A Degree in What? (a guest appearance by the man of the house)

I wish I could say that I had gotten my Master’s Degree right after my undergraduate degree at BYU back in 1999. The price I pay now is: missing out a couple nights a week hanging out with Dana & Lucy. At least I’ve got the weekends, and I’ve just got to get this degree done now that I’ve started. Better late than never, right? I’d be missing out on even more 2 years from now than I’m missing out now, once more kids are on the way.

People ask me when they hear I’m taking classes “wow, what are you getting your degree in?” “A Masters in Economics,” I tell them. But I’m learning at Cal State LA that it’s a lot more than that. And I’m not talking about the social networking that comes with getting a degree, or learning all the ins & outs of the MTA bus and subway system. I’m talking about the Masters in Paperwork Complications that I’m getting a degree in on the side. So far, I’ve registered for three terms at Cal State LA, and each term has consisted of complications regarding registration, tuition, and even trying to get a cheap student pass for the MTA line. This term I’m trying to add a class that they think I haven’t taken the right prerequisites for – and yes, they do have a copy of my BYU transcript floating around there somewhere. When I got accepted, they somehow gave me two student ID #’s. Last term I tried to add a class that was supposedly full according to the online registration system (even though there were a dozen empty desks in the class!). Just the other day, I received a tuition reimbursement check from the Registrar’s office because they think I’m not registered for a full load this term (because of the late add). I can’t wait to see how difficult it will be to try to return that money. Am I being a whiner about it all? Well, maybe a little. But seriously, 2 years from now when I start putting “MA in Economics” on my resume, part of me hopes that future employers appreciate what it takes to get one of those – not just learning the course material but learning how to navigate the paperwork maze. Was it like this at BYU and I just can’t remember? Or is this school uniquely bad at the administrative stuff? Based on comments from the kids on campus, I think it’s more of the latter. But the teachers have been good so far, and I’ve been learning tons of stuff. And every time I find myself standing in line at one of the registration buildings trying to get approval for a class I’m more than qualified for, I sort of sing Pomp & Circumstance in my head just to keep from giving up and storming home to hang out with the wife & daughter. It’s all gonna pay off, it’s all gonna pay off . . .