<p>Hi
So I got accepted to this great school. I need Financial Aid, so I sent my papers on time, and then was missing a couple of them, sent the other missing document a little late, and finally after an email from the finaid office reminding me of some missing documents I sent them. I didnt get an email saying they received the last documents, time went by.</p>
<p>So I get accepted, check my package and there is nothing, and it says that Im missing some documents!, I called and the first time I did, I told the woman who picked up that I sent those "missing" documents a month ago, I told her the name and she said she would tranfer my call, she did and all I got was the answering machine, I left a message. Sent the "missing" documents again and called to make sure they got them, when I called, the woman who picked up said that they just printned them and that she was taking them to the directors office or whatever the name is. </p>
<p>I called yesterday cos I dont have any info yet, and the person who picked up said it would take a couple of weeks to determine a package, that they are reviewing them in order of arrival.</p>
<p>What would you do? I plan on calling and remind them I SENT THE papers a month ago, Im affraid it will hurt my award if my papers are "waiting" you know?
How should I adress this?</p>
<p>When you call you should be very pleasant to the people on the phone:
"I know you must be very busy at this time of year… I’m just so worried about my paperwork… I did send it a month ago, but it seems to have gone astray… " (NOT “you lost it”)
“Is there any way that I could make sure the director sees it soon… I really really want to go to your school, but the financial aid package is so very important to me…”</p>
<p>Being friendly to people on the phone will get you a lot farther than being nasty – secretaries rule the world!</p>
<p>First, yes, I would call but I would simply give them the facts…you sent the documents, but you were told they still weren’t received so you sent again. You can give them the dates or whatever information is needed. Tell them you cannot accept your admission without the financial aid document and ask them for a date that will be ready for you. You shoud have them before you make a decision even if they tell you it will be two more weeks. Is this your first choice? Do you have another college that you would chose if your aid to this college is not adequate?</p>
<p>You catch more flies with honey, so try not to take an adversarial approach. It would be fine to say you are anxious, or that you are nervous. Is this a large university or a small college? If it’s a large university the process may be moving as quickly as it can…</p>
<p>You still have a month before a decision is needed. If they now have all the documents, you will have plenty of time to see the financial aid package.</p>
<p>Sorry, but things get lost. It happens at every school. Your file will be processed in date order … there is no one sitting around doing nothing, I can assure you. It is still early in the aid processing season, and your file will be completed in time if they have the paperwork now.</p>
<p>Students, it never hurts to call the school to ask how long it takes to get paperwork updated in the system once received. After that time period elapses, call to find out if it should be showing up by then … if it should & isn’t, send it again. And put your name and student ID number at the top of EVERY PAGE YOU SUBMIT (I cannot stress this enough!).</p>
<p>Personally when we mailed important things to the college, we sent it certified mail/return receipt requested. That way someone signed for it and the date of receipt was noted. We kept copies (dated) of EVERYTHING as well.</p>
<p>And lastly, when we mailed things, WE called the school a week later to see if it was received and if not (and it should have been) we sent it again.</p>
<p>Start a log for everything that has happened so far. Complete it as much as you can (dates, action, people involved). Update the log every time you do a call or an email. </p>
<p>Can a parent assist? (Sometimes age = stature). </p>
<p>Make sure you get the name of the person you are speaking to and use it in the conversation. If “Shirley” is pleasant, make sure you get her extension number and ask Shirley if you can call back in a couple of days for an update. </p>
<p>For heavens sake, get the name of the director and make sure you know the correct name of his/her office. </p>
<p>IT is ok to call every day or so and politely say “I am checking in to see if there is any news or any further information you need me to supply. I am so very anxious and I know I can’t give you a “yes” on admission until we have the financial aid information.”</p>
<p>Polite, persistent and personalized is the way to go.</p>