Thank You Kent State University!
Thursday February 28, 2008
As some of you may know, I am a 2006 graduate of Kent State University. I spent thousands upon thousands of dollars on tuition, housing, and books. I was quite, for the lack of a better word, poor during those few years. After graduation, I was thrilled to not have to send the school anymore money - loans were a different issue, though. A little over a year goes by and the school is pestering me to donate money - whether it be for an alumni association or just for the sake of donating. For numerous reasons, I will not be donating money.
First off, the school refused to award me scholarships or grants. Not to toot my own horn, but I was valedictorian of my high school and the school would not give me the Valedictorian Scholarship (approximately $3000 per year). The reasoning: I was considered a transfer student and not an incoming freshman, although I was still a freshman.
Secondly, one of the measly grants I did receive ($500) was rescinded because a few of the classes I took were not at the main campus - even though my major was based out of the main campus. Pardon my language, but what a crock of shit.
Thirdly, and probably the topper, while still a student at Kent State (a sophomore to be exact), the school called my mother asking to donate money. That doesn't sound too surprising, but wait, here it comes: the school even called me, still a student, asking to donate money. So, I am paying tuition and you want me to give you even more money. No thanks.
After complaining and meeting with financial aid and student affairs for two years, I was awarded $1000 for my last semester - probably to shut me up. That didn't satisfy me, but it was better than nothing.
Why do I bring this up? It's because I received a letter addressed to Miss Kevin Slodic to join the alumni association. Yes, that is correct, Miss Kevin Slodic. Kevin is a male's name - Wikipedia says so! I don't know or have heard of one single female named Kevin (correct me if I'm wrong). This could most definitely be an honest mistake, but I do not care. It is just one more reason why I will not be giving the school anymore money.
I know I'm ranting and I apologize, but the school acted more like a business than an institution. For the dedication I had towards my academics - graduating summa cum laude - I only received approximately $1,500 from Kent State. Gee, thanks. Whatever, time has passed and I am a graduate, I have a good job, and my school loans are almost paid off - things turned out fine. Let's hope they stay that way. I guess this was just big outburst because of the letter addressed to Miss Kevin Slodic.
