TAMUC Org Leadership Capstones

[mohelena02]

Wanted to update everyone on what the Capstones for this program look like as I know there was some curiosity around it.

There are in fact two classes with two different professors that form Capstone I and Capstone II. Please note, there are various teachers that teach these Capstone classes and every teacher has different requirements for their classes, so it is likely that people will get different assignments depending on who their teacher is, this is just my experience.

Capstone I involved (2) 4 page essays, (1) 12 page essay, (1) video essay
Capstone II involves (1) 12 page essay, (1) video essay

Interesting anecdote, I had planned very carefully in my spreadsheet to be able to finish my degree by this semester. Each semester is seven weeks. You have to stop accelerating by the 5th week because for the last two weeks of the term you can no longer change classes.  I had planned to work hard to make the cut-off to have the Capstone II class as my last one.

I had one teacher that took three days to reply to my e-mails, it was excruciating. You cannot accelerate to a class without a written email from the teacher letting your advisor know it was done. This one specific teacher took forever and stalled my progress. Nonetheless, I still made it.

My advisor told me to stop completely after my last class before the Capstones because she said I wouldn't have enough time to finish.... I had to convince her to allow me into Capstone I after I confirmed with her that I would be okay paying $750 for another term just to take Capstone II. Lo and behold I had a wonderful teacher for Capstone I who worked with me and I was able to finish that class in 3 days, allowing me to move on to Capstone II before the cut-off date. My advisor was stunned. I am now almost done with Capstone II and still have a week and a half to go. 

I am not sure if they are not used to people accelerating in this program, because I feel like I got a bit of push back, but nothing that persistence couldn't handle.

[Vle045]

So happy to see you reach your goals in this program!

[LevelUP]

I love the drama story with the emails and deadlines. 

You did a great job of advocating for yourself.

[bjcheung77]

Wonderful! You're getting that completed with road blocks, but you persisted and was able to complete that with a little delay. I hope the rest goes as well with this Capstone II. Hopefully we get some more good news! It's best that you asked, the worst they can say is no... and by asking, it went into your favor to be able to accelerate at a comfy pace for yourself.

[mohelena02]

I love the drama story with the emails and deadlines. 

You did a great job of advocating for yourself.

Thank you!!

The drama about my advisor telling me to stop was funny. She said she would send me an application to a competitive scholarship (aka not guaranteed) that would give me $150 off the next term, but the scholarship only applies if you take 2+ courses per term. I kept insisting that I could do all the work this term and when I asked to be moved to Capstone I I had to send a formal email saying I knew I would be paying $750 for the next term for one class, which I did.

In my heart, I knew I could finish the capstones but nonetheless she kept insisting. I was finally about to make it into the final class and now I don't have to pay $750 or the $600 with a scholarship for another term at all, which was my ultimate goal.

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Wonderful! You're getting that completed with road blocks, but you persisted and was able to complete that with a little delay.  I hope the rest goes as well with this Capstone II.  Hopefully we get some more good news!  It's best that you asked, the worst they can say is no... and by asking, it went into your favor to be able to accelerate at a comfy pace for yourself.

I know! Luckily the advisor is very responsive, so even though there was pushback, she was willing to engage with me and not dismiss me.

I am hoping to be finished with everything by the end of this upcoming week, will keep this forum posted!

[origamishuttle]

I am hoping to be finished with everything by the end of this upcoming week, will keep this forum posted!

Thank you for sharing your journey! And congratulations on all your accomplishments!!

[teejayb]

Congrats! I have an employer that will be paying for mine thankfully so I don't have a financial deadline to compete with, but it is nice to see it can be done! Thank you so much for all the updates. Seeing someone else go though a relatively new and unknown program gives me motivation to get into it as well!