<p>moneybags…I’m sorry to say that after 3 rejection letters for my son (we only completed 1 application) its pretty safe to say that the Coca Cola computer can’t handle the simplest of tasks. What an embarrassment for this program. Not only confusing those students who are already working so hard on their semi-finalist package by sending out incorrect emails informing them that they are not semi-finalists, but then basically rubbing salt in the wounds of those not advancing by sending multiple rejections to them. So unprofessional and disrespectful for such an established respected(?) program!</p>
<p>beachfam…I sent basically that same message to Coke Scholars on Twitter this AM. </p>
<p>And money bags…yeah, you think that the computer could sort applications. I do believe it is one of the “new fangled thingamijigs” that computers can do. ;)</p>
<p>I just got off the phone with Coca Cola Scholars progam. I asked them to please not send any more rejection emails to my son. The rep I spoke with insisted that it was my son’s fault, that he had created more than one account. She interrupted me when I tried to explain that no, he absolutely did not make more than one account. She said “yes he did because the only people who received more than one email were those who submitted more than one account.” When I tried to ask why those who advanced were now being notified that they didn’t advance, she cut me off and said “thanks for calling.” Sounds like there is some tension over at the Coca Cola Scholars program.</p>
<p>I know that this sounds a little mean, but GOOD, I am glad that the folks at coca-cola are feeling a little of the tension our kids are feeling. </p>
<p>And did I not predict that they would find a reason to blame our students for the multiple emails? Been the M.O. for them this year. </p>
<p>I appreciate what Coca-Cola is doing with these scholarships, they have meant a lot to many students. Coca-Cola also does a lot of really great things in communities throughout the world outside of scholarships. For those reasons, they deserve respect. </p>
<p>However, that does little to diminish my frustration with their poor communication, multiple missed deadlines, and blaming the students when it is obviously their system that did not function properly. I have lost some of the respect I had for coca cola as a corporation prior to this process because of their lack of professionalism towards the applicants. I hope that this is a one year mis-step, and that they do not continue this process as a general practice for scholarship applications.</p>
<p>Add:
It also makes me wonder about the computer process for identifying the semifinalists. If they can not get the computer to sort applications, and send emails to the appropriate people, I wonder how they can get it to identify the most appropriate applicants?</p>
<p>exactly----the first app sent in could have passed to semifinalist and the second sent could be rejected. The computer is confuzzled and sent out an acceptance and rejection.</p>
<p>This has been quite a ride!</p>
<p>vlines- I saw your tweets. I understand your upset-ness and frustration, but really? They are still adults, and wow, I can’t believe the tone you were using. </p>
<p>(this isn’t to just vlines)
Technology isn’t 100% fool proof. Coca cola scholars is nationally recognized and respected, and to discount the ones who made semi finalists? You were not accepted then rejected to a college, you dont need this program as others have clearly shown, and I am proud of everyone. </p>
<p>It’s time we grow up and fix our attitudes and respond MATURELY when a situation doesn’t go our way. I wasn’t accepted to MIT early action, did i say all those who were accepted didn’t deserve it? No. Really guys, it’s embarrassing on behalf of all teens.</p>
<p>CPU…honestly, they still have a standard to meet. Their lack of professionalism in this whole situation deserves feedback, and they need to understand their impact. Most of all, they need to stop blaming the students for their own faults. If you read my post #405here, yes, Coca Cola does deserve some respect. But they also need to live up to that respect. </p>
<p>** There was no tone in my tweets, and you can not read tone in a tweet. If you read tone, you inflicted it yourself.</p>
<p>I got an acceptance letter last week, and a rejection letter this week. I started writing a letter to Coca-Cola asking about the mixed signals, and then I realized something. Why would I write a letter to someone who may tell me in the end that I’m rejected? So, I deleted that message. I’m going to finish filling out the acceptance form, and I’m going to send it to Atlanta without indicating whether or not I received the rejection email.</p>
<p>I remember saying when I was younger, “what you say first is what you mean.” I think this applies to the Coca-Cola Foundation right now-they told me I was accepted before I was rejected.</p>
<p>Artisan- if you received an acceptance email, you were accepted. Congratulations!
Coca Cola did post that clarification on Twitter this morning.</p>
<p>this is what they posted: </p>
<p>cokescholars Coca-Cola Scholars
Applicants: if you received multiple emails from us regarding your status, it’s because you submitted multiple apps. A yes overrules a no :)</p>
<p>vlines- on stanford’s supplement, they asked “what was society’s biggest problem” (or something to that effect). My answer: not being able to understand another’s point of view. You have no experience doing what they do. You don’t know how much manpower they have. Do you admit when you are at fault 100% of the time? Or do you admit 100% of the time that you’ve made a mistake? No. </p>
<p>As to the tone in your tweets. Telling the coke people “FAIL” is definitely rude. As human beings we are able to discern tone through text. My brain is working just fine. </p>
<p>If you did not make semi-finalist, you should just drop the topic or at least congratulate others, but it’s obvious there’s bitter sentiment. Like I said, I FULLY AND CLEARLY understand how you feel. I’ve experienced “rejection” before. Many times. Let this be a life lesson.</p>
<p>CPU…one of societies biggest problems is not holding people accountable for their actions. Do I take responsibility for my actions, yes. Do I admit when I am wrong and appologize, yes. I expect others to do the same. Way too many people walk away from injustice in this world. Please do not grow up to be one of those people.</p>
<p>THANK YOU to CPUscientist for saying what needed to be said. Vlines, arent you a parent?? Chill out! seriously, injustice in the world? Calm down. Your child’s spirits will not be crushed by receiving multiple rejection emails, I promise. So there was some confusion in sending out the results. I’m sure this isnt the first time in the world a deadline hasnt been met, and it certainly wont be the last. One complaint will suffice, I assure you, there is really no need to bombard everyone with your incessant whining. Maybe you should apply some of your energy to real injustices, lol.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I do, I promise. </p>
<p>And I never said that my child was crushed by receiveing multiple emails. Although it was like salt in the wounds. My biggest complaint is that they kept telling applicants that they were at fault for not checking spam, when the emails never were sent. Blaming the applicants. Inconsistent messages that were given out throughout the process. </p>
<p>I am not whining, just irritated. I have not said anything on here that I have not said directly to Coke. You are welcome to ignore my posts.</p>
<p>You’re a parent? With tweets like that? Wow.</p>
<p>I haven’t gotten any e-mail</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>These are some of the tweets posted by Coca-Cola. I hardly think that vlines’ tweets were out of line given the general tone of the Coca-Cola tweets.</p>
<p>Congrats to all the semi-finalists.</p>
<p>I’m very sorry for the confusion and frustration this year’s applicants have experienced, but please know that the program is magnificant. Last year the Sam Walton scholarship sent out congratulation and then rejection emails. These mistakes happen and who knows what challenges those running these programs are working to overcome.</p>
<p>those tweets were in response to semi finalist tweets. numerous HS seniors tweeted ‘cokescholars’ to say “yay, I made SF” (something to that effect.) You didn’t quote the entire tweets.</p>
<p>any way, congrats to everyone, and everyone who is disappointed, bigger things are coming.</p>
<p>This is redic!</p>
<p>I have a 4.0 and a 750 on all SAT sections and am president of my student council…Rejected</p>
<p>My next door neighbor has a 3.5 and took the act and got a 30…Semi finalist</p>
<p>***!</p>
<p>They didn’t ask for stats like that in the application though, did they?</p>