<p>Did anybody get any kind of assuring verification that the online application had been successfully submitted? I'm not talking about the To Do list, because I understand that that gets updated later. No, tonight, at the very final stage, after pushing submit, we paid application fee and got a verification that the payment had been received and then an e-mail that the fee had been paid. But nothing to verify application itself went through. After the payment step, I think it appeared we were done and we logged out. Same for others? </p>
<p>And, yes, the woman who answers the phone in the admissions office is SO rude. It has to be the same lady we're all talking about b/c two people couldn't be that rude.</p>
<p>wow! She made you cry? Sorry! I had an experience when I called also…I thought she (I’m pretty sure it’s more than one person) was being rude also…when I got off the phone and told my mother (who has helped me with the entire application process) pointed out that most the answers to my questions were on the website. My mother also pointed out that I couldn’t expect my application to be processed immediately, (also posted on the website) website stated it would take 4 weeks to process. So why did I call when it was either on the website or posted somewhere when I was doing the application?</p>
<p>Everyone needs to calm down, don’t you think thay have a lot of items to sort through so give them a couple of weeks. My son was sent an email that his application was submitted. Everything will be alright, when my daughter applied in '06 it was maybe a month after she submitted her application that they sent her an email saying they needed her to send one of her essays again. It was any big deal, and she was admitted early so these things take time. It takes time for everything to be verified and then posted on the internet.</p>
<p>I write to apologize to those of you whom we’ve treated rudely. We strive to be courteous and helpful. It distresses me to know that we’ve fallen short of this standard, and I want you to know I’m sorry.</p>
<p>Over the last few months, our staff has worked to respond to two challenges. The first is a new information system that we have had to learn quickly. The second is an outpouring of interest in Carolina, expressed through calls, emails, and applications. Although we’re grateful for both of these challenges—and especially for the second one—the two of them together have tested us in ways we weren’t expecting. As your comments have made clear, we haven’t passed this test as heartily as we might have hoped.</p>
<p>We are taking steps to improve. This morning our staff met to identify and correct inaccurate or discrepant information on our website. The members of our phone staff have also met to discuss our performance and identify ways we can serve you better. If you should have any further advice for us, or if I or anyone else on our staff should fail to treat you with the care and courtesy you deserve, I hope you’ll feel free to let me know by private message.</p>
<p>Carolina is without question the friendliest community I’ve known. I’m sorry that we’ve led you to believe otherwise. And I promise we will do better.</p>
<p>In the meantime, thank you for bringing this matter to my attention, and thank you for your interest in UNC.</p>
<p>Stephen Farmer
Associate Provost and Director of Undergraduate Admissions</p>
<p>Ryan, I’m Steve Farmer, the admissions director at UNC. I hope you can tell from the tone and substance of my earlier post that I’m the same guy who’s posted previously on the UNC admissions blog, [UNC</a> Admissions Blog](<a href=“http://unc-admissions.blogspot.com/]UNC”>http://unc-admissions.blogspot.com/).</p>
<p>I think skepticism is always in order where admission is concerned. But in this case I hope you’ll trust me.</p>
<p>I have a question: I’ve heard that UNC places more emphasis on essays. Is that true? Also, how good of an applicant do you have to be, to be selected for scholarships?</p>
<p>Merit-based scholarships at Carolina are tough to come by, mainly because we devote almost all of our resources to need-based aid, which to my mind is the right priority. But we try to be as fair and as careful about scholarships as we are about admission, and good candidates can count on our reviewing their credentials repeatedly over the course of the next few months.</p>
<p>I have a date with my children to watch The Colbert Report, so I’m going to sign off now. But thanks for the question and best wishes to all.</p>
<p>StephenFarmer, how long do we wait before we worry? My son’s test scores, recommendations, and transcript all show as not received today. His school sent them after he began his online application but before he submitted the app (and the test scores were sent last spring). I just want to make sure things don’t fall through the cracks.</p>
<p>Our counseling office says that its 3-4 weeks after YOU submit - not when the office sent it. So if your DD submitted 11/2 - do not expect his file to be updated for four weeks. That’s what their website says. I was confused as well by the date - I thought it meant from our HS office submission and was concerned - it’s actually from the date of student submission that they start to process. If you think about it - makes sense. Student may ask office to send a transcript, but then not really apply. So the data is not entered until UNC actually has the application. Hope that helps.</p>
<p>If Mr. Farmer is still checking here - might help alleviate some calls and concerns if that was stated a bit more clearly on the website.</p>
<p>KansasGirl, your counseling office is correct. It takes us a while to link whatever document a school might have sent on behalf of a student to the application the student submitted–and the process starts when the student (not the school) submits.</p>
<p>I’m sorry for the confusion on this point. We’ve been updating our application FAQs pretty regularly and will try to offer a clarification there also.</p>
<p>Thanks to all of you for your interest in UNC and for your patience.</p>