Hollywood has drilled the idea of happy endings for any quest embarked upon by a main character. From “The Quest for Fire” with primitive humanity to Shreks epic quest to save Princess Fiona - happy endings are what we are used to. However, a happy ending was not waiting for me at the end of my quest for financial aid. All that awaited me was wasted time, no solutions, and loss of respect for this University.
It all started over a month ago when I began filling out a bursary application, and realized after reading the first line, that alas I had not previously applied for OSAP assistance. Not that this financially burdened hero (hero in my saga anyway) had not thought about it, on the contrary, I had put great thought into it. As first year (I am now a second year scholar/hero) I applied for OSAP but was declined because I fell into that income bracket between, “I have more than enough money and can laugh at tuition costs” and “I don’t have nearly enough to even laugh at the price of my lunch”. According to OSAP both my parents and I made too much and could effectively pay tuition. However, when Residence fees alone takes 95% of your bank account what is left for tuition, and more importantly, alcohol! Concordantly (Matrix, eat your heart out), I did not apply this year because everyone involved made more money and expenses were down.
Anyway, back to the quest for cash. With no OSAP acceptance or rejection I discovered a line on the bursary form further down that stated, “If you did not apply for OSAP, please provide parents Notice of Assessments and proof of extenuating circumstances”. It seemed to this hero that the first trial could be passed. All I have to do is show with the Assessments that my parents made much more money and tell the administration my reasoning for the expected rejection. With this victory under my Utility-less belt, I applied to Twenty-one different bursaries. Some were UW’s, while others were corporate or volunteer based. Content, I went back to studying and awaited the assistance sought by my quest.
Two weeks later I got my answer back…REJECTED; Failure to provide proof for not applying to OSAP. I felt like Indiana Jones might feel if the Germans got both the Ark and the girl. It seemed to me that my quest had failed. However, not willing to accept defeat, I called a Financial Aid Counsellor to talk about this rejection and provide support for my stance of “Expected Rejection by OSAP”. With an appointment three days hence, I called my parents again and asked them to take time out of their day (early morning no less) and bring me T4’s, pay stubs, notice of assessments (again), anything that could be used as weapons in my crusade against the administrations decision. Lastly with a printout of my OSAP rejection (along with my financial projects for that year) and an expenses budget showing an expected $2000+ debt form school expenses alone, I went to my appointment.
Surely with all this proof, this hero could have triumphed…WRONG! Upon entering the dragon’s lair, the belly of the beast (Needless Hell) I was rejected again in under two minutes. I was told that rejection is not an extenuating circumstance (something that was not well defined on the form). So to recap, I’ve now wasted hours of my time, and my parent’s time, preparing documentation for a defence that could have been rejected over the phone, or explained better on the form. I was told that only parents refusing to sign OSAP forms or an allergy to paper and technology (actually the latter is made up out of frustration) classed as good reasons.
The bad guy has won, the fire was extinguished, the princess has died, and this hero has failed. All because the University would much rather have students take government money that they have to pay back than to give them funds that have been allocated by themselves, alumni, corporations, etc. for students anyway. These funds will not cause worry to students because they do not have to be paid back. Bursaries sit unclaimed every year, and will again this year because of the apparent greed (seemingly to this hero) of the University to not give up more money.
Twenty-one bursaries applied to, one total and utter rejection. While my faith in this University has fallen to the lowest it has ever been, my faith that students will never get a break has further been strengthened. I should have gone to Mac; they offered at least a $750 scholarship.
