UGH

[labellementeuse]

So, there are approximately zero scholarships available to me as an Honours student trying to find money to attend conferences. the (useless) Vic scholarships office suggested I try NZeducated study abroad awards. I did. They offer undergraduate awards, and postgraduate awards to Masters and PhD. I phoned and asked in an Honours application would be accepted. No. Why not? Because terms and conditions are set by the government. Why does the government choose to fund every year except Honours? "Just because they do." Isn't that kind of inconsistent considering that the work done by an Honours student is equivalent to the work done by a Masters part 1 student? "I'm not prepared to have a discussion about this. Also, it's your home institution's fault that they're not giving travel grants to Honours students." "Um, that doesn't MAKE SENSE. Home institutions also offer Masters and PhD grants. Why is it inconsistent for them and not for you?" "Because it's government policy."

Really? it's specific government policy to fund travel for every year except Honours? Why do I find that really fuckin' hard to believe? Can I please have some emails and phone numbers to call to address this crazy inconsistency? UGH.

I would be less upset about this if I'd spoken to a single person who'd sounded even vaguely sympathetic. If part of your job is to take phone calls, DEVELOP A FUCKIN' PHONE MANNER, don't make me want to reach down the phone and throttle you for being a shithead.

Comments

[aimeesworld.livejournal.com]

That is so incredibly stupid. What is honours if it's not undergraduate or postgraduate?

Good luck with finding something.

[labellementeuse.livejournal.com]

:-//// I KNOW.

[clockworkflight.livejournal.com]

Um, WTH? I'd be in so much crap if I told a student "I'm not prepared to discuss this", and I've wanted to many a time. What's wrong with: "I'm sorry, it's government policy and I'm not too sure of the reasons behind it. You'd be best to contact X if you want to discuss that."

Honours is a really funny thing though, particularly due to it's lack of equivalencies overseas. I know a lot of students have issues getting funding.

[labellementeuse.livejournal.com]

I'd be in so much crap if I told a student "I'm not prepared to discuss this", and I've wanted to many a time.

Seriously, this is probably the worst bit of the whole thing - I spoke to two people and they were both utterly unsympathetic and utterly unprepared to discuss anything. I get that this is because they are bored with fielding this complaint from shitty Honours students, but! If they'd even said "I'm really sorry but there's nothing I can do", or something! But no! (One person actually asked me "Would you apply for a course you didn't have the prerequisites for?" I said "Yes, I've done so, and I've been accepted. A couple of times." Take that!) I mean, I work in customer service, I know what it is like to be sick of being asked a question. But even FAKE politeness would be fine!

[suchroadslead.livejournal.com]

Ugh, I know *exactly* what you mean. I went looking for general (ie not travel) scholarships for my Honours year and... nothing. It's not really considered undergrad, but it's also not considered postgrad. It's just... bizarre.

To be fair, I found that most Masters scholarship were for the thesis year only also - so it's just a year in general, that it's really hard to get scholarships for.

Also: still mad at Canterbury Uni for you. Grrr. And feeling quite at peace with my decision to have escaped the madness.

[labellementeuse.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's totally frustrating. :(((( Scholarship departments everywhere hate me at the moment. (I did get an emailed apology from the guy in the UC scholarships office though - turns out it was totally their fault.)

[persephone-kore.livejournal.com]

Do any of the conferences themselves offer travel assistance? I've seen a few that did. It would help a little, anyway....

[lady-larla.livejournal.com]

I will *growl* on your behalf, frustrating isnt it? next time just reach down the phone and commit the violence they deserve it .

[(Anonymous)]

Man, that totally sucks! I was going to say that I'm sure NZFGW have a travel scholarship that doesn't care about what level post graduating you are, but turns out that each branch has different things, and Welly only has crap ones that don't help you :( Poos.

[sixth-light.livejournal.com]

Wow, that's really sucktastic. You'd think they could at least have said "I'm really sorry, but I don't make these decisions, so I can't help" or something. Just "I don't want to discuss it" is...rude.