Oh Nooo... Degree confirmation.. stressing out

[kenkennif]

So, did UK folk get the Email today about Pre-departure orientation on July 4th??

That section for people graduating this summer (i.e. now...)

Well it indicated that JET wanted:

"At or before the Pre-Departure Orientation you must submit either:

- A photocopy of your degree certificate (if this has been issued)
- Or a letter from your academic registry or department stating the degree classification that you have successfully been awarded. This letter must be an original, hand-signed and on headed paper.

Please be advised that without proof that you have completed your degree successfully, it will NOT be possible to issue you a visa. This would unfortunately lead to the termination of your application."


Here's the stress, My university won't be releasing that information until July 15th.... I Spoke to the Jet desk, literally now, and they said that it was vitally important for them to get the degree information by pre departure orientation..

Surely I can't be the only graduate with this as a possible concern??? What to dooo

[Kyaillya]

It says you can get a letter signed on headed paper from your uni stating your degree classification and hand that in.

[king]

Surely if you explain the situation to your department they'll be able to give you a bit of paper saying 'this is to certifiy John Smith (or whoever) has graduated with a degree in blahblah, etc... and is awaiting his degree certificate which won't be issued until the 15th of June'?

Just try ringing jet and asking, I did when I had my medical form problems and they were pretty understanding about it.

[kenkennif]

Well, our individual modules grades should be published on the 1st July according to the student calender (which I have discovered since posting this thread.)

SO, hopefully with that information, the undergraduate office should be able to draft up a letter stating what degree i get in time for orientation...

**Keeps all fingers and toes crossed**

[Agurippa]

No sweat. All you need is an official letter from your institution. Thats all that was required of me when I first applied. Although, from a lot of the things I've read on here from the UK shortlisters, the UK seems to be very strict when it comes to administrative matters. Either that or the people posting are just overly anxious. What I think your correspondent at the Jetdesk meant when they spoke of vital importance was for you to show proof that you will be able to fulfill the requirements of the Instructor Visa.

What could be a problem is if you can only get a visa with a copy of you degree (and nothing else). I'm not sure how long the visa process takes, but waiting until the 15th of July to receive an official copy of your degree might be cutting it a bit close. I would apply for special consideration to receive a copy of your degree sooner rather than later; plead your case to your institution.

By the way, I thought there was a cut off date for graduations with regard to applying for the JET program. As in, you must graduate before the end of June? I might be pulling this out of thin air, but I remember reading this somewhere.

[Runtime]

I'm going to be cutting it fine to get a copy as well, my uni doesn't release degree classifications until 30th June, and that's only over the phone, no idea when we get paper copies, and since there'll only be 1 working day before orientation very unlikely it could get posted to me in time >< Going to be doing some phoning and a wee bit of begging tomorrow I think!

[Otashi]

At my uni, 2nd and 3rd year results come out on the 24th June, whereas 1st year results don't come out till the middle of July. So double check the dates for the different years.

[jneale]

Kinda getting frustrated now I contacted them at the beginning of the application process and they said I would need to have it by departure (end of July) and now they say before orientation. Of course I will dance to their tune because I have to but my university doesn't release my results until the 4th of July. They say at departure so I might have to try and make the journey from Uxbridge to the Strand and back and pick up a letter during lunch break; which I don't think will go that well.

[Laurel]

Everyone don't be stressed!
Even though they don't release your results until July onwards in some cases, I am sure that they will be able to sign a letter etc to say you have graduated : after all I think they know well before they release the results if you have graduated or not.
I remember turning in my degree certificate with my application, then getting told it wasn't real haha! I had to scramble back to uni and get somebody to sign, date and stamp it ( she even embossed it for good measure).

Talk to your university as soon as possible, explain your situation and I am sure they will be very co-operative.
I have to say, this process if a never ending cycle of excitement then WORRY!

GOOD LUCK! I hope you all manage to get it done in time

[kenkennif]

Talk to your university as soon as possible, explain your situation and I am sure they will be very co-operative.

Oh, how I wish this was the case!!

My university has literally been a nightmare for three years when it comes to things like this!! In my second year, nobody got their module results back from a particular lecturer for FOUR MONTHS after the due date of publication. If it were any other institution I wouldn't be so worried...

