<p>Since decisions are literally only a month away, let's talk about our experiences with the admission committees/officers/etc. of the colleges to which you applied. Were they really nice? Bland? Couldn't care less? Actually helpful? Lost everything in existence? Give us examples!</p>
<p>Despite the horrors that people have with the administration, I have to say that I really liked Columbia University's admissions officers (then again, I might've just been really freakin' lucky). I had to call them twice: once to verify if they had received the right teacher recommendations and once about financial aid requirements. In the first one, we had to wait a few minutes as they rifled through my folder; the guy on the other side and I ended up chatting and cracking jokes. During the second call, the officer was very helpful and easygoing. He didn't sound bored even though my question was probably very routine.</p>
<p>Overall, they left a very good impression on me. I was very comfortable asking my questions, and I wasn't treated like I was a supreme idiot. In fact, the impression it left on me was so strong that it helped raise Columbia from second-choice on my list to a tie for first place.</p>
<p>MITs was great! Literally. They were missing a rec after my teacher claimed she mailed it and faxed it. The admissions lady told me she would call me when they got it which she did and she followed up with an email. I called again about some financial aid stuff and got the same lady. She physically got up and went to get the answer to my question; most other schools were just like call back later lol. They gave off a good impression and i didn't feel weird asking them anything either.</p>
<p>I've heard a lot of good things about MIT, actually. (Then again, I've heard a lot of bad things, but those usually occur after Decision Day...) They seem to have immense pride in their admissions office.</p>
<p>Most of the schools have been great. Very helpful whenever I call. My Admissions rep for Case Western has literally emailed me back within fifteen minutes of asking a question. A student from UC Merced called my house today to try to encourage me to visit the campus and proceeded tell me how great it is.</p>
<p>Johns Hopkins, on the other hand, has been pretty awful. Two of the three times I called they were quite rude, and all three times extremely difficult.</p>
<p>It seems the prestige of the school is directly related to the amount of respect they show applicants. The most exalted schools know that they don't have to lift a finger and applicants will still matriculate.
^ Though the other posters seem to indicate otherwise.</p>
<p>Ooh, ouch, sndebrosse. That sucks. Now, I'm kind of worried calling JHU (stupid financial aid mix-ups). Oh dear.</p>
<p>When I called George Washington University, I spent almost six or seven minutes waiting on the phone for someone to pick up (I know sometimes colleges are really busy, but I called during the day (meaning everyone was still in school)). I hung up when I realized that no one was going to answer.</p>
<p>our 5 cents.
Worst: WUSTL by far. DD called them several times about interviews. Half the time she spoke to the maschine and calls were never returned, whenever she reached someone, they told that they would call her. Recently she E-mailed and got a reply: interview dates were send by mail, and she was supposed to sign-up. 1. We didn't get any such mail (and we got at least two letters a week from WUSTL; 2. Why couldn't they explain it on the phone or on their site (Northwestern managed, Carnegie Mellon managed); 3. Other people had the same problem (i.e. it's not DD's fault).</p>
<p>Ah, citymom I had a similar problem with WUSTL.</p>
<p>I did receive the letter in the mail, and signed up immediately for an interview (within an hour of receiving it). I soon got an email saying that all the time slots had filled up. I was slightly annoyed, of course, but there was really nothing I could do. Oh well!</p>
<p>A few days later (2 days before the day of the interview?) a lady calls, but I'm not at home. My mom takes the message - apparently one of the slots opened up: do I want to interview? Again, I'm slightly annoyed because it's two days before and I do have plans, but I clear them off to make room for an interview. I call back, she doesn't answer, I leave a message explaining that I'd be happy to take the slot, and could she please call me back to confirm that I do have it (the place where interviews were being held was nearly an hour away).</p>
<p>She never called back. I called again, got the answering machine again, gave up.</p>
<p>I don't know. This might be an isolated case, but when I called JHU, they were pretti harsh. The person did not let me finish the sentence and her tone of voice the whole time seemed to be like that I am an idiot for talking to her. She was extremely rude and because of that exp. I got to say that now I look at their Adcoms in a different way. Im practically scard to call them again. Seriously, she was practically screaming the same thing over and over again. She didn't recognize my change of questions. So I gave up.</p>
<p>Keep in mind, at most schools when you call you are not speaking with a member of the admissions committee. You are often talking to hired student workers, temporary or part-time staff not actual members of the admissions committee.</p>
<p>I third MIT's awesomeness. I was working at the time early action decisions came online and they actually called me at work to let me know I got in. If that doesn't singlehandedly make an admissions office amazing, I don't know what does.</p>
<p>That, and I had a teacher recommendation get lost and they were great about getting it fixed. My teacher didn't want to fax it, so they actually made sure that they made an exception to open the attachment to his email. They were really great about the whole thing.</p>
<p>We discovered an error in the interpretation of our financial situation (by the colleges) that inflated the EFC (and fin. aid package, subsequently) by several thousand dollars. Three schools made this error--wasn't discovered until late April--near decision day. U Rochester and Colgate were very willing to correct their error, but Bucknell would not, and were somewhat callous about it.</p>