It is with great joy that I can finally say: I am once again a student at the University of Notre Dame.
Officially, at least.
I never truly considered myself otherwise, but I have the paperwork in hand that states this wonderful news.
If you have been in touch with me throughout this process, read my Facebook statuses, or saw my angry tweets, you know this has been a long and frustrating process. That is naturally expected when one deals with a difficult medical situation that interferes greatly with one's life. However, the frustration and difficulties that arose in my attempts to iron out my educational situation were indeed unexpected, especially considering I was dealing with one of the premier universities in the nation.
That's right, folks. I have something bad to say about my beloved Notre Dame.
This is a post I was not sure I was going to write. However, in light of recent events, I feel compelled to do so.
I have been readmitted to Notre Dame, so I no longer have to consider the nagging worry that airing my grievances over the process of withdrawing and re-applying to Notre Dame could somehow affect my ultimate admission decision.
However, these are not the events that convinced me to write this post.
Notre Dame fans and haters have respectively balked and rejoiced at the hot news airing on ESPN this morning. Notre Dame's renowned play caller, Everett Golson, is no longer enrolled at Notre Dame.
WHAT?!?!?!?
The guy who led us to a National Championship, the leader of our team, our golden ticket to years of potential success doesn't even go here anymore?
According to a statement from Golson, he has been suspended from Notre Dame for the fall semester due to "poor academic judgment." Cheating, plagiarism, something of that nature. In addition, Golson intends to return to Notre Dame. No school official has confirmed that a return would be possible. However, sources indicate that readmission will indeed be an option.
Readmission.
That has been the operative word in my vocabulary for the past year. Allow me to explain.
When I chose to leave Notre Dame on what I described as "medical leave," I was really withdrawing from the University. I would not be considered a student by official standards. This time away from school was to allow me the time I needed to heal and take care of my health. This was exactly what I wanted. However, I did not expect the difficulties that followed.
My parents picked me up from Notre Dame on the Sunday prior to Labor Day. We did not know much about the road ahead, only that my health was the number one priority. We did not have the option to speak with any faculty or staff at Notre Dame due to the holiday weekend. Our knowledge was limited as we loaded up the car and drove tearfully away.
The next week was filled with countless phone calls to deans, academic advisors, doctors, the Office of Student Affairs, and many other individuals. After many phone calls, someone finally mentioned an incredibly important piece of information that had yet to be brought up: Notre Dame withdrawals for medical reasons are required to be two semesters in length.
WHAT?!??!?!?
I did not come home to sit around for a year and then waltz back to school a year behind! I came home to participate in an intensive therapy program that would allow me to return to Notre Dame as soon as possible, namely in the Spring Semester of 2013.
I Googled Notre Dame's withdrawal policy as soon as my little fingers would take me. It reads as follows:
- A student who withdraws for any reason must apply for readmission to Notre Dame.
- A student who withdraws due to personal or health reasons normally will be required to remain away from the University for two full semesters before an application for readmission will be considered.
- In these cases, a student must receive clearance for re-admittance from the University Counseling Center, University Health Services, or both, as determined by the Office of Student Affairs.
Alright, returning to Notre Dame would require applying for readmission. I can handle that.
The next statement caught my eye - a student who withdraws due to personal or health reasons normally will be required to remain away from the University for two full semesters before an application for readmission will be considered.
Call me a wannabee-lawyer, but the word "normally" implies that this statement is not always the case. There was room for discussion.
I followed through with the withdrawal. The papers were signed and it became official. Then I began my next mission: readmission to Notre Dame.
I could take you through the pain of this process step by step, but I will save you the length of that story. I will simply state the issues I have with Notre Dame's withdrawal and readmission process. Please note that this applies only to withdrawal for medical reasons.
- I was told by multiple sources that returning to Notre Dame after only one semester away was indeed possible. I have this in writing. As you may have already guessed, this was ultimately not true.
- To withdraw and reapply to Notre Dame, I dealt with over 15 individuals. Most of these individuals were not in contact with each other. Contradictory statements occurred. Communication failed and ultimately broke down. This was a world class, $50,000 tuition school? I was appalled.
- I withdrew from Notre Dame on September 1st. The reapplication was due October 1st. Though I understand the rule is that students would not be re-applying after only one semester away, it seemed incredibly unfair that part of the reason this was not possible was due to the need for three months to "process" the applications. No one would be able to say they were ready to return to school after being away one month. However, that does not mean one would not be ready after four months.
To summarize so far, I was initially told I could not return to Notre Dame after one semester. Then I was told this was possible. I submitted the re-application with a letter from my doctor stating that given my current trajectory of progress and my hard work in therapy, I would easily be ready to return to Notre Dame.
Fast forward to October 10th. I received a letter in the mail reading as follows: "The Committee on Readmission recently completed its evaluation of your application. I am sorry that we are unable to approve your request for readmission to Notre Dame as you are not eligible to reapply until the Fall 2013 semester."
Not eligible? That's not what I had been told! Had someone confirmed that I was 100% ineligible to reapply for Notre Dame until the Fall of 2013, I would never have put myself through the continuous excitement and subsequent rejection and disappointment.
