RIT's out.

PJ and I went to RIT yest. (Rochester Institute of Technology). I must say, I was never so rudely treated by an academic instit. in my life! We've gone on several college tours in the past, both in NY and PA, so I have a rough idea as to what an informational, counseling, tour should entail. We arrived only to be told to "sit down, the tour doesn't start until 3pm". It was 1:30, my son politely replied that we had an appointment with one of the counselors. "Oh, are you Pascal?" His name is Pasquale (Pa squal "long E"), people often mispronounce it, that's ok, no biggie. He told her he was, to which she replied "Here, sit over there and fill this out, bring it to me when you're done". Not a smile, a nod, not even a decent tone. Now I know, I've worked with people all my life, sometimes people are just having a bad day. So I do what I usually do, smile and thank them for their help, which I did. Still...no smile. Oh well.

When we were done filling out the form, basics like name...etc. The form asked for race (which most do), did he have a disability, and did he need financial aid. Those were basically the only questions on there. Hmmmm.
The counselor came and got us, with PJ's "form" and asked us what she could do for us. When PJ took out his transcripts of his college credits and the courses he has taken, she wouldn't even take it, so he set it on the desk. (By the way, she did smile initially). He asked if the classes he was taking this semester would be helpful in getting into the Physician Assist. Program, her face dropped. "Oh, well I can't answer any questions about the PA program. We have so many majors here that some are just too specialized for us to answer any questions." WHAT?! I thought she was an admissions counselor?? "I'll give you the name of someone in the dept. that can look at the classes and help you, but you should know the PA program is VERY competitive, there are only 25 spots and we are trying to decrease the number even more, since we are going to make it a masters program." Hmmm, the only school in the city with a PA program and they're going to decrease the size even though the college in general is growing? "A couple hundred people apply for those few positions, you have to have REALLY good grades". He stated he had a 3.5GPA, and that he had over 500 hours of medical internship. "Well that MIGHT help you." Then I saw her writing a couple of brief notes on PJ's "form", near his disability (lack of) status, his race and his need for financial aid.

She then asked if there was any general questions about RIT that she could answer, I said no, we were specifically looking at the PA program. She got up and walked us out the door, saying she would see about getting us an appointment with someone in the PA program. Two minutes, three tops! She brought us out to Miss Smiley (sorry a little sarcasm coming through), who promptly said. "They don't take walk ins! You'll have to make an appt., it's usually about two weeks". Ok, didn't we call and set up an appt. to speak to someone about the PA PROGRAM??!! That's what we called and told them that we wanted information on! She wrote a name and number on a sticky and handed it off to PJ. By now I had steam coming out of my ears and walked out before I could say anything unchristian like, I did thank them first though! They didn't give us an application for admission, an information packet, offer us to go on the tour that she thought we were there for (it was an open tour) or even a smile. They treated us like we had three heads and smelled like road kill! Still no smile.

PJ was visibly upset and started to rant (as we left the building, out of ear shot of Smiley) that I didn't think he could make it into the program, he could tell by my face. I calmly told him we would discuss it in the car. I told him he was wrong, that wasn't what I thought, that I was upset as to our treatment, but that he should call the lady on the sticky note right now to set up an appt. So, he called. When he asked if he could make an appt. she told him no, they weren't interviewing until Dec. When he asked if he could just have an appt. to review his courses he had taken, to make sure he would qualify for admission into the program, she said "Well, did you read the syllabus?" He replied yes, but that he wanted to make sure. She told him "No, not til Dec." Then she hung up!

OK, we will NOT be applying at RIT. This is not a college that is welcoming. At least not in our experience. We were both very offended as to our treatment and the lack of respect with which our questions were treated. Apparently they wouldn't receive enough aid from a white, non disabled male that requires financial aid. Maybe if we could afford the whole shot out of pocket. Or if he was a minority. Or if he had a disability. I'm not saying anything against people with disabilities having opportunities, OBVIOUSLY not with three children with SN, and I'm not saying anything against minorities, I have four children that are of different races, what I'm saying is he should have AT LEAST got equal treatment and been treated with respect. RIT has a large hearing impaired population, one of the largest in the country. It has awesome programs for those with no or limited hearing. But by the same token, my son should have equal rights. It should work both ways! Equally rights for ALL, not more for some and less for others, whichever way you look at it.

I hope no one took this the wrong way. What I'm trying to say is this. We should all be treated fairly. PERIOD, end of story. We are all differently abled, we should be rewarded according to our merits. Do some people need special considerations? Sure, we need ramps for wheel chair dependent people, hearing loops or signing for hearing impaired, braille or auditory learning devices for the visually impaired and many other aides. But what we don't need is a society that is heading in an opposite direction. Why can't EVERYONE just be treated as having worth?!

OK, I'm off my soap box for now. I'm off to the chiropractor with hubby, kids go tomorrow, that's another post in itself. Have a blessed day.