Anyone Else Effected by CMU's Application Error?

[MLHopeful]

My applications for a Stats PhD at CMU is in a frustrating situation, so I thought I'd reach out and see if anyone else is in the same boat. This may also serve as a cautionary tale for future applicants.

 

Long story short, their online application went down before the posted deadline, so I had to email the admin lady, have her upload the missing pieces of my application, and mail them a check for the fee (which they cashed). After having sent everything, I asked if my application was now complete and received the response "your file is complete".

 

On Feb. 19, after having seen multiple acceptances, rejections, and waitlists on the results search, I decided to inquire about the status of my application via email. I received the below response: 

 

"You never officially “submitted” your file; that is the last step in the process.   However, your file will be reviewed by the committee, and I will get back to you in a few days."

 

Today, I received a generic waitlist letter. Given my record at other stats schools (accepted at berkeley, washington, chicago and columbia, rejected at Stanford), I wouldn't accept an offer from them regardless, but I can't help but feel that they had already offered all their places to other applicants before even looking at my app due to what appears to be a clerical error. 

 

So, was anyone else effected by the application being taken down early? If you haven't heard anything, you should probably email them.

[ar_rf]

I was affected by the issue as well, and received the same message after contacting them. I was accepted to the Statistics program the other day though, so they definitely did give consideration to those affected.

Edited February 26, 2015 by ar_rf

[MLHopeful]

I was affected by the issue as well, and received the same message after contacting them. I was accepted to the Statistics program the other day though, so they definitely did give consideration to those affected.

You got the same message about your application only being completed, not submitted? When did you email them to check on your application?

[ar_rf]

You got the same message about your application only being completed, not submitted? When did you email them to check on your application?

 

Yes, very similar email to the one you got. I contacted them about it mid-last week.

 

I also have the say, I think the tone of the original post is a little off-putting. You've gotten into a set of schools that most people would kill to have even a shot at, yet you're expressing frustration about getting waitlisted at a school that you admittedly wouldn't even consider. It's good advice for others to check their applications at CMU if they had the same issue, but some of the other stuff seems a little insensitive.

Edited February 26, 2015 by ar_rf

[MLHopeful]

Yes, very similar email to the one you got. I contacted them about it mid-last week.

 

I also have the say, I think the tone of the original post is a little off-putting. You've gotten into a set of schools that most people would kill to have even a shot at, yet you're expressing frustration about getting waitlisted at a school that you admittedly wouldn't even consider. It's good advice for others to check their applications at CMU if they had the same issue, but some of the other stuff seems a little insensitive.

 

I don't want to get into a flame war or anything, but that was a more toned down version of how I feel about this.

 

Basically, they took my money to look at an application they told me was complete, but would have never actually looked at it if I didn't bug them. And they didn't apologize or even admit that they had done something wrong. Yes, I've gotten into better schools, and this won't really effect my life. But if CMU were my first choice and I didn't think to email them, this would have really sucked.

Edited February 26, 2015 by MLHopeful