But give up? Never. I loved Notre Dame too much to give up so soon.
To clarify: after receiving this letter, I contacted all of the people I had interacted with in the process and asked for clarification of the question regarding standard policy versus unreadiness. Was I not readmitted because the committee thought I was unready? Or was it simply because I had not been away for the aforementioned two semesters? I was told the committee desired that I complete the standard period of separation: two semesters. I wanted further clarification. Was readmission prior to the standard two semesters possible, or was it completely off the table? If so, I wanted to give Notre Dame the feedback that they should make this very clear to students to save them the heartbreak of being denied after receiving false hope.
I never got a response. So, I pushed forward.
I met with my Dean (who was truly the most kind and helpful woman in this entire process) and pressed the issue. I explained in detail everything I was doing to heal and make the progress I needed to make. I felt that my personal, individual situation was not considered. To me, it seemed that the readmission committee simply took one look at the length of my withdrawal (NOT the requisite two semesters) and denied my application. If the committee read my application and felt I was unready to return to Notre Dame, I would accept that. However, from the language of the letter I received, it felt more like the committee was simply following standard procedure and had disregarded my personal application. Notre Dame always claims to be about the individual student. I wanted proof that ND would live up to its word. She met with the "readmit policy subcommittee" and informed me that they had agreed to review my application in the same timeframe as all of the others for that semester.
I was ecstatic.
My incredible doctor at the ND Counseling Center informed me there was paperwork I had to fill out from the Counseling Center as part of the readmission process. This paperwork was to come from Admissions. I had not received such paperwork so I began to make phone calls in order to make this happen.
I was determined.
Eventually, I received a phone call from a member of the Committee on Readmission. In a rather blunt fashion, she questioned why I was still attempting to be readmitted to Notre Dame after being told that it was impossible. In stunned silence, I broke into tears and handed the phone to my mom, who explained to this staff member the great struggles and difficulty we had experienced throughout the withdrawal process.
It was official. I was not returning to Notre Dame for a full year.
I was crushed.
Then Notre Dame tried to deactivate my ND Email. That took about four phone calls to sort through. I had to provide proof that I needed it to stay activated. Because clearly I was lying about being home on medical leave with panic attacks and OCD.
To make matters more frustrating, when the time came to reapply for the upcoming Fall Semester, the paperwork was astounding. I had to obtain letters from all my doctors, complete an essay, complete a questionnaire from the counseling center, and take a 567 question test (Minnesota Personality Inventory, or something like that). Just to go back to school.
But it was worth it. It was for Notre Dame, the place I love.
Now, after being readmitted, I am not guaranteed the same financial aid package I previously possessed. I am not even guaranteed on-campus housing.
Talk about frustrating.
Do not mistake my frustrations for complaining or pity-seeking. I am better for the struggles that I went through. However, I believe Notre Dame needs to re-evaluate their medical withdrawal policy and make it more accommodating.
First of all, most students on medical leave have much more important things to concern themselves with, i.e. their health. Do not make the process of leaving or returning to Notre Dame difficult.
Second, consider each student's personal situation. Do not assume that because a student is taking a medical withdrawal for psychological reasons that they will not receive the help they need in one semester's time away from school. That may be the trend, but it is not the universal truth.
Third, improve the communication between members of the withdrawal process. I fear the confusion unwittingly caused by me resulted in some trouble for those who were trying to help me - this is just a fear, not a fact. I do not have any proof of this. Regardless, the miscommunications helped no one and should be minimized.
Finally, and most importantly, clarify the rule that withdrawals must be two semesters. Remove the word "normally" from your policy if there are no exceptions! If there are exceptions, make that known. Help your students thrive. Do not make things so difficult that you drive them to tears and heartbreak.
I love Notre Dame and I am so incredibly excited to be returning in the fall.
But, as you can see, it is not perfect. That's right, Notre Dame is not perfect.
I intend to meet with some staff members in the hopes of providing feedback about my personal experience with the withdrawal process in order to improve the process for those who deal with it in the future.
So, my final words?
Good luck Everett.
Words Truly,
Maggie
The next statement caught my eye - a student who withdraws due to personal or health reasons normally will be required to remain away from the University for two full semesters before an application for readmission will be considered.
Call me a wannabee-lawyer, but the word "normally" implies that this statement is not always the case. There was room for discussion.
I followed through with the withdrawal. The papers were signed and it became official. Then I began my next mission: readmission to Notre Dame.
I could take you through the pain of this process step by step, but I will save you the length of that story. I will simply state the issues I have with Notre Dame's withdrawal and readmission process. Please note that this applies only to withdrawal for medical reasons.
- I was told by multiple sources that returning to Notre Dame after only one semester away was indeed possible. I have this in writing. As you may have already guessed, this was ultimately not true.
- To withdraw and reapply to Notre Dame, I dealt with over 15 individuals. Most of these individuals were not in contact with each other. Contradictory statements occurred. Communication failed and ultimately broke down. This was a world class, $50,000 tuition school? I was appalled.
