Vent your frustrations with the college admissions process: Official Thread

Applying to College
1

<p>Hey, I didn't see any of this type of thread put up. </p>

<p>So, this is the place for anyone to post their horror stories about college admissions. They can be about mere annoyances/complaints or actual items of doom (of course, stated in censored, CC appropriate content). </p>

<p>Hopefully, this thread will make some people feel better (or worse) about the college admissions process (or just let you relish in someone else's pain). Or, if you'd like, make one up just for fun.</p>

<p>Here's mine:<br>
I've applied to SDSU for the fall 2008 semester as a freshman. And, they won't accept my application as is, because, of all things, I am lacking a full year of art in one single discipline. What baloney!!</p>

<p>I took 1 semester of painting and 1 semester of jewelry (a year), and I was under the impression that when this university required 1 full year course OR 2 semester courses in art, I thought that the 2 semester courses only had to be in the same discipline (i.e. visual OR performing arts). I don't understand why this 1 year of art in school is so necessary, as I have 6 credits of social studies and loads of other credits that are out of this specific field. Also, my school does not offer year-long visual arts classes. </p>

<p>Also, while I have not taken performing arts in school, I have been playing piano since I was 5 years old out of school (every day for an hour). Shouldn't that count for something? I don't find it reasonable that I cannot apply (even though I technically already did; it is an "incomplete" application) simply because I lack 2 consecutive art courses in one subject. It is not like I'm lacking in any other subject; I have a 4.0 CSU GPA, and a 33 on my ACTs, and I am pretty sure that I would be otherwise qualified for this institution. </p>

<p>Lastly, I don't like art at all, and I despise band/orchestra!!! I cannot draw worth a darn, and I do not like it at all (except for the fact that some of it is cool to look at, and I certainly appreciate those who can draw/paint/do artsy stuff really well). I tried playing clarinet for a year in 6th grade. But I did not like it either. Why must I suffer???? Not that SDSU is my first choice or anything, but still....I don't understand why I can get into schools that are much higher in selectivity, but still can't get into a third-tier school with a semi-ridiculous requirement. </p>

<p>*sigh...</p>

2

<p>That's horrible. It might not improve your chances, but maybe you sould send a letter to the director of admissions. If that doesn't work, even the president of the college. It's a long shot, but clearly explaining that your school doesn't offer what they're asking for and reiterating why you want to apply, what the college means to you and how you contribute might be helpful? I don't know, does anyone else have any opinions on how to deal with sticky situations?</p>

3

<p>I hope that when I'm done with the whole admissions process, I won't have any horror stories to tell.</p>

4

<p>Sucks about the art...of all things, art! D: Well I have a rant about waiting until December 15 to know whether I got into the college I want to go to, and then thinking that they probably won't accept me so it's driving me crazy aaaah!!</p>

5

<p>I sure hope I end up with no horror stories. I might though. Come ask me in Mid-December, and I'll let you know. I've heard of people receiving 10 rejection letters in a day. That hurts. Ouch.</p>

6

<p>The only app I'm frustrated with is USC's...why do they have to go make things so complicated and different from every other school????</p>

7

<p>"I've heard of people receiving 10 rejection letters in a day."</p>

<p>Oh God! That is awful! In a way though, at least it was over and done with. It might be worse to get five in one day, but still be hopeful, and get the remaining 5 rejections in the next few days...</p>

8

<p>I hate writing admissions essays. Period.</p>

9

<p>10 rejection letters in a day? Well, it may sound tremendous at 1st. But when the law of large numbers kick in, I don't think it would make much difference from receiving 3-4 letters in a day. Still, it's pathetic, isn't it?</p>

10

<p>I'd probably cry to death or something if I got 10 rejection letters in a day. Mann... </p>

<p>And I agree that USC's application is rather interesting. They don't ask for the same stuff as other schools. They want a physical copy of my test scores printed from my CB account, in addition to the one I typed into their self-reported test score section on the application, in addition to the official CB copy. Good God. Triple checking.</p>

11

<p>I believe I got seven rejections one day last year; it was grrreat. Have good safety, match, and reach schools. That is the best advice I can give!</p>

12

<p>Happened yesterday...</p>

<p>Phone rang. Hello. This is _________ University. Congratulations. You qualified for the the Physician Assistant program. Unfortunately, it's full. Your name is on a waiting list and if you just send in your deposit right away, it will help your chances.</p>

<p>This is my son's version of the call so now I guess I will have to call them back and find out what is going on. I had to tell my son that he "really wasn't in" and that was heartbreaking.</p>

13

<p>Toledo: I guess it's legitimate, but it sure sounds like a scam! "Congratulations, you're not in; but if you send money quickly, you might be"?? </p>

<p>And there's $70 million in a bank account in Africa that someone wants to share with you . . .</p>

14

<p>I got once acceptance and seven rejections in one day last year, and over a three-day period, I had nine.</p>

15

<p>I'd tell ________ University, "Thank you, but i'll send my deposit when you accept me, so for now I'd rather play with my money than you play with it"</p>

<p>Don't really have any "horror" stories, but lets just say I think I'm jinxed. I had an interview with USC on Veterans day in downtown Chicago because they were visiting. I told them about how I seem to have bad luck because there were some family issues my Jr year which caused my grades to slip. (Dad had heart problems and my gma was diagnosed with breast cancer) The next day after the interview I get into a car accident. Watch, I'll get a letter from USC sayin they don't want me and my bad luck around campus lol.</p>

16

<p>A class DD took in the summer, non a-g for her EC was not on her transcript. She's been asking her teacher, her counselor and nobody had any clues. I called UCLA and they said DD would be considered lying for obmitting it. There goes my first panic attach, DD would be rejected for lying eventhough it's not her fault. The dateline is 2 weeks away, not sure there is enough time to get it on her transcript.</p>

17

<p>i need to write 19 different essays for all my apps...i've only finished 3, really.</p>

18

<p>CSS 'nuff said</p>

<p>Throwing money away (ie. app fees, giving $$ to the college board) sucks too.</p>

19

<p>I applied to Michigan 2 years ago in September. Didn't hear until June after I graduated whether or not I had been accepted. That was frustrating.</p>

20

<p>Last year the only thing DS asked me to do for one of his applications was collect it all into a huge envelope and write a check for the application fee. The stupid application had about ten parts to it, and I was so obsessed with including them all that I forgot to put a check in. Did the school let us know they didn't have it? No, they put the application in some kind of application limbo, where it sat until we realized that he should have heard by a certain date. When he called, they said they never got the fee. And also that somewhere in the admit process, they had switched from paper to computer applications. (Double-secret computer applications, I think.)</p>

<p>He got in anyway. And then, of course, decided to go somewhere else.</p>