time or lounging around by the poolside. For others, the summer holds the opportunity to earn some extra cash to pay off debts to benefactors. However, to few, the stress and strain of working towards a degree rages on with summer classes.
Many students find their degree programs require heavier course loads than previously anticipated, and begin to look for ways to lighten their course loads for the school year. The ideal solution, whether one is at home or in Raleigh, seems to be summer school; however, depending on an individual’s experience, school over the summer can either make or break State students.
Currently I am home for the summer taking my second level of Physics at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, and while we are only a week into the actual course, the obstacles and challenges continue to appear.
This venture began, like most collegiate ones do, with an application process. The key to succeeding in the tedious and confusing process is to first determine the correct course transfer credit and if your summer school of choice offers it.
This proved to be very difficult in my experience, due to the lack of ease on the N.C. A&T website, along with the lack of clarity on N.C. State’s site for course equivalency. The final say in the matter did not come from the resources provided by N.C. State and A&T, but a personal e-mail to an advisor knowledgeable about the correct transfer credit.
At the two of the most distinguished engineering schools in North Carolina, one would think the summer session and transfer credit sites would be easier to navigate. The department responsible for the transfer credits from other institutions should make a clear cut distinction between what is accepted and not accepted for one’s particular degree option.
This could even be added as a choice on the degree planner in MyPack Portal.
The UNC-System is meant to unite these various schools together, and not merely by their individual and collective budgets. The system should take into consideration the importance for a unified course equivalency, especially at similar Universities, like N.C. State and A&T.
This would allow student that are seeking courses to transfer over to their home school, or even future school, to pay for the accurate course needed for a particular degree.
Not only could this make life easier on the students, but this could also improve the reputation of individual schools, along with the entire UNC-System itself. Having the same, or merely equivalent, courses offered at two Universities has the potential to be seen as an overall general rigorous course of study, which only increase the marketability of graduates from the system in the national and global market.
My initial experience with summer school process has already given me the insight to promote a few improvements to the system to make it easier on students merely looking to stay ahead or afloat.
My adventure as a Wolfpack in Aggie’s clothes will continue to be halted by some obstacle or challenge that, like so many in summer sessions, I too will have to defeat, but the administration should ease some of students’ troubles by making the process for a transfer student more facilitative.
