I screwed up part of my application and other headaches

[mlle]

I submitted one of my applications last week and then noticed that I didn't read the instructions correctly on the part where you list the universities attended. I only listed the schools where I am/was a degree-seeking student. There were two other schools in undergrad where I took summer classes and had the credit transferred into my degree but I didn't list those and didn't have the transcripts sent--I didn't need to list or send transcripts for those schools when I applied for my masters degree so I was a careless jackass and didn't bother reading the fine print for this application. This morning I had my transcripts from the two extra schools sent but I can't update the "universities attended" part. What will they do if I email the admissions office and explain that I have transcripts on the way for unlisted schools? How bad is this? I'm such a moron.

Also, the transcripts that I DID send and my GRE scores were sent back in November and according to my status online after I submitted my application, those materials "have not been received." That is such BS, I confirmed with both the schools that sent my transcripts and the ETS that those things were sent out. I had requested my GRE scores over the phone and I don't even know what I did with the copy ETS mailed me anymore. I know I submitted my application less than a week ago, but shouldn't the status say those things were received if they were sent back in November? I am freaking out. I just need to rant. Why can't this process ever go smoothly.

[cordelia]

Also, the transcripts that I DID send and my GRE scores were sent back in November and according to my status online after I submitted my application, those materials "have not been received."

hi mlle,

i think those online status pages are not frequently updated. my ucla application page still shows my materials missing (for almost a month now), yet the department emailed me after the deadline to confirm that the application is complete. you might try contacting the department.

best

[Astaroth]

Ignore status pages, they are meaningless because due to the number of applications coming in they are never up to date (unless you're applying to a small school where they might have fewer paperwork to go through). I've had to phone one of mine and get the admissions person at the other end to pull my GRE scores out of a spreadsheet, where it had been sitting for weeks with my status page saying they had "not received" it!

As for your little problem, write an e-mail explaining the situation (basically say that it was something you just somehow missed and don't dwell on it too much) and ask very kindly whether they could help you rectify the problem. From what I gather admissions staff are not allowed to alter applications, but what they can do is append something to an application, so if you have access to the page you filled in wrongly, edit it again correctly, print it and send it to them (or better yet, print to a PDF file and attach it to your email). Chances are they will be able to do that. You might want to give them a call and let them know that you've e-mailed if the deadline is close, just to make sure it's looked at in time.

This isn't bad at all, don't worry. People are most of the time quite willing to help you out, especially if you ask nicely, so just e-mail them.

[mlle]

Oh, I didn't notice in the "waiting is the hardest part" thread that there's a whole string of commentary on status page issues. Sorry for the duplicate post :roll:

I'm still trying not to freak out about the first problem, though. It's certainly not going to look good that I don't even know how to freakin read instructions. Thanks for the advice.

[miratrix]

Yeah, I failed at reading instructions on one of mine too - only noticed after I'd sent out forms with envelopes to my recommenders, addressed to the school, that it asked for every piece of the application to arrive in one package. So then I sent a package with my transcripts and resume with a note saying recommendations would arrive separately. THEN, once I'd finished writing and editing my SoP, I submitted the online application...and it was the only one of all my schools that didn't give you a way to submit the SoP as part of it. So I had to send them yet another package. They'll be getting five instead of one, I hope that doesn't cause them to toss my application but it's too late now!

The only thing it makes me wonder is how many people actually do regularly screw up instructions.

[CAPoliSciPhD]

I'm also completely frustrated by this crap. I just checked my UCLA status and everything I sent have been received, but it says "Items Required To Complete File: Suppl Info " --- wtf!!! I don't know what that means! I've sent everything and it even says that it has my writing sample and CV. And another school I didn't send all my transcripts, either, because I didn't think about sending them form the dual enrollment course I took in HIGH SCHOOL in 11th freaking grade in a random state from a community college....and I just don't give a $hit anymore....it's too late to send it now, and this process has just sucked --- I've given them ever MORE reasons not to accept me.

good thread. I needed to vent, too.

[Halcyon22]

I have no advice, other than I too freaked out today realizing I totally forgot I took a random class at a community college many summers ago. My master's program didn't require that transcript so it didn't even cross my mind this time around. My top schools were all due last week, so I put in requests tonight for the transcript to be sent and I'm hoping for the best - but I wish I would have thought about this a few weeks ago!

I have to think that there are a lot of people out there that forget to send in a transcript from a community college course taken way back when. maybe not, maybe we are just forgetful. but either way, you're not alone

[polumetis23]

You guys need to chill out. A lot of my instructions said transcripts were required for schools attended for at least a year. Nobody is going to care about a random community college class or a couple of summer courses. You've probably made it worse by informing them of the mistake and making a whole incident out of something that would have passed unnoticed. If the credit appears on your regular transcripts, it's accounted for.

[purplepepper]

I was thinking of starting a thread similar to this too. I think we all make mistakes on our apps...I too misread the directions and made one mistake with a deadline (i.e. i got confused and totally missed it!). luckily it was a school i didn't really want to go to in the first place. Anyway, I think one of the biggest mistakes I have made are with recommenders--asking them to write letters at the wrong time when they were busy, getting anxious and sending emails to answer their questions too quickly only to realize that I made mistakes and had to resend the email(S), inundating mail boxes, which I'm sure was annoying! Because i'm living overseas, I thought thanksgiving was a week earlier than it was and I'm sure I annoyed many with emails reminding them about recs on thanksgiving day!

