@BLJ123 - The system is broken IMHO and the Common Ap is largely to blame. I thought that it was interesting that only 2 schools (out of 6) DS applied to used the Common Ap. All the other schools had their own system and honestly, I prefered the individual touches that allowed. Also telling was that DS was waitlisted to 50% of his schools - a devastating percentage for us. Unfortunately, waitlisting just makes the system worse because kids then feel tempted to apply to MORE schools to circumvent that circumstance. Don’t get me started on the musical chairs that will ensue come May/June. What a headache for the admissions departments!
We did not apply to any schools on a lark, whim, impulse, because they sounded good, looked appealing, have a great mascot (trust me that is important to DS, lol) because son’s friends were, etc. etc. etc. I really don’t see the point. Each school was very carefully selected and others were equally carefully deselected. Lets be honest: the bright Ivy League candidate was doing it for prestige and bragging rights only.
@BLJ123 - I just re-read your comment “over 15” because I didn’t understand it at first. Some kids applied to over 15 schools?! That’s just crazy. I know one kid that applied to 12; in part because he wanted to maximize his chances of acceptances. I hate to admit it tho, but 6 for us was not enough. Crazy eh?
@ajs1997 & @kcasey43 Man I feel so angry X( at UMass after reading your comments. ALL this wait and just to get denied! I’m STILL waiting to hear back and UMass is my top choice. And since my SAT scores aren’t high I fear my fate will be just like you guys :(. I applied to their School of Education for an Education major as my 1st choice but idk anymore I just what to be put out of my misery already :((
@SQBrit Yup, over 15 and more than a few hands went up! Both of my boys only applied to schools they would go to, the one that is going to Umass applied to 4 and the other one applied to 6. I too had to second guess if that was enough after the waitlisted responses started coming in, but of course it was too late to apply anywhere else for this fall. The one going to Umass is definitely going there, and excited! The other one is registered at his safety school and accepted the BU guaranteed transfer for fall 2016 but if one of those wailisted schools call I know he is going to want to take it…and then the deposit goes down the drain. I think that maybe this year will be a wake up call to take another look at the whole process and how they do it. I have to think that it was overwhelming for the admissions people as well. One school we had applied to did have it’s own app as well, and another gave you the option of common app or theirs…I told that DS to use theirs as it might be seen as a sign of the level of interest he had for the school.
"Your application for undergraduate admission to UMass Amherst for the Fall 2015 semester was processed by our office on November 11, 2014.
As of April 11, 2015, the status of your application is:
under review(click here for more info)"
Not a word from UMass and no change to Spire in 5 months. No mail. No emails. No requests for more info. No flowers. No calls. No texts. No balloons. I’m not sure this is a relationship with a future.
I feel worse for others who are waiting as well… my son has pretty much ruled out UMass even before UMass has (likely) ruled him out. But I truly hope that those who have UMass as top choice hear good news soon.
@brucemag, my daughter is in the same boat as your son. Application was processed over 5 months ago. Her spire has been under review for weeks. Honestly I am so glad she ruled this school out, they clearly have are having problems that go beyond admissions. Many other schools got just as many applications but were able to handle the influx. I don’t understand why after reviewing for Early admission they wouldn’t have some sort of rating. Why completely review an application twice? My daughter has chosen Umass Lowell, a school that has undergone extensive development the past few years. She applied regular decision as it wasn’t a front runner and heard a few weeks later. She has gotten extensive emails and communication from UML. I must say I have been pleasantly surprised. They also involve the family in getting to know the school. It’s reputation has improved and we are very excited about this next chapter. However I must say that the UMA thing is a black cloud that hangs over her. She even told me that students at her school with 4.5 gpa’s and great SAT’s haven’t heard.
I wouldn’t sweat it everyone, you don’t want to go to a school that can’t read applications and apply technology available 20 years ago. Big state diploma mill, overpriced and overrated.
@kollegeguy - Thanks for the helpful comment… The vast majority of students have already gotten their replies. Every Uni has it’s pros and cons… UMass has a lot of pros but an efficient admissions system isn’t one of them.
My son was deferred and has not yet heard anything since then. He has been accepted to many other great schools but would have considered UMass. If he gets accepted there will be no accepted student day to attend I assume. He has spent the past few weekends at accepted student days all over - he is in Virginia right now. We are in state and I am embarrassed that, once again, U Mass" reputation gets a hit!
@greenman57 - I really think there is a sizable number of students (probably all at this point from MA - does that make it better or worse?) that are still waiting for a response from Umass Amherst. A rejection or an acceptance -either way the wait is inexcusable. We are approaching 5.5 months. The less vocal are waiting quietly and not posting their discontent. Of course Umass is careful to shield this appalling inefficiency from the broader world because THEY have received their decision already
@ideagetter - I’m pretty sure the accepted student day is 4/25 so there is still time. Not much tho!
@SQBrit - Yes it is crazy, I would continue to call the school at this point to make sure they have the correct mailing address or something. This being said, I just think demonizing the school over this is going a bit too far as admissions is only one aspect of the school. I am tempted to make a personal inquiry into this admissions situation as to why the system is so inefficient…
As of April 13, 2015, the status of your application is:
admitted to your first choice major.(click here for more info) - Computer Science(BS) .
In recognition of your outstanding academic record, we are also inviting you to become part of our Commonwealth College honors program. This distinction places you among the top of this year’s entering class and is truly a testimony to your intellectual and personal strengths.
I didn’t receive any mail but my portal had congratulation message.
Got my decision in the regular mail last week. Accepted to my first choice major (Econ) with $8000/year chancellor’s award. Not sure I’m going though. Confused between UMass Amherst and University of Iowa.
@cfc1905 Oh, good to know. Congratulation $8,000 / year that’s not a bad deal and I suppose your outstate student ? Btw, I’m also waiting for some other Universities’ decision.
:((
