EDWARD: Hello, Ms. Attenborough? This is Mr. Lancashire. I’ve a 2 o’clock appointment to speak
with you.
ACADEMIC ADVISOR: Yes, I’ve been expecting you. Please come in, and
close the door behind you. Now, what can I help you with today?
EDWARD: Well, I’m supposed to graduate this year, and
since courses are about to begin, I want to make sure I’ve completed all the
necessary requirements. I’ve brought a copy of my academic record with me. I’ll
give you some time to look it over.
ACADEMIC ADVISOR: All right, Mr. Lancashire. Well, I see here that
you’re set to graduate with a degree in chemistry. And you’re on a regular track or an honours
track?
EDWARD: Honours, so I’m on a four-year plan. Well, for me
it’s actually been five years, since I had a year-long overseas internship in
Barcelona. As you can see, I’ve taken all of the necessary course requirements
for chemistry…except for my research project, which I’m finishing up this year.
ACADEMIC ADVISOR: Let me just double-check your transcript…organic
chemistry, kinetics, mass spectroscopy…yes, it looks like you’ve taken all of
the necessary chemistry courses.
EDWARD: And what about the general education requirements?
That’s my main concern…I just want to ensure that all of those have been taken
care of.
ACADEMIC ADVISOR: Of course. Well, the general education
requirements for natural science majors…anyone studying chemistry, biology,
zoology, physics…they’re very similar. You weren’t doing a joint honours
degree, were you?
EDWARD: Nope, only chemistry honours.
ACADEMIC ADVISOR: OK then.
Well, if you’ve only one honours subject, that means all you need is two
courses from one additional subject, and one course in another. So you’d have
studied three subjects in all...your major and then two more subjects. And let
me take a look at your transcript to confirm…
EDWARD: The reason I’m concerned is because, well, I didn’t
want to study chemistry when I first arrived. I intended to be a literature
major, but I changed my mind.
ACADEMIC ADVISOR: Ah, yes…I see that you took a literature course
both your first and second years here.
EDWARD: Yes. I took a literature course, a chemistry one,
and physics one my first year here. I always liked chemistry and physics, but I
was convinced my future was as a professor of literature, or possibly a writer
or critic. However, I fell in love with chemistry right off the bat.
ACADEMIC ADVISOR: What about it made you change your mind?
EDWARD: The labs. Getting hands-on experience running
experiments was the most fun I’d ever had in a course. I knew from then on that
I needed to change my major. However, I didn’t really enjoy physics that much,
so I decided to take another literature course my second year.
ACADEMIC ADVISOR: Well, I have good news for you. Even though you’re
a science major, the degree requirements here at the University of Glasgow
allow you to take any types of courses during your first two years. Outside of
your main focus, I mean. Most science students take courses in other branches
of science, but it’s not mandatory.
EDWARD: I’m so glad to hear that. So I’m all set for
graduation?
ACADEMIC ADVISOR: Assuming you satisfactorily complete your research
project, it would appear so.
EDWARD: OK! And while I’m here, what else can you tell me
about graduating?
ACADEMIC ADVISOR: Well, for this academic year the ceremony will
take place on May 5th of next year. And the deadline to enrol for the ceremony
is February 28th.
EDWARD: Oh
dear. I’ve been planning an
around-the-world trip for after graduation, and my flight departs on the second
of May. I don’t want to miss graduation, but I’ve already paid for the ticket
and the cancelation fee is several hundred pounds. What can I do?
ACADEMIC ADVISOR: The university allows for students to graduate in
absentia…so you don’t need to attend the ceremony in order to graduate. In
fact, you can save money this way because you don’t need to hire the gown and
hood for the ceremony. The downside is that you don’t have any photographic or
video souvenir of the event, of course. This year, for the first time, there
will be a webcast of the event. The stream is available on the university
website.
EDWARD: That’s not a problem. I’m not a big fan of pomp
and ceremony as it is. But what about my parchment?
ACADEMIC ADVISOR: For students who graduate in absentia, we post the
parchment to their address of record. But you’ll be traveling, right?
EDWARD: Yes, so it would need to be sent to my parents’
home.
ACADEMIC ADVISOR: That’s not a problem. Just indicate the address on
this form. Here you go. Fill this out, and you’ll be all set.
EDWARD: Great. Thanks for your
help, Ms. Attenborough!