Sorting Through the Files

Sorting Through the Files
3/15/07 at 2:16:00 PM

— Rebecca Rassier, Community Coordinator
Individualized Degree Programs

The two big spring deadlines have passed (BIS/IDIM and UROP) and now it's a matter of sorting through the files. With both groups of students, the same question comes to mind: why do students stress so much about the viability of a proposal and yet don't do enough work to actually ensure that it's acceptable?

In the case of the BIS/IDIM students, we often hear students at the info session inquire as to how many proposals are not approved each semester. It's a valid question as students are used to an admissions process in which only a certain number of students make the cut. We explain to them that in the case of BIS/IDIM, proposals are usually accepted if students have "done the work" — that is, they have consulted with our office and with the appropriate departmental/concentration area advisers about the course list and they have worked with our office on writing a well developed proposal. We don't say it in so many words, but we indicate that if they do what we suggest they do, they should be fine.

Most students are approved with little trouble, but there are the perplexing few who flail around in a process that seems straightforward to us. I am reminded of my dog (Carlos) who turns his head away from me when I'm doing something silly or annoying to him — he refuses to look at me even though he knows I'm right there, doing that annoying thing. He seems to figure that maybe if he ignores me, I'll stop my behavior. Sometimes I get the feeling that students know that we're here, demanding that they meet a certain expectation (however silly or annoying it may be), but choose to turn their gaze away from us with the hope that the expectation will go away. Sometimes this "gaze aversion" happens right in front of my eyes, for example when I'm meeting with a student and I tell her that there is no magic bullet major/degree to get a job — rather, the best strategy is to study something you enjoy and combine this study with internships and other sorts of opportunities. As I say this, I can see her eyes glaze over when it's not the answer she wants to hear (a magic bullet is much more appealing than having to do lots of work).

As for UROP, I am amazed at the number of students who couldn't manage to fill in all of the blanks on the application form or who didn't provide all the materials requested (such as a transcript — a transcript, not an APAS report). The question they should be asking is: "why would someone want to give me money to do independent research if I can't even fill out an application or follow instructions?" The question they usually seem to ask is: "what are the chances of my proposal being approved?" To which I can answer, "much better if you submit a complete and thoughtful application." At which point, they turn their gaze away from me, with the hope that I will stop providing such annoying responses.

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