Do you judge a school based on your admissions experience?

[orangepotato]

On the one hand, once I enroll, I won't have to go through admissions again. So I reason that the admissions experience should not be a factor in my decision-making process.

On the other, shouldn't schools realize that admissions is your first introduction to the school? I was treated a bit coldly by one (fancy, big name) university, and that concerns me. Perhaps this is indicative of the school's culture?

So, do you factor in your admissions experience in your decision or do you disregard it?

[fuzzylogician]

I'd put a lot more emphasis on interactions with your prospective department than on any contact you may have had with the graduate school at a specific university. Especially at large schools which have a lot of applicants, the treatment you get before being admitted could be significantly different than the one you get afterwards. I think I've learned a lot about programs by the way they have interacted with since I've been admitted (coordinating a visit, answering questions, etc,) to the point that I might change my preferences based on this. However, I try not to let nasty interactions with a cranky grad secretary I won't ever have to deal with after I go to the school affect my decision.

That said, I do think that some schools could treat prospective students considerably better than they do.

[liszt85]

I do think it reflects at least partially on the grad school's culture, or at least the dept's way of interacting with students. I am being extremely well treated by NU that I'll try my best to attend, and am hoping everything else matches with what I'm looking for. In fact, they've treated me so well that I almost wish the other places would reject me so that making a decision would be easier! I don't deal with a grad secy, its a professor of the dept who interacts with me. He's called me once and he's put me in touch with about 6 other professors from different departments, working in areas that I have even the slightest interest in. The highly interdisciplinary nature of the program and the diversity of the options that he's put before me is simply irresistible as far as I'm concerned. I also had concerns regarding taking my spouse along and the first thing they did was to extend an invitation to her as well to attend social events hosted by the Summer Institute to which I was nominated (for orientation purposes). They pay a separate stipend for the same. They hold English conversation classes and take us out to parties and picnics and other social events. The professor also put me in touch with his former grad student who had also brought along his spouse when he attended NU so that I could ask him for advice about living in Evanston. So they're trying their best to answer my questions the best possible way and are absolutely and thoroughly professional about it. I think it speaks volumes about their work ethic and culture too. Therefore, NU stands higher in my esteem than before now that they've been treating me so well. If I have to reject their offer, it would be a very difficult thing for me to do.. There are of course other places like U Minn and Berkeley whose decisions I eagerly await. If I get accepted by either, I would have a hard time making a decision (though Berkeley would win hands down, it would be difficult emotionally to reject NU coz I've fallen in love with the place, have been watching youtube promo videos, etc), why does this process have to be such a pain?! :|

[plisar]

On the one hand, once I enroll, I won't have to go through admissions again. So I reason that the admissions experience should not be a factor in my decision-making process.

On the other, shouldn't schools realize that admissions is your first introduction to the school? I was treated a bit coldly by one (fancy, big name) university, and that concerns me. Perhaps this is indicative of the school's culture?

So, do you factor in your admissions experience in your decision or do you disregard it?

I don't think you guys realize the sheer volume of material a graduate school receives, especially when you consider the fact taht much of it is processed by a team of less than 10 people (less than five in many cases). This is a VERY difficult process each year, requiring long hours for months at a time. If someone treated you coldly, especially at the central level, it's best to simply ignore it.

[miratrix]

I think it does matter how well a school handles bureaucracy; my undergrad was very small and unusually hassle-free, and it actually did give me a smoother experience than a lot of my friends at larger schools had, both in college and during the grad application process. Admissions may not be the best representation of bureaucracy at a school, but the grad school office will matter anywhere you enroll because there WILL be times when it'll determine whether getting something done is efficient or full of roadblocks. It's worth asking current students about to get a sense of how representative your admissions experience is.

I do agree that department interactions are more important, though. Of course I'm going to consider a school more highly if individuals at the school are more welcoming and interested in working with me than if I feel like a number.

[brosenth1984]

I think it depends on the scale of the school. I was looking into the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and I was VERY turned off by the lack of knowledge their admissions people had, and they diverted important questions that I had asked them (hence, I did not apply). If you are applying to a large degree mill, chances are that the person you dealt with is just a secretary in a department, not somebody influential in your academic career (although since I work in an admissions office, I am hesitant to downgrade the importance of these people, we make this stuff actually happen, and work a heck of a lot harder than professors). However, if you have been mistreated by a small department, chances are it dowes reflect the values of that particular program, and you can bet that it will affect your lifestule while studying.

I have been treated wo nicely by two chairs in departments i have been accepted to, but in another program i have been accepted to the chair has yet to contact me (I mean, they admit 8 people!!, how hard is it to pick up a phone 8 times...). I will probably not attend the latter school because I do not see their committment to me.

[DefinitelyMaybe]

I certainly do.

I eliminated three schools because of my experiences in dealing with them on the phone, at grad school fairs, etc.

[belowthree]

I didn't apply to one school because their app fee was just ridiculous and I applied to two because their website and application fees were just so downright reasonable. I felt that it mattered in terms of how open-minded the department was likely to be, but I wasn't sure.

(This was after I screened them all for much more important concerns.)

[psycholinguist]

It's hard not to. The University of Waterloo's online application-system made my application so difficult that I nearly withdrew it before I finished it; the only thing getting me through it was the knowledge that I needed a safety-school.

That said, every time I see aspiring grad-students rejected from my undergraduate university, I want to go apologise to them personally.

[yivorechecho]

I have been accepted to 2 schools so far and have had vastly different experiences in my limited interactions with them. School A has been not-so-good. First they want my decision in 30 days, which is way before any other school (I probably won't even have most of my results by that point), and yet they can't tell me about my financial package. Yet they want $300 anyway. I called the department to discuss this dilemma and was treated quite brusquely by some mumbling office assistant who made me feel like I was imposing on her. She promised to have someone call me back, since she was completely useless in answering my question, and no one ever did. I also e-mailed the office last week with a question about open houses and never heard back. Given the last phone call, I'm really not eager to follow up, but I suppose I'll have to.

I have not visited this school yet, and I know that's a really stupid reason to make a decision, but I can't help but contrast it with School B. I have had to call the department at School B several times over the past few months and they have been nothing but cheerful and quite eager to discuss my questions and give thorough, helpful responses. Any e-mails have been answered within a couple of hours. The difference is quite stark.

School A is cheaper, slightly higher-ranked, and would be much less of a logistical hassle to attend. I was thrilled to be accepted, and for a few reasons it's still leading over School B. But my unpleasant initial impression of their office has narrowed the gap. And I'm going to be quite attentive at the visit to see if I get the same vibes or if it was just limited to that one interaction.

[40404]

One of the schools I am applying to have the nicest admissions staff I have encountered. The type who answers your questions in detail and not just giving you the standard yes or no without much explanation. That makes the school more welcoming I think since I am an international student and I do not have the chance to visit these schools prior to enrollment then its a big deal to me.

[orangepotato]

Yeah, I can't help but judge a little too. Especially if the negative attitude reflects my biggest fear about the university -- i.e., that it is a diploma mill that doesn't care much about the students. I would not, however, base a decision on admissions experience alone!

[dagger]

On one of my official admittance letters, the admissions directors wrote me a lengthy personal note. Also, she crossed off Mr. xxxxx and just wrote my first name. I thought it was a really great touch. It made me really think twice about the school - in a positive way.

[Inspekt]

While I wouldn't base my whole decision on my admissions experience I do think it is important to consider how you are treated before you apply.

How they treat you before they have your money (or time) says a lot about how they will treat you once you are locked in.