Penn lack of personal touch

Colleges & Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

<p>I've been emailing the admissions officer of Penn regarding some problems and a lot of times, they do not reply. When they do, the replies are extremely short. I was really thrilled about going to Penn when I was applying, but now I feel as though the university does not care for its students as much as perhaps Stanford. It doesn't try to make students feel excited to go. I don't feel like Penn is doing its part in making admits feel like a part of the university's community. Anyone feel the same way? I wonder what would happen if I applied to Stanford EA instead....</p>

2

<p>I feel the same way. They haven’t answered an important email before. When they do reply, it’s very impersonal. However, Brown’s emails are good. They may be short, but despite having 25,000 applicants, they were able to respond to an email in FOUR MINUTES.</p>

<p>From: steven
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 10:16 AM</p>

<p>RE: Midyear Report Question‏
From: Admission<em>Undergraduate (Admission</em><a href=“mailto:Undergraduate@brown.edu”>Undergraduate@brown.edu</a>)<br>
Sent: Tue 2/10/09 10:20 AM</p>

<p>On top of that, they even used “Dear Steven,”
!!</p>

3

<p>You want personal touch? Get a girlfriend.</p>

4

<p>happy valentines day…</p>

5

<p>Wow. Seriously?</p>

<p>You don’t feel like Penn is doing its part to make admits feel like a part of the university’s community? Well maybe that’s because you’re NOT a part of the university’s community yet. You’re a senior in high school. And who cares how the admissions officers respond? Are you EVER going to have to deal with the admissions office again in your 4 years at Penn? Are the admissions officers going to be teaching your courses? Are you going to be partying with admissions officers? Are you going to be rooming with Eric Furda (director of admissions)? Are you going to be cramming for the bio finals during reading week with the receptionists in the admission office? No, no, and no. So stop worrying if they like you or not, or how fast they respond, or if they write “Dear Steven” in their emails to you. </p>

<p>And if you’re looking to get coddled and made to feel important, please go look somewhere else.</p>

6

<p>One email they sent was only one word long! They didn’t even use “Dear…” Just one word a period and that’s it.</p>

7

<p>this has been a particularly hectic RD cycle so maybe cut them a little slack? plus, when u call them they seem to be very helpful in answering questions.</p>

8

<p>Penn admissions this year is a bit stressed out due to
(a) Penn’s new application technology screwing them around a bit
(b) Adjusting to a new dean of admissions</p>

<p>But yeah I totally agree with the above poster. If you think admission personnel reflect the personality of the school you should think about what you’re saying a little more. I sympathize with you that it is annoying, though.</p>

9

<p>

Customer service is almost as important as the product <3</p>

10

<p>

So the brief 5 minute interaction you have with an admissions officer you will in all likelihood never see again is “almost as important” as the sum of all the different experiences you will have in the next 4 years of your academic life?</p>

<p>Look, I’ve been in your shoes before. I am a transfer so I’ve had to basically apply to college twice. There isn’t much of a correlation between friendliness/accessibility of the school’s admissions office and the atmosphere of the school itself. I got the same type of direct, blunt yes/no responses you guys got when I applied, but I’ve always found Penn itself to be a very friendly and welcoming place.</p>

11

<p>I’m surprised you mentioned Stanford as a counter-example. They have ignored all 3 of my emails.</p>

12

<p>Let me get this straight. You get a few “impersonal” emails from an admissions officer, and Penn is impersonal? Who’s to say that it’s not just that one person? Besides, Penn’s admissions department could use some improvements, what with the whole Penn Portal thing that never seemed to be updated.</p>

<p>In my experience in contacting admissions for a problem, I called them. The lady who is in control of the schools in my area was extremely nice and helpful, and solved my problem quickly. Don’t be so quick to judge!</p>

13

<p>Dear angelolee69,</p>

<p>I assure you that Penn is not impersonal.</p>

<p>Warmest regards,</p>

<p>Rudess</p>

14

<p>Keep in mind that Penn has around 20,000 RD applicants. The admissions staff numbers around 30 people. Those are not particularly good odds for an admissions officer. According to the JHU admissions blog, each admissions officer receives 150-200 emails a day.</p>

<p>It is wholly unreasonable to expect an email to an admissions officer to be answered promptly at this time of year. [Admissions</a> officers](<a href=“http://hopkins.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/2008/03/15/committee.jpg]Admissions”>http://hopkins.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/2008/03/15/committee.jpg) are positively swamped with [url=<a href=“http://hopkins.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/2008/03/28/p3270010.jpg]piles[/url”>http://hopkins.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/2008/03/28/p3270010.jpg]piles[/url</a>] of [url=<a href=“http://hopkins.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/2008/01/17/p1100018.jpg]applications[/url”>http://hopkins.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/2008/01/17/p1100018.jpg]applications[/url</a>], with only lukewarm cups of coffee to keep them going. </p>

<p>You should call if you want a prompt answer.</p>

<p>

Given the slaughter of Stanford SCEA this year, I’d place my money on a rejection or deferral.</p>

15

<p>^ Princeton, Yale, Dartmouth, Cornell, MIT (the most helpful) have replied to all my emails within 2 working days. And I am sure that some of those universities have more than 20000 applicants. Penn has never replied.</p>

<p>When the decision letters come, it wont be us trying to please the universities anymore, it will be them trying to please us.</p>

16

<p>yeah…penn never responded to the two emails i sent them…
i got over it though :)</p>

17

<p>Their acceptance letter will say, “Dear angelolee69.” Hope that will make it all better :)</p>

18

<p>Penn responded to my email within one and a half days. He (my regional officer) even used my name in his multiple-sentence reply. I guess I’m just more special than you guys.</p>

19

<p>what?! i’m so jealous!!! i never got my question answered and am still curious as to what the answer is…
not that it really matters anymore because i’ll be going to penn in the fall, but STILL! i dislike unanswered emails :(</p>

<p>ditto what cathedra said.</p>

20

<p>I always got speedy personal replies from my regional admissions officer. I think it depends on the person. Would definitely recommend calling if it’s very important. Keep in mind they’re insanely busy!</p>