Leaders Application?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Willamette University
21

<p>My child received the “Leader’s Priority App” in it’s hardcopy and online versions, but has not completed it yet. Yesterday, this e-mail from Willamette’s admission’s dean arrived: "When I start reviewing applications next week, I want yours to be there… the link to the online app follows.</p>

<p>So for those of you who are waiting, they may not have started the process quite yet. They probably weren’t expecting them before October.</p>

<p>I can tell you that my older child submitted the same application mid November, and heard the first or second week of December.</p>

22

<p>I wish they were giving a more unified message. My daughter sent her app in almost a month ago (9/11), and got a message they would be giving it top priority. Why wouldn’t they expect them sooner, it only took an hour to fill out? And 6 days after she sent it in, they sent a message saying that they really need the transcript. </p>

<p>I’m writing to let you know that X has submitted an application to Willamette University. I hope you accept my congratulations in seeing your child take this next big step in life!</p>

<p>Now that I’ve received X’s application, all I need is official high school transcripts and test scores sent to Willamette as soon as possible.</p>

<p>Please encourage X to make sure this information is sent in right away. As soon as I receive it, I’ll be able to provide a quick admission decision.</p>

23

<p>Has anyone heard anything? This is all sounding pretty weird to me. EA time ranges 4-6 weeks. Rolling admission is usually 2-3 weeks. I think we are at 7 weeks and counting. My daughter emailed to make sure nothing has gone wrong, and they did not send her an answer. Odd.</p>

24

<p>Nothing here. :{</p>

25

<p>My child got their acceptance today :)</p>

26

<p>Congratulations! It’s a great school!</p>

27

<p>Yay! Congrats!</p>

28

<p>After over 2 months of waiting, I finally called the Admissions Office today. They started sending out acceptances on Friday. And, will continue for the next couple of weeks. I told her someone posted that they were admitted last week, and she said that they did not receive a letter, but maybe someone told her over the phone (which they were not supposed to do…) I was wondering how someone could post at 5:33 am that their child got their acceptance that day. I just checked her status - according to her birthdate she is 29 years old? </p>

<p>The woman I spoke to was really gracious and helpful. She seemed to think that there was no reason for anyone to assume that the “Leader’s Application” applicants should assume that they would have received an answer by now. That the speed was on the applicants part (a very easy application to fill). I am pretty sure “Priority response” or some such term was bandied about somewhere. Certainly, they are considerable slower than rolling admissions or even EA/ED - which tends to be 4-6 weeks.</p>

<p>The impression I got was that she was getting a lot of negative feedback on the phone, and I was giving her more. She asked if I would be willing to leave my phone number so that the Director could hear from me. I told her that I would prefer to wait until my daughter got her response, and then I had already planned to write a letter.</p>

<p>If you do a search on Fast Track or Crap Apps (apparently what guidance counselors call these they of applications), you can find out what is considered wrong with them. In a nutshell - they are only used to make she school seem more selective. There are even consulting services that will help a school set up a system. And, they give students the impression that they have a special in to the school. (There is also a problem for counselors, because they have to do special forms, after already doing the common app)</p>

<p>This has always been a safety for my daughter, and it does not look like she will need and acceptance. But, being socially minded person, I find the situation pretty sleazy. Coupled with what I have read about these type of apps and Willamette’s only way of dealing them them, I think it is pretty sleazy. I feel bad for the kids who think they are a lock and will be turned down. I think it would be difficult on them, if they find about it 2-3 weeks after sending in their applications. But, 2+ months? I do hope they did not assume they could ignore other avenues.</p>

<p>Throughout the application process, I have told my daughter that adcoms are not the school. She should not be put off by a school because of the action of an adcom, nor should she be overly impressed. In this case, though, we are both finding it difficult. I think this reflects pretty badly on Willamette, which is too bad, because it does seem like a very nice school.</p>

29

<p>Oh, she also said that there was a letter sent out to some applicants telling them to get their applications in very quickly, perhaps what KellieBeff speaks of, above? She said that email was sent in error. </p>

<p>My theory, from reading last years posts, is that they completely changed the program this year. They are putting less effort into it. They just forgot to tell everyone that.</p>

30

<p>Thanks for the update. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. </p>

<p>This school would be a reach for my son, because of his GPA, but I can see why this “program” would be a good way for son and school to learn more about each other. No way this school would have been on sons rader, nor would he have applied, if the leaders app hadn’t shown up early in the goings, and if he had had to write an essay instead of attaching something he had already written. Interstingly, SINCE then, he mentioned the school to his varsity soccer coach, and the coach had some connection with the school. Taught him how to pronounce it, just before one of their outreach folks called…</p>

