Emailing a school to check if they've received transcripts

[alleycat393]

Hello,

So I really want to email one of my schools to check if they've received my official transcript and GRE score report but they've specifcally asked that applicants NOT email to check the status of their documents. Should I email them anyway? I'm an international student so transcripts may get lost in the mail and I've already had one school that's not received a GRE score report and so I've had to get ETS to resend it.

[schoolpsych_hopeful]

Hello,

So I really want to email one of my schools to check if they've received my official transcript and GRE score report but they've specifcally asked that applicants NOT email to check the status of their documents. Should I email them anyway? I'm an international student so transcripts may get lost in the mail and I've already had one school that's not received a GRE score report and so I've had to get ETS to resend it.

I wouldn't e-mail, especially because they asked you not to. You'd be better off calling them to check, but that might be trickier because you're international. Is there a way you can call the admissions office?

[Strangefox]

I wouldn't e-mail, especially because they asked you not to. You'd be better off calling them to check, but that might be trickier because you're international. Is there a way you can call the admissions office?

What's the difference between calling and e-mailing? I think what they meant is they do not want applicants to contact them with questions - no matter how they will do that...

[Strangefox]

Hello,

So I really want to email one of my schools to check if they've received my official transcript and GRE score report but they've specifcally asked that applicants NOT email to check the status of their documents. Should I email them anyway? I'm an international student so transcripts may get lost in the mail and I've already had one school that's not received a GRE score report and so I've had to get ETS to resend it.

What's the deadline in this school? If there is still time - you should wait. If your transcripts or GRE scores get lost - you can always tell the program that you did not contact them earlier because they asked applicants not to do that. I mean - it is not your fault and schools must understand that. With GRE scores it is easier because you can let the school enter your GRE account and see your scores for themselves. But if you sent a new set of transcripts - it can take them a while to reach America. But you can always use FedEx. Even from another side of the globe it takes their parcel only a couple of days to reach America.

[alleycat393]

What's the deadline in this school? If there is still time - you should wait. If your transcripts or GRE scores get lost - you can always tell the program that you did not contact them earlier because they asked applicants not to do that. I mean - it is not your fault and schools must understand that. With GRE scores it is easier because you can let the school enter your GRE account and see your scores for themselves. But if you sent a new set of transcripts - it can take them a while to reach America. But you can always use FedEx. Even from another side of the globe it takes their parcel only a couple of days to reach America.

Thanks for that. Yes they did mention not to ring either but I could do that if I wanted to. Do you just give the uni your GRE account username and password to let them into your account to see scores? But then wouldn't they also see where else you've sent your scores? I guess I could send the transcript again by FedEx or something if they haven't received it but would love for them to receive everything before the deadline. The deadline is December 8th by the way.

[Strangefox]

Thanks for that. Yes they did mention not to ring either but I could do that if I wanted to. Do you just give the uni your GRE account username and password to let them into your account to see scores? But then wouldn't they also see where else you've sent your scores? I guess I could send the transcript again by FedEx or something if they haven't received it but would love for them to receive everything before the deadline. The deadline is December 8th by the way.

December 8th? Then you definetely can wait!

And what if they will see where else you have sent you scores? If you have a phone interview they will probably ask that anyway. And some programs ask about that in their application. I see no harm in that.

Good luck!

[alleycat393]

December 8th? Then you definetely can wait!

And what if they will see where else you have sent you scores? If you have a phone interview they will probably ask that anyway. And some programs ask about that in their application. I see no harm in that.

Good luck!

haha thanks. I don't mind telling them where else I've applied if they ask but not unsolicited.

[newms]

Thanks for that. Yes they did mention not to ring either but I could do that if I wanted to. Do you just give the uni your GRE account username and password to let them into your account to see scores? But then wouldn't they also see where else you've sent your scores? I guess I could send the transcript again by FedEx or something if they haven't received it but would love for them to receive everything before the deadline. The deadline is December 8th by the way.

I wouldn't give unis access to my GRE account. ETS will send them the scores as long as you have requested/paid for it. Sometimes schools ask for a scan of your GRE report, which is something ETS will mail you and you can scan and upload.

[Strangefox]

I wouldn't give unis access to my GRE account.

Why? As soon as they see the scores, you can change the password.

[newms]

Why? As soon as they see the scores, you can change the password.

That's true, but I'm always very skeptical about giving access to my online account anywhere to people who I don't know.

[Strangefox]

That's true, but I'm always very skeptical about giving access to my online account anywhere to people who I don't know.

I agree. But if it were the only option, I would do that. Imagine you have found out that a school has not received you scores and there are only a couple of days left till the deadline. Of course you can ask ETS to resend the scores but we all know that it can take up to a month for them to arrive.

Edited November 4, 2010 by Strangefox

[newms]

I agree. But if it were the only option, I would do that. Imagine you have found out that a school has not received you scores and there are only a couple of days left till the deadline. Of course you can ask ETS to resend the scores but we all know that it can take up to a month for them to arrive.

The only way I would do this is to first make sure that whatever password I used at the ETS site is something that I don't use anywhere else and would never use anywhere else. Otherwise, it is possible that a malicious individual could get access to other accounts you use.

[Strangefox]

The only way I would do this is to first make sure that whatever password I used at the ETS site is something that I don't use anywhere else and would never use anywhere else. Otherwise, it is possible that a malicious individual could get access to other accounts you use.

Yes, it's a good idea. I totally agree.

[DariaIRL]

If they specifically ask applicants to not email/phone to ask if something's been received...please follow their instructions!

As someone who worked in a grad program office (while completing undergrad), it was a PITA to deal w/ these kinds of inquiries when our time was better spent opening mail, checking things in, and then contacting applicants who were missing something.

We would not like being offered the login to an applicant's GRE account, it seems a bit drastic and there is time to sort these things out especially if you have the ETS receipt that shows you did send your scores to X school on Y date. It's not your fault if something arrived late or didn't, especially if you were instructed not to contact them and ask any earlier.