<p>Is it ever ok for a parent to call a college on behalf of a student? Zoosergirl has received three notices from a rolling admissions school saying that her scores and recommendations hadn't been received. She researched and found out that the scores were sent by ACT on November 8 and her recommendations the next day. The GC has proof of this. She then (after the second notice) contacted the school by email and told them this information. well, she got another notice today, but her schedule is ridiculous this week and next (leaving home at 6:40 am and not returning till after 11 pm), so is it ever acceptable for a parent to touch base and clarify something? She would (and did) deal with it herself, but since it's not resolved and she's not in a position to call personally, could I give it a shot this one time?</p>
<p>It is certainly okay for you to call and straighten things out,</p>
<p>It's fine, but why not also have the HS guidance counselor's office fax them a copy of both docs, just to help things along as well at whatever fax # the school gives you. </p>
<p>I have called colleges on behalf of my kid while he's busy at school & don't believe it penalized him (if it did, wouldn't want him to attend such unreasonable schools anyway).</p>
<p>I've always found it helpful to fax copies as often as the recipient needs (tho it's a nuisance), just to be SURE they get the blasted docs. Just repeatedly telling another party that the docs were sent isn't as helpful as repeatedly getting a copy to the #/address they want. Just my take on it.</p>
<p>Yeah, I'd call about something like that (in fact I have called about that sort of stuff). Admissions never sounds surprised that it's a mom! </p>
<p>In fact one school insisted they didn't have my son's SAT scores (they had been sent twice from College Board) and they just had me fax the SAT score sheet WE had received in the mail. Then when she couldn't make out those tiny little numbers it she called and had me READ the scores to her over the phone. LOL.</p>
<p>That's a pretty disorganized & odd U--I've heard of Us that might double-check with the HS about missing scores, etc., but never heard of them having the parents read them out to the school!</p>
<p>Fax machines are wonderful inventions & help get papers from one spot to another, tho as you say the clarity isn't always great.</p>
<p>^ Isn't that funny? I was tempted to say - "Oh, they're all 800s!" :D</p>
<p>I think it is fine for parents to take care of what amounts to a secretarial call on behalf of their high schooler / applicant. The applicant herself should deal with contacts with faculty, interviewers, etc. But logistical calls are fine by parents. You are just going to be talking to a receptionist/secretary, not the admissions officer or a professor. I did this sort of thing for my kids...such as lining up a tour, finding out if the file was complete, etc. because like your D, my kids were gone throughout the business day and had no use of cell phone reception at the school either. For things like contacts with professors or interviewers, they could do that by email when it was convenient and that was for THEM to do. But I made calls along the lines of what you are talking about and only spoke to secretaries and so it is not going to be noted anywhere that mom called vs. the student as it is a logistics phone call, not an inquiry of substance regarding interest, etc. In fact, I often told the secretary that I was calling on my kid's behalf as she was not available during the business hours by phone to deal with it. They never seemed to mind. I don't call adcoms and I don't discuss my kid with college people. A call about paperwork to an office secretary, yes, I did it but it was all orchestrated and planned with my kid who asked me to make the call while she was unavailable and so I wasn't running the "show".</p>
<p>Yes, of course it's ok! And don't let anyone accuse you of "helicoptering" for doing it. Best case, the kid is just too busy to make the call. Worst case, the kid risks a suspension for using cell phone during school hours.</p>
<p>my mom has called alot for me</p>
<p>I did all the admin stuff on behalf of my kiddo RE his college apps. Any school who hold it against the student is foolish & will lose a lot of great kids. I agree that it's different & kids should be contacting for interviews & RE substantive issues RE their apps. In HI, there is a huge time difference to factor into the mix, which makes contacting adcoms even more complicated.</p>
<p>As everyone has said, it's definitely fine to call. I should know; I did it about a gadzillion times for DS' transfer applications after the whole Katrina derailment, which also meant derailment of some items due to USPS problems around New Orleans.</p>
<p>Chances are, too, that the stuff is there. It often takes 2-3 weeks for the information systems/email to catch up with the actual receipt and posting of new information.</p>
<p>I always found the admissions staff gracious, unconcerned that I was a parent not a kid, and usually willing to go the extra mile to search deeper into the files when the posted information seemed awry. Also receptive to faxes from the hs GC when deadlines were getting tight.</p>
<p>Many students are not home//don't have access to a telephone, during the hours of 9 to 4, when the admissions offices are open. I myself called a school today, as they have not received transcripts, and they sent us a letter about this by snail mail!!! instead of an e-mail!!! with a deadline of tomorrow!!! So, I called and asked for a number/name that the transcripts could be faxed to. They were very helpful, and not at all horrified that a mom was calling.</p>