Back to the committee he goes

Friday, June 17, 2005 6:50 PM

So, I just got back from my meeting with the department chair. All 45 min worth.

Since I received a letter summing up some "justifications" for there rejection, I came prepared. Something that I think he wasn't expecting ;)

I did start off that I did respect him, etc (which is actually true), but that I would be blunt. Unfortunatly, it would be necessary. ie There's no easy way to present my arguments in a meaningful way if I am to be totally polite or have to dance around. The meaning would be lost in the dance.


He mentioned that I had a relatively lower GPA than the other students that applied and a lot of students applied so the department didn't have the resources to supervise them all.

I pointed out that although my CGPA is ~3.6 and I know one other student has a CGPA ~4 or so, but that is a moot point. The only thing that matters is what the GPA is in the math courses.

My math GPA is the same ~3.6+/- (I'm rather consistent) while the mentioned student above has a math GPA about the same as mine.

So, he isn't really more qualified than I am according to the entrance requirements.

I also pointed out that the department resource problem is exactly that, a department resource problem. This should have no impact on students that fulfill the requirements. The department has to work that out for themselves.

But, since he made such a big deal about it, I asked (also out of curiosity) how many students applied for the honours project. 5!

Five people applied.

So, I asked how many people got the honours project. 4!

Four people got it.

I was the only one denied.

So, I mentioned that I didn't find 5 such a large number. He said, well this department isn't very big.

I pointed out that in a conversation with my wife, while she was in her studies in Germany, there were profs. there that had 5 students under them. One prof, 5 students. Also, these were no undergrad. honours projects: they were Masters theses.


He mentioned that the first year that the honours program was offered, only 1 student took it. And in the next 2 years only 2 took it (this degree has only been offered for 3 years). So, the 5 people applying for the honours project this year was unusually high.

I mentioned the fact that when this department was considering offering a honours degree that they must have had to consider the possibility that people would want to take it.

So again, the resource problem is there own.

I also had to point out the fact that the degree has not been offered long enough for the word unusual or usual to be used to describe the number of people applying to take this class (as a statistician he couldn't deny this fact). It was interesting to see the struggle on his face as his administrative mind stuggled with his Statistics mind.


I as well pointed out that to get into grad. studies, people pretty much need an honours degree now as the bulk of Universities require it.

He mentioned that he didn't really think that it would be such a requirement as when he graduated he only had a 3 yr degree and he got into grad. studies (with a qualifying year).

I had to point out that that was some time ago (read: a few decades) and that things have changed somewhat since then. Competition for grad. school can be somewhat fierce.

I ran into this type of lack of knowledge in the physics department as well. I think that it's a side effect of attending a undergraduate only university.


He tried to point out that there is as well the plain 4 yr degree that I'd qualify for as well.

I pointed out that it is unfair to deny a student a degree that they qualify for because of just one course: because the department lacks the resources to offer a degree that they supposedly offer.


I also mentioned that the fact of my life (I don't know where I'll be after April: perhaps not even in the country), it is paramount that I get this course this year. Especially since, by all accounts, this should be my last un

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