<p>I am hoping some of the experienced folks, as well as thse with applying seniors, can give me some guidance.
When and how often is it appropriate to follow up with schools about the status of application materials?
We have few specifics that I wonder about and then just a general idea about people's opnions.
For the specifics-
DD was academically accepted to a school back in October. She retook her ACTs in December, did much better so we sent the new scores on to the schools. Just today she received a general email thanking her for her interest in the school and ... I am assuming this was triggered by the new ACT scores - so do we contact the school and let them know we had new scores sent so they don't start a new files for her? or do we figure that they will figure this out soon enough?</p>
<p>How often do you contact a school that does not have information on the web about application status? As a specific, when I contact Otterbien back in November they said they were missing the items from her guidance counselor. We met with the counselor and she said she woudl resend the items. At this point we have not heard if these items were received or if DD has been accepted (academically), but we did get an email about an event for newly accepted students to attend something.
this is more an example than a specific - how often should we follow up an the status of items? and how long do schools need to process them?
I don't have great faith in DD's guidance counselor, but since about hapf the schools got the materials and others did (and all were requested at the same time) I am wondering how to figure out where the glitch is but at the same time not be overly pushy.
Any thoughts would help
thanks</p>
<p>I was worried that about having materials missing from applications as well about a month ago. In early December I emailed each of the schools that I hadn’t already received confirmation from simply asking if all my materials had been received. I got email responses back pretty quick and none of the schools gave me any problems. I’m not sure how often to send the emails if you haven’t gotten a response yet, but if you haven’t sent any out, you should definitely do it. I would ask the schools the specific questions you have. From my experience, everyone I had emailed seemed very willing to help if there were any problems.</p>
<p>keepingcalm: I just sent you an e-mail with specific directions on how to contact Otterbein for information. We’re happy to help.</p>
<p>Some schools have a way to check the status of your file online or else send you a postcard. But many schools do neither. I have my students call each college at least two weeks after EVERYTHING has been sent to check to see if “their file is complete.” I think this is very important to do (my kids did it too), because nobody is going to care as much about your admissions process as you and the fact is, errors can occur with missing items in a file with all that gets sent (missing recs, test scores, etc). But it is best to wait a couple of weeks after the point you know everything has been sent, to allow them to process it all, before checking.</p>
<p>Please do call or e-mail to check and see if materials have been received. Close to the audition the volume of mail is pretty staggering and we don’t like misplaced materials either. I try to have someone call the applicant if a file is missing anything about a week before the audition, but it’s nice if we know if the packet is on the way. </p>
<p>Another suggestion I make to prospective students is to bring copies of all your submitted materials with you to the audition. That way if something is missing, it is less stressful because you have it to hand to them.</p>
<p>Best wishes!
Michele</p>
<p>Thank you for the information about timeline. I did one round of calls in November, and have tried to get what was missing striaghtened out since then. Actually I will have DD do it since she is free 3 mornings a week for the next month.</p>
<p>The number of details that need keeping track of are killing us, as my job seems to be exploding and DD is doing a job where she will be told at 10 pm that she is needed the next day at X time, to do some stupid thing. (but at least that is almost over.)</p>
<p>The idea of bringing copies to auditions is very helpful. I wish we had copies of them. Hopefully that is a suggestion I can make to help a friend in the future.</p>