Complete application now Incomplete Help!

[Catlover133]

 

I posted this in the Social Work thread but thought it would be better to post it here:

I applied to CSU San Marcos on January 3rd with my transcripts from the 4 year university i went to, the 3 letters of recommendation and my personal narrative.

Today I get an email stating that I need to send in transcripts from Mira Costa Community College ( I took a summer class there years ago).

I'm very frustrated that it took the university a whole month to contact me.

On top of that I have now found out that I am not in the priority applicant pool anymore. I know it is my responsibility to have the transcripts in, but it is also the universities responsibility to communicate accordingly and I don't feel that has happened.

To make things worse, my father has emailed the Department Chair of the MSW Program asking that once my transcripts are recieved to be put back in the priority pool. Now I didn't ask him to do this, he did this on his own without talking to me.

So my question is: am I in the wrong to feel this way? What can I do?

[ChrisTOEFert]

7 hours ago, Catlover133 said:

 

I posted this in the Social Work thread but thought it would be better to post it here:

I applied to CSU San Marcos on January 3rd with my transcripts from the 4 year university i went to, the 3 letters of recommendation and my personal narrative.

Today I get an email stating that I need to send in transcripts from Mira Costa Community College ( I took a summer class there years ago).

I'm very frustrated that it took the university a whole month to contact me.

On top of that I have now found out that I am not in the priority applicant pool anymore. I know it is my responsibility to have the transcripts in, but it is also the universities responsibility to communicate accordingly and I don't feel that has happened.

To make things worse, my father has emailed the Department Chair of the MSW Program asking that once my transcripts are recieved to be put back in the priority pool. Now I didn't ask him to do this, he did this on his own without talking to me.

So my question is: am I in the wrong to feel this way? What can I do?

It is not the universities responsibility to communicate that you need to have every transcript in, it is your job to ensure you do.  If you add it to your application, have it on your C/V, or whatever way in which they found out you went there, it is solely your responsibility to show that you went there with a transcript.  I think the school did more than enough by reaching out to you to say that you were missing something.  Think about the alternative, you didn't attach it, they said screw it you having a missing piece, we aren't reviewing this, and give you an early rejection.  They also have no requirement to put you back in the priority pool, whatever that is?  Is it for early acceptance or something?  If they deem that after reviewing your transcripts they want to go with someone else, you and your father really don't have any recourse.  Their decision is their decision and you have to live with it.  Also, what your father did is completely out of line, he had absolutely no right to do this.  While I am sure the department deals with helicopter parents on a weekly basis (probably daily during application season), I don't really see how they can look favourably on his decision.  

To answer your question: Yes, you are in the wrong.  I would be beyond livid with my dad and grateful the school took the time to reach out.  The month time frame is nothing, it likely might have taken them that long to comb through all the applications to make sure everything was complete.  Perhaps the prof you are applying under was sick, away at a conference, on sabbatical for a couple extra weeks, etc. and didn't get a chance to get through all the apps in what you deem a timely manner.  Just breathe.

Edited February 4, 2017 by ChrisTOEFert

[Catlover133]

On 2/4/2017 at 4:56 AM, ChrisTOEFert said:

It is not the universities responsibility to communicate that you need to have every transcript in, it is your job to ensure you do.  If you add it to your application, have it on your C/V, or whatever way in which they found out you went there, it is solely your responsibility to show that you went there with a transcript.  I think the school did more than enough by reaching out to you to say that you were missing something.  Think about the alternative, you didn't attach it, they said screw it you having a missing piece, we aren't reviewing this, and give you an early rejection.  They also have no requirement to put you back in the priority pool, whatever that is?  Is it for early acceptance or something?  If they deem that after reviewing your transcripts they want to go with someone else, you and your father really don't have any recourse.  Their decision is their decision and you have to live with it.  Also, what your father did is completely out of line, he had absolutely no right to do this.  While I am sure the department deals with helicopter parents on a weekly basis (probably daily during application season), I don't really see how they can look favourably on his decision.  

To answer your question: Yes, you are in the wrong.  I would be beyond livid with my dad and grateful the school took the time to reach out.  The month time frame is nothing, it likely might have taken them that long to comb through all the applications to make sure everything was complete.  Perhaps the prof you are applying under was sick, away at a conference, on sabbatical for a couple extra weeks, etc. and didn't get a chance to get through all the apps in what you deem a timely manner.  Just breathe.

I understand you're point. honestly I don't even know where to begin with what to say to my father, but I'm definitely going to be e-mailing the Department Chair apologizing on my father's behalf for what he did.

You're right it is my responsibility, I was rushed in the process and last minute decided to apply to graduate school. Now I've learned my lesson. Either way though it is crappy that my dad had to go and e-mail the Department Chair without telling me.

And you're completely right, the only way they knew about me being at a community college was because it was on my transcript from my 4 year university. They were the ones that caught it and obviously didn't comb through my application when I applied in the beginning. You're right, thank you.

[redikulus]

Yeah... I would probably reject an applicant just for having their dad contact me. But I don't know how committees actually respond to that. I know I've heard a few professors tell stories about how annoyed they get when parents call or email them. They definitely get a really negative view of the student's maturity level when that happens. I mean, they might suppose that anytime something doesn't go your way during the program, they're going to have to deal with your dad about it or something. Internal locus of control is one of the big things they want in graduate students, so yeah, if it were me, I would just assume I was already rejected. I would be too embarrassed to even apologize to them, honestly. And I would slap my dad.