Trying to Avoid an Unmarketable Degree

Instead of getting an unmarketable BDIC from UMass, I decided to try to transfer back to Hampshire College and complete the Division Three Exam that I had drafted nearly a decade before.

Trying to Transfer Back to Hampshire

My idea was that I would transfer back the hundred and forty credits that I had earned at the University, which I would use to fulfill all of my Division One and Division Two requirements, and I would then take a year and write my Division Three Exam.

Still Trying to Graduate From Hampshire

I felt that a special concentration from Hampshire College was more valuable than a contract BDIC from UMass. Plus I still wanted to finish what I had moved to Massachusetts to complete thirteen years before in 1983 – to graduate from Hampshire College.

Providing an Opportunity for Amends

I also felt that this would be a good solution for Hampshire College as well. This would be an opportunity for Hampshire to make amends for having so unceremoniously thrown out one of their students for only a few thousand dollars so many years before.

Hampshire Valued None of My Work at UMass

I delayed my graduation from UMass so that I could talk with an adviser at Hampshire to discuss transferring back. After a lengthy discussion, what I learned was that I would still have to complete my Division Two Exam at Hampshire in addition to my Division Three Exam, meaning that it would take at least three semesters at Hampshire College to complete my degree there.

Nine Years at UMass Meant Nothing to Hampshire

Since I had already completed five semesters at Hampshire, this meant that the nine years I had spent at UMass meant nothing towards my degree at Hampshire. Despite Hampshire and UMass being part of the Five College Consortium, neither values the work being done at the other institution. The arrogance of Hampshire College is almost unimaginable.

Being Forced Out of UMass

I finally did the best that I could. I graduated from UMass in 1997 instead of 1987 when I would have graduated from Hampshire College. I had to leave the University two semesters short of completing the degree requirements for Mechanical Engineering. I was really looking forward to taking those senior level engineering courses.

No Professional Certification Possible

The degree that I completed was a BDIC in Computer Modeling, or simply put, how to describe and test mechanical systems using a computer. Although I took many years of engineering courses, the degree that I received did not allow me to be certified as a Mechanical Engineer, so that when I have worked in engineering, my salary has been half of what it would be with a Mechanical Engineering degree.

Graduating With a Valueless Degree

Despite having spent so much of my life trying to get my college degree, and finally graduating at the age of thirty-four with only a Bachelors, what I effectively received was only an Associates Degree.