Well, it looks like the Facultad de Filología has convalidated me.

One of my professors said that whenever you are dealing with the bureaucracy at la Complu, it's best to expect "la mitad de la mitad" of what you are requesting. And that's exactly what I got. At the rate I'm going, I should be able to get a degree by the end of the decade--if I'm lucky.

But now that I have my foot in the door, I can try to convalidate the other classes again. I think they only give credit for classes that are offered in a given school year and many classes aren't offered every year or get cancelled due to lack of enrollment.

As much of a hassle as this was, I think it is the easiest way to gain access to study in one of the academic degree programs. They make it so easy to study as a visiting student, but if you want to get a Spanish degree, it's a different story. Judging from the fact that I'm the only guiri enrolled in the carrera that I've met in any of my classes, I guess there aren't many people who think it's worth it, even at the bargain basement price of tuition.

For what it's worth, my classes are a mixed bag and range from distressingly difficult (Latin!) to enormously esoteric (Fonología, Fonética y Morfología del Español), with one really great class thrown in to make it all worthwhile (20th Century Spanish Lit).

Congratulations, Megan!! I know this has been a long, tough struggle for you to accomplish. Good to see that it can, in fact, be done! Now all that's left is a decade of studying, right? Piece of cake!

Not sure if this should go on this thread, but hopefully the powers that be will move it for me if necessary.

I'm generally interested in what the Estudios Hispanicos (sorry, can't figure out how to do tildes on this screen) program at the Complutense is like. I've looked on their website, so am more interested in what people who went through it thought of the program.

My big question is as follows. I speak, read, write, understand, etc. Spanish very well (numerous years living, working and studying in Spanish-speaking countries). Could I get anything out of the Estudios Hispanicos program? Are there truly advanced-level classes there?

Also, has anyone done an Estudios Hispanicos program NOT in Madrid? Love to hear about that, as well.

Thanks in advance! Love the site and spend far too much time reading the posts.