<p>My D's friend applied for transfer to a relatively well known school (not top 20, but good national reputation). He has been in contact with people from the school for various reasons. He spoke at length with the folks in financial aid, because he appealed his award. He called today about something & was shocked when he was told that his enrollment deposit was never received ... and there is no place for him (although they did say he'd be put on the waitlist). He got nowhere with the person who told him this, and his parents have told him that he has to handle this on his own. I was asked for advice. The first thing I told him was to see whether or not the enrollment deposit check was cashed ... if it was, the school really will be obligated to fix things for him. If not, though, things will be a bit more difficult. He was supposed to check with his parents about the check. If he finds out it was never cashed, what should I tell him? Should I suggest he contact the head of enrollment (or the equivalent at this school)? I don't really know the best approach in this case.</p>
<p>It's nice of you to offer assistance, but this really isn't your problem. It wasn't you who did/did<em>not send the deposit, it wasn't you who did/did</em>not check to see that the deposit was received, and it isn't you who will be negatively affected if things don't work out. Call me crazy, but I see some unfortunate family dynamics at work here. You don't need any of that IMHO.</p>
<p>I am not close enough to the situation for it to be a problem for me ... I was asked because I know a lot of stuff about college admissions/etc. If I don't come through with advice that works, it won't be an issue at all. If I do, though, it will be my good deed for the day. :)</p>
<p>only thing i would say is talk to the higher ups...if he is being offered the waitlist, they are anticipating spots maybe opening up, he needs to be offered the first possible one, also definitely find out about the check, and finally stress that this kid doesnt have many options at this point. best of luck</p>
<p>kelsmom, I haven't been through the whole college thing (except as a student back in the Dark Ages), so I don't know how useful this might be, but did the student send in anything to indicate acceptance of admission? And if so and more importantly, did he receive an acknowledgment of it? (I'm thinking along the lines of sending an email to say "Yes! I'll attend!" copy of which may be in a Sent folder somewhere, and a reply, even an automated one, that says, "We got your email and are very happy you'll be attending!")</p>
<p>That would show at least more than a passing interest in attending and is one piece (or two, outgoing and incoming mail) of evidence that he did intend to attend. If the check has been cashed, of course that's the main piece of evidence, but if it hasn't, then perhaps a copy of the duplicate check (you know what I mean -- the "carbon" copy") or, if they don't use that kind of checkbook, a copy of the check register showing the check had been written. </p>
<p>Is it routine for this to send something when a student hasn't sent in a deposit? Some schools, I understand, send out something saying their offer of admission has been rescinded for non-payment of the deposit. If this school does that and he didn't get one, I would think that would count for something, too. </p>
<p>Anyway, he should line up ducks and evidence, then contact someone at the school. Dean of Admissions or Head Enrollment Honcho or SOMEone. Someone's in charge; bet you, or he, can find a name on a website somewhere.</p>
<p>Who was supposed to send the deposit? The student or his parents? That would be my first question.
I also second Owlice's suggestions. Is there a paper trail indicating admission and acceptance? Is there a cancelled check? Or, if the deposit was paid with credit card, is there a credit card statement? How long ago was the deposit made? When was it due? How about the correspondence appealing his award? All these should be checked into before he communicates with the Dean of Admissions.</p>
<p>Owlice, thank you for your post. After I read it, I went to the school's website. The transfer student section lists some info that students are supposed to turn in after they are accepted. There is a form that is only sent to students who have sent in an enrollment deposit. I will see what he received, what was turned in, etc. I also got the name of the Associate Director of Admissions, who is in charge of transfer students. If he has not spoken with her, I will suggest he contact her. The priority deadline for transfer students for this school is July 1. Knowing this, I think he might have a good shot at getting things worked out in his favor.</p>
<p>Marite, good questions. I will use them to help him get his ducks in a row. </p>
<p>I do not know this young man at all. He is the BF of D's college friend, so I am helping long distance & "sight unseen." I have no clue if he's on top of things or not, family dynamics, etc.</p>
<p>"If I don't come through with advice that works, it won't be an issue at all. If I do, though, it will be my good deed for the day."</p>
<p>OK fair enough, as long as you acknowledge that no good deed go unpunished ....</p>
<p>Forget the FA people for now -- if they could help they already would have done so. Collect all correspondence between your D's friend and the school. That would include information about the enrollment deposit -- who sent it, when it was sent, what type of payment it was (eg, personal check, cashier's check, electronic payment, etc.). Get confirmation that the payment was either received in the case of electronic payment, or cashed in the case of check. At this point the problem should be evident. Now collect the your D's friend's student ID and any relevant security data. Call the Dean of Admissions and plead your case. If that fails call the Dean of the School your D's friend would be in, and plead your case. If that fails call the Provost and plead your case. And if that fails, you should call the President's Office. And if all this fails, at least you will have given it your best shot.</p>
<p>PS, It looks like a lot, but all the above shouldn't take more than a few hours. Good luck, and God Bless.</p>
<p>Oh, New Hope, I won't be getting personally involved in that manner! I am simply the source of suggestions ... in this case, suggestions from the helpful folks at CC.</p>