<p>I haven't been reading the boards as widely as I used to but just today ran across another instance of a phenomenon that drives me nuts. Student poses problem and asks what to do about X. (In this case, X was a deposit already sent in but student is having second thoughts, but X could be any number of issues I've seen.)</p>
<p>It was the kind of question where the obvious thing to do was to <em>call</em> the freakin' admissions office and have a dialogue. </p>
<p>What is that kids will spend half their waking moments connected to their cell phones but when it comes to solving a problme will either e-mail (and put up with delayed or non-existent responses because who knows where the e-mail ultimately went) or ask strangers on the board who can't possibly be in a position to make a judgment instead of making a telephone call that should take 3-10 minutes once they track down the right person?</p>
<p>TheDad I saw that thread and suggested that the OP call the school. But I can also understand why he/she didn't. It's often a battle to get through to a real person- the one you want to speak to. Office personel put people off and try to screen calls. Most people don't want to go to battle over a phone call.</p>
<p>I usually suggest to my S that he send an email. If it's a teacher or a prof, they can check their email when they're not in class or in meetings. If it's somebody in admin, there's a paper trail. Even after a phone call, it can be useful confirming by email. </p>
<p>But I agree with TheDad: it's amazing the number of posts requesting advice from perfect strangers when the information is on the college website or the decision can only be taken by college personnel.</p>
<p>While I agree with the basic premise.... In fairness to the poster you mention, that is more a case of being conflicted over the college choice than about the deposit. I believe, from prior conversations, that "gut" is pulling one direction and family is pushing the other. With a financial differential unexpectedly off the table, doubt has resurfaced. </p>
<p>My personal opinion? Thank god for Early Decision! Late April seems to be the time for kids twisting themselves into knots. It's frustrating to see a kid send a deposit to a school where she had a bad overnight experience (drunk hosts) and thinks she would "fit in" better with the kids elsewhere. </p>
<p>But, the tendency is to get caught up in minutia and not have the confidence to make a "big picture" decision. I try to get kids to write down the five most important things to them in a college (and admission rates to Ivy League Law schools can't be one of them!)</p>