Frustrated with a school...

[LadyL]

So I was rereading the emails I got from all the departments I applied to (because what else do you do when anxiously waiting to hear back from schools). I realized that all the schools I've applied to have been really decent about communication - i.e confirming materials were received, answering questions - except one.

This school nearly gave me a heart attack because some time between October (when I did my research on program deadlines) and January they *moved up* their deadline. By two weeks. Thankfully they decided to still accept apps. until the original deadline (probably because of the panicked phone calls of people like me).

Then, I wasn't able to fill out an online app. because I'd applied previously. It wouldn't let me create a new application, OR a new web account. I called the department and they said to contact IT. I did and never heard back from them.

So I mailed in a paper application, which I confirmed was delivered. I emailed to see if they got my transcripts, LORs, etc. and never heard back.

I should probably call and follow up again, but I'm really not motivated to considering their track record. Incidentally a friend of mine is attending the same grad school but a different program, and when I mentioned these frustrations her advice was to go somewhere else if I could because it's so bureaucratic!

Anyone else let down by a school after applying? It stinks to put all that work into an app. only for the school to seem less and less appealing! I know all schools have their bureaucratic elements but this one is taking the cake. Am I writing them off way too soon?

[MAN]

The school I had ranked as my #1 option before I filled out applications is now hovering somewhere in the "also ran" area. It's interesting to see how quickly things can go from great to meh.

[t_ruth]

There is one of mine that has been less than communicative too. At this point since I got in somewhere else I'm pretty much "whatever."

[plisar]

MIT's application was awful, and they are the one school I have heard nothing from. I believe they have all my materials, but they have no application status checker whatsoever and they have not contacted myself or any applicants -- at least hat I know of.

[Tritonetelephone]

The admins and academics are in very separate worlds. I know it's frustrating, but what you're going through has very little to do with what the majority of your experiences will be like at that school. I would advise you not to discount it too quickly.

[plisar]

The admins and academics are in very separate worlds. I know it's frustrating, but what you're going through has very little to do with what the majority of your experiences will be like at that school. I would advise you not to discount it too quickly.

LOL, I know this all too well. I'm a graduate coordinator for a very large program in engineering. The fact that some of these schools don't have their act together -- not on admissions, but on materials -- is inexcusable, especially at this stage in the game.

[synthla]

The school I had ranked as my #1 option before I filled out applications is now hovering somewhere in the "also ran" area. It's interesting to see how quickly things can go from great to meh.

I'm in a similar situation. It's amazing how a school that takes more than 3 weeks to respond to a simple yes/no factual inquiry can really hurt their image; not that they care I'm sure.

[ohheygradschool]

One of my 12/15 applications is still 'incomplete' :roll:

[ewurgler]

One of my 12/15 applications is still 'incomplete' :roll:

One of mine too!! And when I email the graduate coordinator, she tells me they have lots of mail to go through.

GRRRR