Reporting Schools with Cruel Admissions Process (UNC)

**irrational_exp** · 04-15-2010, 08:31 PM

So I got a funded offer from American today and am thrilled. But, I was on the "wait-list" at UNC (if anybody has been following the UNC thread, the waitlist pretty much means they didn't tell you anything. But anyway, here is my story:

I got a letter March 14th asking if I was still interesed in the program because the departments was very pleased with my application. I replied that I was.

Two weeks later I didn't hear anything so I called on a Friday. The Secretary took my number and said that Dr. Tauchen, the director, would call me Monday or Tuesday of the next week.

After no call on Monday or Tuesday I wrote an email and I got an automated response (other TMers got the same response) saying that there was no information available. Okay fine.

Then I called again on Thursday of last week. Same run-around, the secretary promised me a phone call form the director the next day...no call came.

FInally I said F* it I'm just going to wait until the 15th.

So, today I called at 10 A.M. and the secretary told me the grad director would be in between 11:00 and 12:00 and to call back then. I called the 4 numbers for the department a total of 10 times from 11:00 to 3:00 and neither the department secretary, grad secretary nor graduate director answered.

Finally at 4:15 I called and the secretary answered telling me that the Grad director left for the day and I would need to call back tomorrow for any update, if there was one available.

Obviously, if I had a school with an April 15th deadline, I would be screwed. Does this department just not care? I know some Tmer's probably attend UNC but WTF? Absolutely no consideration for the student. They could have at least told me I was on some kind of waitlist or something, especially after they sent me the "are you still interested email" exactly a month and a day ago.

Although I do not want to waste my time with reporting them, did they break any rules or are us students forced to bend over and take it as it comes?

Any other horror stories of selfish and rude people/departments with no regards for its applicants?

**bobofett** · 04-15-2010, 08:37 PM

sorry to read that

add Georgetown to the list, still no word from them (neither yes/no/maybe)

**Lachis** · 04-15-2010, 08:41 PM

I'd like to add JHU and Syracuse to the list... also still no word from them

**Norsker** · 04-15-2010, 09:34 PM

UNC sounds like it's a bit on the disorganized side, but

Absolutely no consideration for the student

,

Although I do not want to waste my time with reporting them, did they break any rules or are us students forced to bend over and take it as it comes?

Any other horror stories of selfish and rude people/departments with no regards for its applicants?

all seem like overreactions. Many of the departments I applied to were slow to disclose information, took a long time to reply to inquiries, and it sometimes took multiple inquiries to get a response-it's a chaotic time of year for them, some departments have more administrative resources than others(And most probably have diminished resources in the current economy), and as a student who was clearly not a recruitment priority and no doubt among a large number of people on unofficial waitlists or admits, I can easily see how a response to me might slip the mind of someone with a lot of other things to take care of. Today is undoubtedly especially frantic in most schools' administrative departments, so it's not surprising that you would have trouble getting a hold of them.

UNC is not out to get you, and 'reporting them' would be thoroughly unnecessary. If their administrative knots are a serious detriment to bringing talent in, that seems like 'punishment' enough.

**applicant12** · 04-15-2010, 09:41 PM

To the OP, I understand your feeling and if I were in your shoes, I would definitely be kind of p*ssed off as well. I mean I know they do have a lot going on + things to care for, but they should be aware that today is the deadline for most schools and that they should have given you some sense of where you are compared to other people, or even more so because they asked you whether you were still interested in the program.

To others, I think if you haven't heard from school until this point, I would take them as bad outcomes. Sorry about that but admission is cruel

I haven't gone through the process but I can understand the frustration. Anyway good luck folks

and take it easy

**parachute** · 04-15-2010, 09:57 PM

I'll defend UNC for a moment. I too received that email ("Are you still interested....."), but I had already been admitted a week or two earlier. The email was probably sent to gather information to decide how many funded offers to make. I took it as an informal cue that funding decisions were at least in the process of being determined. Near the end of March, I spoke with Helen Tauchen (who was extremely kind, helpful, and informative) and she was very clear: As soon as she has information, she'll let us know - but there simply isn't anything to report until people already holding offers accept or decline. This, unfortunately, often occurs right at the last minute.

I don't know if you were waiting for funding news or waiting to hear if you were accepted/rejected, but it is extremely clear to me that you weren't ignored for malicious reasons. Plus, you could have emailed directly to prof Tauchen at any time.. I would hardly call her a "rude" or "selfish" person. That said, your situation would be extremely frustrating and I understand your disgust.

**HopefulFutureEcon** · 04-15-2010, 10:08 PM

I've always found email a MUCH better approach, especially considering the time crunch the graduate admissions people are under during this time.

Also, lets be brutally honest here. As you were on the waitlist, you are a much lower priority than people who are currently accepted and waiting to make a decision. Can you blame them for possibly focusing more on students who are a higher priority?

**irrational_exp** · 04-15-2010, 10:37 PM

Overreaction? Absolutely not. It didnt't even ruin my day. It's just frustrating that things like this happen. Like I said, I wouldn't be "out to get them" but I was wondering if there was any standard that the schools have to follow considering all of the hoops we have to jump through.

In regards as an email being a better form of communication (and obviously this is just opinion) if I were called and someone left a voicemail, I would give it much more consideration than an email. It just seems more peronal to me and seems like the person cares more. 100% opinion though and I know now where texting and facebooking (I'm a 21 American and don't have either) dominates communication, I still prefer a more personal approach.

Also, I realize I was on the waitlist and a lower priority but this has nothing to do with priority but common courtesy and how to treat other people. Treating people differently because they are less of a priority to you is simply soulless.

Obviously UNC (or any other school) isn't out to get me. No matter how much I put on an application, they still don't know s*** about me, so how could they be out to get me. I'm not taking this personal as something against me but more of a comment on the department.

As far as defending the department as being considerate and saying they have a lot going on...if they were considerate and really busy, don't you think the graduate director would have stayed in her office til 5 P.M. on decision day???

Enough said on my part, you guys can judge whether or not I "over reacted" but being that we have been at this for at least 5 months now, a simple phone call would have been nice.

I've taken some mental roller coasters but this whole process has definately been top 5.

**Lachis** · 04-15-2010, 11:04 PM

I totally agree with irrational_exp... it is definitely not a matter of priority, but simple courtesy. As busy as they can be, I think they can always give some kind of information to the person asking (even if it is "We cannot give you any information at this moment" kind of information) and it does not even have to be immediately, but yes after a reasonable amount of time. But oh well, these things happen, hopefully they will happen less often in the future. Totally understand you irrational_exp and happy it didn't ruin your day! and congrats for the American funded offer!

**HopefulFutureEcon** · 04-15-2010, 11:25 PM

Boy, I can't wait until some of you start getting your referee reports back. You are going to be shocked at the level of courtesy extended. See also: presenting paper at a conference. The simple fact is, you are just one of many. Don't expect everyone to drop everything to answer the calls from some waitlisted students.

Also, I gather some of you have never applied to jobs either because they function much in the same way. Its not unheard of to never receive a response to an application......like ever.