Dealing with University Bureaucracy

After straining to choose a course that would interest me and compiling a list of universities I felt I could gain admission and do well, I had made it to the University of Birmingham, studying Media, Culture and Society. I spent weeks researching the course content from websites and booklets as best I could, and was very confident with my choice of subject that would stimulate me for the next three years.

By the end of the first week, I was getting itchy feet, and feeling trapped in this new world. I had gotten myself onto this course, and it was beginning to feel nothing like what I had imagined. Instead of settling in and enjoying freshers’ week, I came to a realisation about my life for the next three years. Should I sit through it and just get on with the course? After all, hardly anybody enjoys their course, but many stick with it and get good jobs at the end, right?

Officially, I had until week three to find a new course -- very little time considering I was at the end of week one. Given that my brother had gone through this and a lot worse -- forced to drop out for a year in Nottingham, I was determined to come to a wise decision within the set time.

I took the plunge and decided to quit the course. After examining the upcoming modules and content of year two, I felt my current subject truly wasn’t for me. I called my mum, as all good students do in times of need, and asked for her and my brother’s support. Together, we looked at what I really enjoyed studying, and what would hopefully stimulate me. After a week of solid research, we came to a decision of American and Canadian Studies -- an inter-disciplinary subject covering the history, literature, politics, I.T. skills, group work, and a year abroad in America.

I was very satisfied with my choice. Though the year abroad was a really nice bonus, I was genuinely excited about the course content. It was a huge weight off my shoulders. Now all I had to do was transfer.

“Sorry. Not enough places for the year abroad, which is a mandatory part of the course, and really a matter of Birmingham’s finances. Nothing to do with us, so you see there’s no chance of you taking the course.” This was a convincing argument by the head of department, and hardly one I could counter, considering this wasn’t a simple case of “not enough spaces in the lecture theatres,” but a trans-Atlantic money issue.

The head of department made it clear he didn’t want to let me in. We both knew that in reality, at least one person would drop out of the course by the end of the first year (just look at me for an example). So while he wouldn’t budge, I sought out the admissions tutor to hear my case. He was a bit more understanding and realistic about the dropout situation, stating that there would probably be three or four students leaving. I began to feel better about the situation, with growing support. But then I learnt that someone else had recently joined the course just before me, so the department had already pushed themselves on one place. I decided to write to the head of department directly and plead my case. I made him aware of my academic and extra-curricular experience, my passion for the course and commitment to being a dedicated student. I gained his sympathy after several emails, though he ‘reluctantly’ told me it was ‘genuinely’ out of his hands.

Eventually, the admissions tutor felt strongly enough about my case to admit me to the course, despite senior’s protests. I was very lucky to receive such administrative support in addition to my own constant efforts, and got on the course within the time limit. Again the first few weeks on the new course worried me, but I determinedly stuck with it. Now in my second year I am absolutely loving American and Canadian Studies.

By Sukhraj Singh