My Ph.D. Program

[Rockbro]

Wow! I don't want to ask you what your obviously "radical" views were but gosh what doctorate program were you in?? How much longer did you have to go to complete your degree? As long as you didn't do anything illegal just finished your doctorate elsewhere like a PP stated.

I had another 1.5 years. It's difficult to move from one Ph.D. program to another because they prepare you differently for their comprehensive exams, and you have to pass these monsters to get to prospectus and dissertation. As far as university, it's in Florida.

The thing that bites me is that I had the opportunity to go to the #7th ranked program in the country at FSU, but I chose this school. It's over... no more phd. I have some ideas in mind, but I don't make rash decisions. I need about a week to sit and think.

And to the previous poster, I am not lying about this story. I'm not that starved for attention. Also, this isn't entirely bad. I have been stressing over a paper that I had due on 12/1. I don't have to worry anymore. Additionally, I contacted a prof. that likes me and told him I needed a signature for a late drop to try to get a refund and he said he knew nothing about this even though the chair of the dept. said it was a unanimous faculty decision. Finally, I would have never found a committee for my dissertation, so throwing more money at this would have been a waste.

 

[jrmasm]

I had another 1.5 years. It's difficult to move from one Ph.D. program to another because they prepare you differently for their comprehensive exams, and you have to pass these monsters to get to prospectus and dissertation. As far as university, it's in Florida.

The thing that bites me is that I had the opportunity to go to the #7th ranked program in the country at FSU, but I chose this school. It's over... no more phd. I have some ideas in mind, but I don't make rash decisions. I need about a week to sit and think.

And to the previous poster, I am not lying about this story. I'm not that starved for attention. Also, this isn't entirely bad. I have been stressing over a paper that I had due on 12/1. I don't have to worry anymore. Additionally, I contacted a prof. that likes me and told him I needed a signature for a late drop to try to get a refund and he said he knew nothing about this even though the chair of the dept. said it was a unanimous faculty decision. Finally, I would have never found a committee for my dissertation, so throwing more money at this would have been a waste.

Why don’t you want an explanation?

 

[Allison]

Yeah... I try to keep myself somewhat anonymous. I'm 42

May I ask if your is name Matt or Sean? You have said both.

 

[Rockbro]

May I ask if your is name Matt or Sean? You have said both.

It's Sean

 

[KayMichigan]

You were told it was unanimous but your professor didn't know about it? Then obviously that was a lie. You need to get to the bottom of this, it's not adding up.

 

[okeydokey]

Florida? I am very familiar with Florida Universities. Sending an email to dismiss you because your views are not correct is not how they operate.

 

[RangerPooh]

Sorry to hear this. While my husband was completing his PhD (finished at age 41), he had a few classmates get dismissed midway. Usually it was a combination of not performing well on course evals when they taught classes as grad assistants and lack of progress towards their degree. Time limits exist and some were not meeting their benchmarks. I'd definitely ask for the reasoning behind the dismissal. There should be an ombudsman at your university that you can work with to obtain this information; then petition for a reversal if needed.

 

[VandVsmama]

When one door closes, another one eventually will open. Things will work out...just not the way that you had originally planned.

 

[Rockbro]

Florida? I am very familiar with Florida Universities. Sending an email to dismiss you because your views are not correct is not how they operate.

I would have replied sooner, but for some reason, I have a time limit on my replies. The reason given was being disruptive in class. But I ASSURE you that I was never disruptive. The only thing I can figure is that they did not like my political opinions. I was removed from a class and I filed a grievance. I don't think the dept. appreciated that.

I'm the most respectful person you will ever meet. So, disruption is not in my nature.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Lots of makeshift schools prey on people who get grants and such, I hope the one you've been attending is not of that sort but maybe check to see if they are listed as a school that has complaints for being exploitive. Some states host more than others, they have a few names but sometimes are called diploma mills.

If it's a genuine school then I'd suggest asking for a medical leave, you've had a lot going on and a medical leave will protect you. Chances are you'd need to get a Dr onboard and follow procedures but you can resume your studies when life settles back down. It wouldn't hurt to ask.

 

[Rockbro]

And, hey, just so ya'll know. I'm not feeling bad for myself. I see this as an opening for me to affect the world in a different way than I had originally planned. I'm actually pretty excited . I have to figure out how, but I've never let myself down and this won't be the first time that I do. I'm too smart, and too damned stubborn to not do something worth something.

 

[macraven]

Hang in there!
Where there is a will, there is a way.

 

[Denise W]

I got good news for you, though. 30 isn't middle aged. You've got a few years left before you hit middle aged.

Except he posted he is 42, his profile says 30.
Denise
Edit: sorry, posted this before finishing reading the thread. This was already metioned.

 

[Rockbro]

Lots of makeshift schools prey on people who get grants and such, I hope the one you've been attending is not of that sort but maybe check to see if they are listed as a school that has complaints for being exploitive. Some states host more than others, they have a few names but sometimes are called diploma mills.

If it's a genuine school then I'd suggest asking for a medical leave, you've had a lot going on and a medical leave will protect you. Chances are you'd need to get a Dr onboard and follow procedures but you can resume your studies when life settles back down. It wouldn't hurt to ask.

It's not a makeshift school. It's the University of South Florida. My fellow students were the best. Most of the faculty were great. In terms of resuming studies, I don't have any desire. I'm disenfranchised. I have a very good idea of what I'd like to move on to. I think I'd be happier in this.

In terms of my wife leaving with my dogs, I shaved for the first time in a month and a half, gave myself a high and tight and got back to my old self. So, yeah, things have gotten very bad, but I'm doing what I CAN to turn them around. All I want from USF is a refund for the two classes that I was not able to finish involuntarily. I don't know where the hell this positive attitude came from!

 

[LuvOrlando]

It's not a makeshift school. It's the University of South Florida. My fellow students were the best. Most of the faculty were great. In terms of resuming studies, I don't have any desire. I'm disenfranchised. I have a very good idea of what I'd like to move on to. I think I'd be happier in this.

In terms of my wife leaving with my dogs, I shaved for the first time in a month and a half, gave myself a high and tight and got back to my old self. So, yeah, things have gotten very bad, but I'm doing what I CAN to turn them around. All I want from USF is a refund for the two classes that I was not able to finish involuntarily. I don't know where the hell this positive attitude came from!

Schools don't typically give refunds after the window but sometimes, very rarely, there are medical refunds but someone has to advocate for you at the hearings which students don't attend. I'd do some research but something medical based is likely your best bet for any resolution so a Dr's perspective can be entered on your behalf. I have two college age students with friends whose families have had to cope with all sorts of upheavals and the only times I've heard about a positive outcome were medical leaves and change of circumstance situations.

Came back to say I really am rooting for you, in case that's not coming across. It's not how many times we get knocked down its how many we get back up

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Edit: sorry, posted this before finishing reading the thread. This was already metioned.

It's ok, I do that all the time.

 

[okeydokey]

Florida public universities have a formal process for dealing with "disruptive" students or anyone that they feel breaks the code of conduct. There are formal steps and hearings involved, even in Covid times. They don't just dismiss students from PhD programs by email out of the blue after a student files a grievance.

 

[prairie_girl]

Then he needs to update his profile because it lists him being born in 1990

I refuse to believe that 1990 was 30 years ago..

 

[Rockbro]

I refuse to believe that 1990 was 30 years ago..

Too bad, so sad.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I refuse to believe that 1990 was 30 years ago..

Wait what, I put years of life into the same bucket as the cost of a WDW vacation, meaning I refuse to count -
no good comes from it... ever.