I agree with everything else though, and it's SO TRUE on the excitement vs worry ratio!!

I'm going to go into the undergraduate office on the 1st of july though and get a letter sorted out (still.. cutting it fine though!!)

[Laurel]

Oh no! I know your situation well though
I had similar problems with certain lecturers >.<! It's a complete pain so I really feel for your situation.
Fingers crossed that it will work out for you. Go in there and DEMAND your proof for JET haha!

Yes, the whole worried and excited rollercoaster of a ride it starting to get to me now. I am eagerly awaiting placement info, and I am glued to this and JET twitter!

Let us know how you get on, and notify JET if you run into trouble

[Becky_657]

Talk to your university as soon as possible, explain your situation and I am sure they will be very co-operative.

Oh, how I wish this was the case!!

My university has literally been a nightmare for three years when it comes to things like this!! In my second year, nobody got their module results back from a particular lecturer for FOUR MONTHS after the due date of publication. If it were any other institution I wouldn't be so worried...

I agree with everything else though, and it's SO TRUE on the excitement vs worry ratio!!

I'm going to go into the undergraduate office on the 1st of july though and get a letter sorted out (still.. cutting it fine though!!)

Hey, I have the same problem! My department is so rubbish - I nearly got thrown off my course in first year for not filling out a form my tutor was meant to give me - but he was off with depression so I didn't even know the form existed! It has been 3 years of that kind of stuff, late notifications etc...so I am slightly concerned about getting mine in on time! I think I get my results on 23rd June, but I will have moved out by then, so I reeally doubt my dept will get my signed letter sent to me on time!
I came out of an exam today and had the email on my phone from JET, but I just can't think about it right now until I finish my exams on Thurs! Then I will be putting all my attention on tax forms, driving permits etcccc! Oh the joy! But I really can't wait to go so it's worth it!

What confuses me about the degree certificate thing is that back when I applied, pretty soon after I sent it off I was in hospital having my appendix taken out and JET emailed me and asked me to change the graduation date on my application from July to June. The way they said it was as if they knew I'd only be changing it for admin purposes, as I can't exactly move my graduation! So I'm hoping this is another way of making us speed up but they might have some leniency on any that are a couple of days late??? Let's hope...I definitely agree on the excitement/worry front - I feel like I've thought: "right that's it I can't go then as I won't get that form in on time!" about a million times!

[positivity]

By the way, I thought there was a cut off date for graduations with regard to applying for the JET program. As in, you must graduate before the end of June? I might be pulling this out of thin air, but I remember reading this somewhere.

They said you have to have officially graduated by July 17th, but nothing about you having to receive results before a certain date.

Fortunately, my department are releasing results on the 17th June, so I should be OK but I do think this is quite unfair to spring on everyone. I have lots of friends at other universities who don't hear until the 30th June - which means they only have one working day to get it. The way the system usually works in the UK is that the degree classifications are not official until a department hears back from the external markers, then convenes the members of the departments marking board to finally confirm all the results. Once this happens they release the results very soon after (if not the next day). So it is not the case that the universities are sitting on marks until 30th June for posterity -- whether you have a degree or not, and what your classification is, is not official until that committee has finalised the results.

I can understand the need to get clarification early to send off for the 400+ visa applications but I feel sorry for those people who have the stress of being at the cusp of the deadline.

[Siyris]

I'm not sure how it works in the UK but at my college in California the school knew who was graduating and who was not in November or December or at the latest February or March. We had to do a grad check with the registrar at those times and the feb/mar checks were only for seniors who had been abroad first semester. I would think that your uni must know that you're graduating and could mail you a signed and sealed letter stating as much before your July orientation.

On a side note, I think I remember the American jet webpage saying something about needing to have graduated on or before July 1 in order to participate. But either way! I'm sure you can get a letter and everything will be fine! I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for all of you in this boat.

[Muffles]

Yeh this short deadline is really stressful. My results come out on the 1st July, and whilst we can go down to the uni to find out our results, I don't know if the office will be open that day and therefore able to write the letter for me. I've emailed the head and I guess I have to wait now, my heart did sink a bit when I saw the email.