Missing Materials

Dessin · 01-15-2009, 05:00 PM

I have sent in all of my materials (commonapp, supplement, etc.) to Bates, and my high school guidance office says that they mailed out my teacher and counselor recs by deadline. However, the Bates application status website still says that my recs are missing, while two of my other schools have received these items. Do you think they are still processing materials? I hope so... Is it common for application pieces to get lost in the mail?

Swedefish · 01-15-2009, 05:59 PM

To calm your nerves, I propose you call the admissions office and ask about your application. Only by doing so will you know for sure. Good luck!

Dessin · 01-15-2009, 08:40 PM

yeah, i emailed them right after i posted. hopefully everything is all right.

BB012 · 01-15-2009, 11:11 PM

Don't worry. Even if something is missing, it is not your fault and they will understand that.

englishivy · 01-16-2009, 06:43 AM

how were you able to check your status?? I haven't received any emails from Bates yet..

Dessin · 01-16-2009, 05:40 PM

i got a letter via snail mail about a password and username for www.bates.edu/application, and it lets you know what's missing. BAD NEWS!! I got in contact with admissions and they say that they have not received any of my recommendations and that I have to fax them by Tuesday. So I emailed my counselor and my teachers to fax them, but I don't kjnow if they will check their school emails over the weekend. AND we don't haev school on monday for MLK's birthday, so I'm really nervous. I emailed back to Bates to explain further, I hope they give me more time, because I spent time visiting Bates and everything, it's definitely one of my favorite schools.

Ok, I also have another question - I looked up my teachers and counselor in the phonebook, do you think it's ok to call them? i feel weird since teachers are supposed to have their privacy and i don't know any students that have ever called their teachers at home. i dunno. this is so crazy.

Dessin · 01-16-2009, 08:54 PM

phew, well i called my teachers, and it all worked out really well. thank goodness.

talha_adnan · 01-25-2009, 01:37 PM

My application status check says the same thing, "All school forms and recommendations are not there!". I'm worried about it too. My school mailed those dacs around 21st or 22nd, Dec. They should have been there!!

smoda61 · 01-26-2009, 08:04 AM

Back in December, D checked her application status and one rec was missing though it had been sent long before. She called and was told that it was missing and to re-send. Since it was December, snail mail worked. Her update now says that everything is fine.

z09 · 01-26-2009, 08:47 PM

honestly what is going on with the missing recs?
bates seems to be missing a lot of ppl's teacher letters.
I just got the log in mail today and when i checked, it said none of my teacher recs were received.
I know one of my teachers sent it out in October and the other one in December. Plus, three of my other schools received them all.

Dessin, please tell me how you were able to fix the problem. Did you email or phone call Bates? Then what happened from there? im panicking a bit...my teachers are so busy and I really don't wanna ask them to fax/resend the letters. Hopefully it is just a delay in processing? Any input from other applicants w/ missing letters would be GREATLY appreciated. THANKS!

Dessin · 01-27-2009, 10:22 AM

I am really shocked that this thread is receiving so many posts, something must be really messed up at Bates. I called admissions like a million times, emailed and everything, it took a couple days just to get in touch with someone - it was pretty obnoxious and it gave me a pretty bad feeling about the whole school as a result. They really need to get their stuff together.

I emailed and instead of getting an email back from a generic admissions@bates type email, i got an actual personal contact, with their contact info at the bottom of the email. i would try emailing and then when you get a response (following the automated), use that contact info so you actually have a contact in admissions, not just some nameless admissions rep. hope it all works out!!

Dessin · 01-27-2009, 10:27 AM

oh wow, i forgot the critical, i kept asking admission, is it possible that you're just still processing, and the emails I got back and even being on the phone I never got an answer to that question. crazy. so ultimately, i had to fax up all of my recommendations and then call (called/emailed for three days without response) to make sure that my stufff was there. Oh, and then I checked 30 minutes later on the admissions status website, and- guess what showed up, my recs. I was pretty angry at the poor manner in which Bates dealt with me, and it's definitely going to lower my chances of going there if I get accepted (and can afford) at other schools.

midfielder · 01-28-2009, 11:44 PM

I have no clue what you guys are talking about. I applied to Bates, and a hand full of my friends did as well (I applied ED, they applied regular). Nothing's missing. Maybe you put the wrong address on the rec envelopes? That's weird that so many of you had problems with this...

talha_adnan · 01-29-2009, 06:18 AM

My docs are finally there! I went to the status checker thing, it says that I need to send the result of my mid-year trimester result. They gave a fax number right next to it. I'll ask my school people to do that.

Finally, glad to have all things back on track!