My other headache is that one of my schools has not received my GRE scores that I sent back in sept. tried to ask about it/email them, but alas, no response. guess i'll have to put my determination hat on and ask them again in a few days, as it's already about a week and a half past the deadline.

also had a recommender go MIA at the beginning of Dec. Luckily i trusted my instincts about him early enough (that even though he was my advisor and promised to write "strong letters" he might not come through as he's airy and forgets because he doesn't read his email or respond to voice messages, and I"m not there physically to remind him) and got an extra letter just in case. Way to go me!

I thought the apps were done when I submitted them. but oh, I thought wrong. well, for those of us who might not be so lucky to be offered admission this year, the process awaits us again next year. :shock:

[CAPoliSciPhD]

THAT is a horrible thought...and I can't say I haven't had it. The worst part is that I still have a few schools whose deadlines aren't until Jan 1. One's not even until Feb. 1 (that's insane) but I cannot get the motivation to fill out anymore applications. It's like I used all my momentum in December, and now it's all gone. Plus, with these little things, it's just that much harder to get the motivation back.

Anyway, I never alerted the schools I applied to about these things it's only at one school THEY added the school after receiving my undergrad transcript so it says "not received" for this little school. Honestly, I'm not even going to bother tracking down this transcript (I tried for a minute and get this: it looks like the school changed names but I can't find that anywhere officially so I HOPE I even have the right random school - it was forever ago.)

And I just ran into another weird issue - one of my schools left asks for a 250 SOP...wtf...that's NOTHING most of my schools are around 500 to 750. I have no idea how to cut out half of my SOP. And, I'm not sure I care that much so I may just submit what I have....of course, maybe that's a dumb idea and a waste of an application fee. no?

Haha - well, everyone, Happy January!

[drpsych]

250 word SOP?! When I had to cut it down for the 600 word one I couldn't believe it. And the 1000 one I made exactly 1000 words. The rest asked for 1-2 pages so I made it about 2 pages single-spaced. Wow, that's crazy.

[mlle]

You guys need to chill out. A lot of my instructions said transcripts were required for schools attended for at least a year. Nobody is going to care about a random community college class or a couple of summer courses. You've probably made it worse by informing them of the mistake and making a whole incident out of something that would have passed unnoticed. If the credit appears on your regular transcripts, it's accounted for.

I had about 29 credits transferred into my degree, 14 credits taken at another university over one summer and 15 credits from a semester on a domestic exchange. The applications were very explicit about sending transcripts for ALL coursework, I just completely overlooked that though. The issue came to my attention when I submitted some applications through a central application system and the next day they sent it all back to me with a nasty message about how they tried to verify my coursework and I didn't follow instructions, blah blah (it was SUCH a mean message). Then I looked at my other applications and saw their instructions were also outlined in obscene detail about sending original transcripts for each and every credit or else your application won't be reviewed, blah blah. These were all schools of public health. I dunno, I guess SPHs are evidently anal about these things. With my MA application, they didn't give a shit about accounting for transfer credit.

These other stories you guys are telling sound scarier than mine. The one abt the dead-beat recommender--oh, god, that better not happen to me. I don't have a back-up and the deadline is in a week!

[miratrix]

THAT is a horrible thought...and I can't say I haven't had it. The worst part is that I still have a few schools whose deadlines aren't until Jan 1. One's not even until Feb. 1 (that's insane) but I cannot get the motivation to fill out anymore applications. It's like I used all my momentum in December, and now it's all gone. Plus, with these little things, it's just that much harder to get the motivation back.

Oh I KNOW! The one school I have left to apply to has a February 1 deadline, and I feel like I burned out juuuust a little to early. Haven't even started on SoP rewriting, even though my general one is 1000 words and this school wants at least 1500. (One of my schools has a March 1 deadline, but I'm done with that app and if I get in elsewhere with funding I probably won't wait to hear from them.)

[rising_star]

I feel like Feb 1 schools have a disadvantage because people are too burned out to submit...

[ridgey]

I feel like Feb 1 schools have a disadvantage because people are too burned out to submit...

Of my applications, Fancy U, Prestige U and Snooty U were all due in early-mid Dec, while Perfectly Good U isn't due until Feb. I wonder if PGU might have chosen its cut off date strategically, given that decisions from Fancy, Prestige and Snooty seem to be out in Feb?

[CAPoliSciPhD]

The higher ranked programs do seem to have earlier deadlines -- they were all dec. 15 for me. But I don't think that the acceptances going out in Feb help the school with later deadlines bc if you get rejected feb 7. from the 'snooty' school, it's still too late to apply to the Feb 1. deadline.

Anyway, you guys have any advice on the 250word SOP? I'm kind of thinking of ignoring that limit? I can't imagine cutting half of my SOP out. It's all in there for a reason.

[ridgey]

Anyway, you guys have any advice on the 250word SOP? I'm kind of thinking of ignoring that limit? I can't imagine cutting half of my SOP out. It's all in there for a reason.

My default position is not to deviate from what they've asked for in a way that they'll notice. So, if they have a pile of 250 word SoPs, it will be very obvious that your statement is double the length of everyone else's. Worst case scenario, their responses could include:

1)This person can't follow instructions - bin it.

2)This person thinks our requirements don't apply to them. They are likely to cause us headaches for the next 5 years - bin it.

3)This person has caused me to spend double the time I had planned to reading their statement (though in the grand scheme, 1 min vs 2 min is probably not that important).

4)This person has not mastered the important skill of using as few words as possible to make their point. Probably not ready for our programme - bin it.

Of course, it could be a requirement of the grad school and the department may not care. But you have no way of knowing this,so I wouldn't take the risk. If you're submitting electronically, the programme may not let you upload anything that doesn't comply with their specifications.

Having said all that, 250 words is ridiculous! I'm very glad I didn't have to do that.

Do you have the option to include a CV or personal statement or anything? Could some of your SoP go there instead?