Graduate school application nightmare (a bit of a rant.)

I decided to apply to School X's graduate program in Journalism (my undergraduate alma mater). I started the application in October using their online application system. The deadline is this Tuesday, January 15th.

As I completed the application, I saw that one of the requirements of the online application form was to set up an electronic ID to access their online services. I immediately did so, only to discover that apparently an ID had been set up for me years ago sometime AFTER I graduated from the university, so I could not set up a new one. I called their tech support to find out my ID and password. They gave me the ID and a temporary password but said that I needed to change it immediately. After several attempts, I could not do so, but somehow I had "unlocked" that section of the application, so I continued.

I looked everywhere on the website for a place where I could send my recommenders an electronic form or email for their references. Everywhere. I did find the paper forms for mailed references, so I printed them and mailed them to my recommenders. But before I did so, I contacted the Journalism graduate office and asked if there was an electronic method. I left a message. After a week, I left another message. Finally I called the undergraduate office, thinking that they could answer this rather simple question. A staff member from the GRADUATE office called me back, and in a rather snooty voice told me that "you sort of called the UNDERGRADUATE office!" I calmly told her that I had left several messages but my calls were never returned. She backed off then, but did finally inform me that they were still working on the electronic recommendation system and it was okay to send them by paper to the school. This was in mid-November.

Yesterday I received an email from the graduate school (separate from the J-school) telling me that they had not received all the necessary materials to process my application. They provided a link to a website that would show me what I still needed to provide. I then confronted, once again, my lack of electronic ID. I had to search around the website to find the technical support line to figure out how to access the website. After a couple of volleys, I finally gained access only to find that they were missing two transcripts and two letters of recommendation - all of which had been sent at least a month prior.

I contacted my recommenders and the schools in question - all of which informed me that they had sent their letters and transcripts. In fact, the two recommenders said that they had received an email from School X's graduate school a few days ago asking for their letters. I contacted the J-school - they said they had one of the letters, but that the other letter might be in a "pile" that they'd have to search through. I contacted the author of the "piled" recommendation letter and suggested that he go ahead and submit an additional letter electronically just in case. He did so. He then received an automated message stating that he had already submitted a recommendation!

The graduate school office contacted me this morning saying that they needed copies of my transcripts, or else they couldn't process my application and asked if the school would send them the transcripts. I contacted the J-school and left a message during lunch. They never returned my call.

All of this could have been avoided if School X's application instructions were clear, especially regarding what building should receive what materials. I applied to two other schools - both of which had clear instructions, a well set-up electronic application (and recommendation!) system, and available, responsive staffs to answer questions. School X is not a small school, either. It's one of the largest research universities in the country. I've also been through the bureaucracy of a graduate school program, so I'm not unfamiliar with bureaucracy, but this takes the cake!


So, needless to say, even if I can arrange the materials in time, and if they (by chance) admit me I WILL NOT BE COMPLETING MY GRADUATE WORK AT SCHOOL X!!!!!!!!


~Writer, at her Pissiest~

for effort's sake.