- I withdrew from Notre Dame on September 1st. The reapplication was due October 1st. Though I understand the rule is that students would not be re-applying after only one semester away, it seemed incredibly unfair that part of the reason this was not possible was due to the need for three months to "process" the applications. No one would be able to say they were ready to return to school after being away one month. However, that does not mean one would not be ready after four months.
To summarize so far, I was initially told I could not return to Notre Dame after one semester. Then I was told this was possible. I submitted the re-application with a letter from my doctor stating that given my current trajectory of progress and my hard work in therapy, I would easily be ready to return to Notre Dame.
Fast forward to October 10th. I received a letter in the mail reading as follows: "The Committee on Readmission recently completed its evaluation of your application. I am sorry that we are unable to approve your request for readmission to Notre Dame as you are not eligible to reapply until the Fall 2013 semester."
Not eligible? That's not what I had been told! Had someone confirmed that I was 100% ineligible to reapply for Notre Dame until the Fall of 2013, I would never have put myself through the continuous excitement and subsequent rejection and disappointment.
But give up? Never. I loved Notre Dame too much to give up so soon.
To clarify: after receiving this letter, I contacted all of the people I had interacted with in the process and asked for clarification of the question regarding standard policy versus unreadiness. Was I not readmitted because the committee thought I was unready? Or was it simply because I had not been away for the aforementioned two semesters? I was told the committee desired that I complete the standard period of separation: two semesters. I wanted further clarification. Was readmission prior to the standard two semesters possible, or was it completely off the table? If so, I wanted to give Notre Dame the feedback that they should make this very clear to students to save them the heartbreak of being denied after receiving false hope.
I never got a response. So, I pushed forward.
I met with my Dean (who was truly the most kind and helpful woman in this entire process) and pressed the issue. I explained in detail everything I was doing to heal and make the progress I needed to make. I felt that my personal, individual situation was not considered. To me, it seemed that the readmission committee simply took one look at the length of my withdrawal (NOT the requisite two semesters) and denied my application. If the committee read my application and felt I was unready to return to Notre Dame, I would accept that. However, from the language of the letter I received, it felt more like the committee was simply following standard procedure and had disregarded my personal application. Notre Dame always claims to be about the individual student. I wanted proof that ND would live up to its word. She met with the "readmit policy subcommittee" and informed me that they had agreed to review my application in the same timeframe as all of the others for that semester.
I was ecstatic.
My incredible doctor at the ND Counseling Center informed me there was paperwork I had to fill out from the Counseling Center as part of the readmission process. This paperwork was to come from Admissions. I had not received such paperwork so I began to make phone calls in order to make this happen.
I was determined.
Eventually, I received a phone call from a member of the Committee on Readmission. In a rather blunt fashion, she questioned why I was still attempting to be readmitted to Notre Dame after being told that it was impossible. In stunned silence, I broke into tears and handed the phone to my mom, who explained to this staff member the great struggles and difficulty we had experienced throughout the withdrawal process.
It was official. I was not returning to Notre Dame for a full year.
I was crushed.
Then Notre Dame tried to deactivate my ND Email. That took about four phone calls to sort through. I had to provide proof that I needed it to stay activated. Because clearly I was lying about being home on medical leave with panic attacks and OCD.
To make matters more frustrating, when the time came to reapply for the upcoming Fall Semester, the paperwork was astounding. I had to obtain letters from all my doctors, complete an essay, complete a questionnaire from the counseling center, and take a 567 question test (Minnesota Personality Inventory, or something like that). Just to go back to school.
But it was worth it. It was for Notre Dame, the place I love.
Now, after being readmitted, I am not guaranteed the same financial aid package I previously possessed. I am not even guaranteed on-campus housing.
Talk about frustrating.
Do not mistake my frustrations for complaining or pity-seeking. I am better for the struggles that I went through. However, I believe Notre Dame needs to re-evaluate their medical withdrawal policy and make it more accommodating.
First of all, most students on medical leave have much more important things to concern themselves with, i.e. their health. Do not make the process of leaving or returning to Notre Dame difficult.
Second, consider each student's personal situation. Do not assume that because a student is taking a medical withdrawal for psychological reasons that they will not receive the help they need in one semester's time away from school. That may be the trend, but it is not the universal truth.
Third, improve the communication between members of the withdrawal process. I fear the confusion unwittingly caused by me resulted in some trouble for those who were trying to help me - this is just a fear, not a fact. I do not have any proof of this. Regardless, the miscommunications helped no one and should be minimized.
Finally, and most importantly, clarify the rule that withdrawals must be two semesters. Remove the word "normally" from your policy if there are no exceptions! If there are exceptions, make that known. Help your students thrive. Do not make things so difficult that you drive them to tears and heartbreak.
I love Notre Dame and I am so incredibly excited to be returning in the fall.
But, as you can see, it is not perfect. That's right, Notre Dame is not perfect.
I intend to meet with some staff members in the hopes of providing feedback about my personal experience with the withdrawal process in order to improve the process for those who deal with it in the future.
So, my final words?
Good luck Everett.
Words Truly,
Maggie
