A young engineer landed what felt like a dream job at a major aerospace company and started preparing to move across the country. Then a background check flagged something she never expected to matter.
She’d graduated in 2023 with majors in physics and mathematics, but her university only awarded those majors as a Bachelor of Arts, not a Bachelor of Science. The job required a BS, the company wouldn’t make an exception, and her offer was rescinded.
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Dream Job in Aerospace
The engineering role was exactly the kind of opportunity she’d hoped for. Aerospace jobs can be highly competitive, and landing one felt like a major step forward.
Engineering positions in the field often come with strong salaries and benefits. For a recent graduate, that can mean a big jump in earning potential.
She signed the offer letter and started planning her next chapter. Everything seemed to be moving in the right direction.
Preparing to Move Across the Country
Taking the job meant relocating to another part of the country. She began making plans for the move.
Long-distance moves can be expensive. Movers, travel, deposits, and setting up a new home can easily cost thousands of dollars.
She’d also been accepted into a master’s program in mechanical engineering in the same city. The job and the graduate program were meant to work together.
Physics and Math Degree From 2023
She graduated in 2023 with majors in physics and mathematics. Both fields are highly technical and closely tied to engineering work.
Her university’s College of Arts and Science only offered Bachelor of Arts degrees for those majors at the time. It was a choice tied to the school’s liberal arts roots.
Students didn’t have the option to earn a Bachelor of Science in those subjects. The school only began offering a BS for her major in 2025.
Bachelor of Arts Instead of Science
Because of that policy, her diploma says Bachelor of Arts. That technical difference became the central issue.
She later learned she met nearly every requirement for the newer BS program. The only thing missing was one upper-level elective that wasn’t offered while she was in school.
To her, the difference was mostly a label. The coursework itself was rigorous and focused on science and math.
Flagged in the Background Check
The issue came up only after she accepted the offer. Her background check flagged the degree title.
The company said the role required a Bachelor of Science. Because her degree was listed as a BA, she technically didn’t meet that requirement.
She explained the situation to the hiring manager. Despite that, the company stood by its decision.
No Exception for the Requirement
The company told her it couldn’t make an exception. Soon after, the job offer was rescinded.
She was stunned. She’d never lied on her application, and no one had asked about the exact degree title before she signed the offer.
The job listing itself had asked for a bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, or math. To her, her background fit that description.
Two Years of Industry Experience
She already has two years of experience working in aerospace. She’s held engineering jobs with other companies that work under government contracts.
At those jobs, her degree title never caused a problem. When interviewers asked about it, her explanation was enough.
That experience made the rescinded offer even more frustrating. She knew she could do the work.
Options After the Offer Was Pulled
She’s reached out to her university to ask if there’s anything they can do. She isn’t expecting much, since she’s already graduated.
Losing the offer could mean missing out on a strong salary and delaying her plans for graduate school. She’s left wondering whether there’s any way to save the opportunity, or whether a single word on her diploma has cost her a job she’d already earned.
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