31

<p>Shrinkrap: I just checked the Willamette CA supplement. They do not require an additional essay there, either. It seems to me your son, because of his GPA (those are your words, I dont actually know his GPA, I am just taking your word for it ;-)), is exactly the type of student who might do better in the regular pool, if his teachers think well of him, and would write a thoughtful letter of recommendation. </p>

<p>Yeah, the pronunciation is funny. I was at an info session and when the adcom said the name of the there was a certain amount of whispering in the audience. I, for one, had put an extra ‘i’ in it, and called it William-Et.</p>

32

<p>Dear Parents, Please remember “patience is a virtue!” I know everyone is anxious for an answer about college apps, but a week or two (even three or four) rarely makes a difference in the decision process. Willamette is a small college that puts a lot of effort into evaluating the “whole person” to find students who will enhance the college community in different ways. It’s an intellectually stimulating and friendly environment – definitely worth the wait. OK, thanks for listening! From the parent of a current Willamette (rhymes with “dammit!”) student. :)</p>

33

<p>I agree, RSD Mom, but they should not have promised a fast turn around. Nine weeks? that is way slower than ED/EA. If they had said it would take over 2 months, then it would be fine. Instead we get emails telling us to hurry up or promising us a prompt decisions:</p>

<p>“Thanks so much for your interest in Willamette University. Please follow the easy steps
below to finish applying. We’ll then review your application and give you a prompt
admission decision.”</p>

<p>“Now that I’ve received xxx’s application, all I need is official high school transcripts and test scores sent to Willamette as soon as possible.”</p>

<p>“Please encourage xxx to make sure this information is sent in right away. As soon as I receive it, I’ll be able to provide a quick admission decision.”</p>

<p>"I’m glad a student with your talents is interested in Willamette University, because we’re very interested in you.</p>

<p>That’s why I invite you to apply to Willamette University with these great benefits:</p>

<p>No new essay requirement
No application fee
Automatic scholarship consideration
A quick admission decision"</p>

<p>(What talents? All they probably knew is that she is NMSF)</p>

<p>and 6 days after she sent in the applications, we get this:
" But the admission committee can’t review your application until we’ve received all the materials needed, including your Official Transcript." (Actually, they already had it, and confirmed it when we emailed, but that is irrelevant.)</p>

<p>Why all this hurrying us up? If they had a real deadline, they should have told us. If they did not mean it when they said a quick decision, they should not have said that, either. They behaved in a less than professional way. I am sure the school is lovely. So, why does the admissions committee need to behave this way?</p>

<p>BTW, twice my daughter emailed them asking about this. She tried not to look impatient, most just asking to make sure they had all the paperwork. This was at my request. The first time she sent it to the general address. No answer. The second time she sent it to the same person who she corresponded with when they asked for the transcript. That person said they were forwarding it onto her admissions counselor. Again, no response.</p>

34

<p>I just think you are spending your energy focusing on the wrong thing . . .</p>

35

<p>Well, I don’t. As I said, this is not about us, but I see them doing a wrong. I tend to speak up when I see that. </p>

<p>She did, BTW, get her acceptance today, along with the promise of merit money (being announced in about 3 weeks…) Still, Willamette was always a safety school, so we will probably not be using it. I think she will get another acceptance this week, from a school that she is very interested in. She is also sending in an EA and an ED today.</p>

36

<p>OK, hope your daughter finds a good fit where she will be happy.</p>

37

<p>@ anotherparent,
I’m sorry to hear about the frustration. You can set the display options to “previous year” on this site and see last year’s discussion. Last year the deadline for the Leaders Application was December 1st, and students started hearing results at the end of November and into the first two weeks of December.</p>

<p>My son sent in the Willamette Leaders Application late, just a few days before Christmas. This was just after he’d been rejected by Whitman College, where he’d applied Early Decision. He did receive a response from Willamette within the month, but it’s very possible things moved so quickly because by then, the admissions staff had already processed a large mass of applications and had a bit more time. But who knows?</p>

<p>Willamette was also his safety, at the time. In the end though, he ended up turning down Emory University, Boston University, Trinity College CT, and UC San Diego to attend Willamette. You never know how your son or daughter is going to feel about things!</p>

<p>All the best.</p>

38

<p>anotherparent, yayy! congrats to you and yours, about Willamette, and whatever else! </p>

<p>If our family is among those done wrong, please don’t worry about us!</p>

39

<p>Not done wrong! Got acceptance yesterday.</p>

40

<p>For those receiving acceptances, did you get any offers of merit aid?</p>