Financial Aid Problem, Solution, & 4th Tri

OK, so in my last post, I mentioned that I wasn't sure if I would be blogging or not this term, so I had to wait to work to see what happened with my financial aid. Here's what happened to make that a question:

Last term, I passed all my classes (two with A's - yea!!!), except PNS (Neuroanatomy II). It is a notoriously hard class and I did not do well in it. Because it is such an important class and a huge amount of material is covered in it, I know it is just as well that I retake it so I can really get the material down (after all, what good is a chiropractor who doesn't understand/know intimately the nerve pathways!?).

But, because I'm already on a reduced schedule and take fewer credits than are "usual" (28-32), that doesn't leave room for any non-passes. I missed the required amount of credits passed by not passing PNS by 3 credits. PNS is worth 5. This meant that I could not have my federal financial aid for the term unless I had an approval by a review committee that asks the student to submit an appeal, explaining, in detail, why they did not meet the minimum requirements for passing the previous term. They don't meet until the second week of classes, so my financial aid was "up in the air" until they met and decided which way it would go for me.

Usually, the mitigating circumstances must involve the death of a loved one, a medical condition/illness of the student, or other unusual hardship. My appeal was 3 pages long and I pretty much had to explain all that went on in the past 3 years that pertained to my academic performance at Palmer (they ask for the past year) in order to really explain my situation and for it to be clear why I was now appealing for my financial aid to be restored.

Thankfully, the committee approved my appeal and my financial aid is restored for this term. However, appealing is a one-time thing. If I don't meet the requirements for financial aid for any term after this, I will have to obtain a private loan for that term, which means also finding someone to co-sign...that's the hard part. In other words, I really need to do all Ican to pass my classes with good grades.

So, this term, my goal is an A in Radiology II, Systems Pathology, Nutrition and Public Health. I think it is possible for me to get A's in those classes. I would like to get a B in Toggle and I hope to pass Renal and PNS. Seven classes is a lot for me. It is hard to juggle my time well, but I hope I'm getting better at it.

I am also trying to learn to make some new vegetarian dishes because I get bored with the same food, so I've picked up the ingredients to make a veg version of Moroccan Tagine (I'm planning to substitute dry-pan fried tofu for the lamb and add it near the end of the cook time rather than the beginning) http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Moroccan-Tagine-2/Detail.aspx and Moroccan Couscous http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Sweet-and-Nutty-Moroccan-Couscous/Detail.aspx. The best Moroccan food I've had was in Paris on New Year's Eve 1998 with a group of students from St. Ambrose University. I was there for a History course. Anyway, the food was fantastic and I've always wanted to be able to reproduce it, so I'm hoping that it tastes great. Planning to try these two recipes this afternoon for our dinner tonight.

Also planning, after we go to church at 11 http://stpaulqc.org/ to work on my assignment for Public Health and to spend some time studying for PNS because the test is on Wednesday. Would also like to start reading for next section of Rad II - first test in there was last Thursday and and I think I did OK. Didn't do as well as I wanted on the Sys Path test last Tuesday, but have a chance to improve that considerably before end of term.

Last night, attended a birthday party for my friend Sheila at our friend Trine's house. It was a fun time of laughing and great conversation. I was considering not going in favor of more study time, but I'm glad I went. Was good to see so many friends from campus and get to chat with them outside of the "Palmer Bubble." It just seems that we really don't have much time to chat when we are at school, so was good to socialize outside that. We all need decompress time with friends. I think it really helps me to handle my stress better.

Well, need to rouse a sleepy teenager for church, so more later...