Well, it's been awhile since last week - in fact, a week :*) - when I asked anyone willing to "wish me luck" - no questions asked - just wish me luck. And then I told you later in the day that, although I appreciated the good wishes, they didn't help......and that I would explain later.
Well, it's later..............
As many of you know, I had applied to grad school at Marywood University here in Northeast Pennsylvania. And I was very excited at the prospect of getting my Master's in Communication Arts looking to teach Speech and Theater at the college level in just a couple of years. Well, they turned me down, and while I'm frustrated and angry, I'm not going to stay down! I'm pursuing other avenues as we speak.
So, here's the deal! And some words of warning for a select group of people out there who may be currently attending or considering attending a particular institution that I'm about to rail upon......(Cheri Berry, I get my moment, and then I will move on....)
I attended Bob Jones University, oh way back when....and got a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech Education. It is a very small, fundamental, christian university that is accredited by the lowest tier of accreditation associations: the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools - that means nothing!! Absolutely nothing in the way of any kind of assurance of quality education. They are not regionally accredited and cannot get regionally accredited. And it has been their policy in the past that they didn't want to be - that, in fact, it was scripturally incorrect, to be accredited. That as a christian, you shouldn't want or need the "world's" approval - that you were somehow "weak" if you asked for the world's approval of what you were doing.
What this means for their graduates looking to get advanced degrees or improve their employment or get advanced certification is that they cannot! Why? Because institutions that ARE regionally accredited - that do have standardized programs - that have stood the test of time and have proven themselves - is that they will not recognize the validity of an education at Bob Jones University. Because Bob Jones University has not been willing to put itself under the microscope and let itself be examined - let itself be tested - let itself prove that what it provides is a quality education. It's screwed itself and chances of large increases in the student body, and it's screwed it's student's (current and past) chances of any advancement in their professional lives!!
Thanks BJ! Thanks for thinking ahead! Thanks for thinking outside the box! Thanks for thinking of someone other than yourself!!!
Now, I told you at the beginning that I was angry and frustrated but that I wasn't going to stay down. And I'm not. So, the conclusion of this whole fiasco is that I have to go back to square one and get a second bachelor's degree in order to pursue my dream of teaching Speech and Theater at the college level. And I do intend to continue to pursue my dream!!!! Yes - that's right - I will have to go back to college and get a SECOND BACHELOR'S degree before I can get my Master's degree.........
So, I've found an online all women's college that IS INDEED regionally accredited by the same organization that HARVARD UNIVERSITY is accredited by: the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. :*) And I've double checked all of this info!! it is THE AMERICAN WOMEN'S COLLEGE, and I'm in the process of applying - and guess what!! They won't take Bob Jones University either!!! Of course they won't - so I have to get my high school transcripts!! Bwhahaha!! Bob Jones University is/was so backwards - that I have to go all the way back to high school!! If I hadn't already been through this once - I would be screaming - instead, when I spoke with admissions, and they told me I had to get my high school transcripts, I laughed outloud! I'm 52 -- and I have to get my high school transcripts!!!
(I'll keep you posted. :*P) And here's a link to an article that addresses the issue of BJ's final admission that they couldn't get regional accreditation for anyone interested in reading further...
http://bjuaccreditation.org/content/012712/bob-jones-university-finally-admits-national-accreditation-failed
