<p>soozievt - Obviously, in order to claim CMU as a top school in a specific discipline, you must have done some research. Therefore, you can be tolerant for missing stuff. I know I would. But, I am talking about starting the process, not knowing about any specific schools. There are so many out there, one must used strategies.</p>
<p>I believe the costs on CollegeBoard.com include mandatory fees, so the total cost is a pretty accurate reflection of reality. Even incidentals are included as a separate line item and appear to vary based upon such factors as cost of living in the surrounding area. If anyone knows this to be wrong, please correct me.</p>
<p>eucalyptus re: post 61…the things that occurred with CMU’s Drama dept office only occurred AFTER my D started her application process there. So, I would think that anyone would have done “some research” at that point before applying. My point is that they have had several problems in handling things that happened to us online, by phone, and in person and I subsequently have read of similar things happening to others based on their CC posts on the MT Forum and so my point is that things like that can arise with an office or secretarial staff that are not smooth but have no bearing on the program itself. I would not have knocked the program off over this sort of thing when it would not affect my child’s attendance in the program. Some of these offices…or even a tour guide (another example I gave)…or a website…are all things that you never deal with again as an actual student at the college and have no bearing on that experience. I would care far more about the program of interest, the experiences of students on campus, the challenge level, and all the criteria that goes into selecting a college. Perhaps others care more about websites, secretarial snafus and the like, but for my kids, they did not base their college decisions on such matters. They had a list of selection criteria and put each college up against that criteria and picked accordingly. Their criteria were things that directly affect the experience of being a student there and not the actual admissions process itself which they never were going to come in contact with again.</p>
<p>I LOATHE the way CMU handles admissions. We didn’t have any issues, but they send out acceptances in waves over a couple of weeks which is just cruel. They also have an online “where are you in the process” that is full of mysterious blank lines that the kids get all worked up over. I don’t think we or my son have had any problems with the administration, bill paying etc. though I know my son is not entirely happy with the way the set up their computer system which is surprising for a school that ought to know what they are doing.</p>
<p>As to the issue of fees, while they are not usually big expenses they are really hard to find on line.</p>