Last year the "decision" email was as arbiter213 remembers. The email didn't contain the decision, but said the decision was ready and gave a link to the decision. I agree that they should be able to provide that link info over the phone.
We were VERY glad they handled it this way last year, as I got the email saying a decision was ready during the day while D was at school, but we could wait until she was ready to actually look at the decision.
I'll bet folks in NU Admissions are looking hard at their process to see what can be improved next year, but SNAFUs happen at every school and on the balance this wasn't a serious one (such as false acceptances being sent out).
This is odd. If all is needed is just a link, why couldn't the OP's S asked one of his classmates that applied to NU to give or forward him the link, instead of going through his school's IT department...etc?
You're a real class act, aren't you arbiter213? No, I am not "lying", the only way of obtaining the admissions decision electronically from Northwestern is to receive their email that has a link to the page where the decision can be obtained. For the record, after 6 days S has still not received his admissions decision from Northwestern, either electronically or through snail mail. Frankly, both S and I are now well beyond the point of caring. It's like he never even applied to Northwestern.
Not receiving the email is already very rare; not receiving email nor the package is even much more so. I haven't seen another CC member with either problems, let alone both at the same time. Maybe your S application wasn't even on file to begin with.
"Maybe your S application wasn't even on file to begin with".
If that were the case, I'd expect that the Admissions Officer who has sent S three emails this week would have mentioned it. According to Northwestern admissions they are sending the decision email to the correct address and it is not being bounced back, and according to the school that S attends, no emails from Northwestern have been blocked. Thr Admissions Officer's other emails have no problem gettiing through to S. The only option offered by admissions is for S to provide an alternative email address, which he has done. There is an entire spectrum of alternative methods to communicate the decision which admissions could have offered, but they seem singularly focused on the only way being receipt of their decisions email with the link.
Bellportdad - so sorry you and your son had to go thru this nonsense.
All I can ask is that if your son is accepted, you will consider NU. It is an excellent school, but apparently really messed up admission notifications this year.
Arbier - I don't believe they have a portal set up. I think they send you an email and you click on a link inside your email and it brings you to where a letter pops up which states your decision. I'm talking about a portal where you login and see your result.
To me if you are going to email the student - just put the result in the body of the email.
And there is no reason that NU can't just tell everyone when the decisions are coming out.
>> There is an entire spectrum of alternative methods to communicate the decision which admissions could have offered, but they seem singularly focused on the only way being receipt of their decisions email with the link.
They send out snail-mail at the same time that the electronic decision is posted. Has your S gotten his yet? It sounds like others here have. While I understand your frustration, waiting a few extra days, or a week, in no way alters the decision or the quality of the education the school will provide over 4 years.
It might also help to remember that during this part of the process they are communicating with 32,000 families, not just one, so working the process is actually critical.
>> To me if you are going to email the student - just put the result in the body of the email.
We were EXTREMELY glad they didn't do this last year, as the e-mail came to my address and we wanted D to be the first to see what the actual decision was. NU's process was perfect for our family.
>> And there is no reason that NU can't just tell everyone when the decisions are coming out.
They do publish a decision date. It just happens that sometimes they are able to release decisions earlier. Would you prefer to wait for the published date?
Bellportdad, I am sorry this is happening. The only thing I can say is that one a student is in NW, he does not have to deal with admissions. Also NU is not the only school who has had problems with admissions decisions communications. I think the incompetence, in general,of communicating the decision is appalling. I have seen schools send out incorrect emails accepting kids and reneging. I think every one of these admissions departments making such mistakes should get penalized. Maybe get rid of the admissions directors who have not put together a failsafe system of no mistakes. There are no consequences to them.
Yes, my son got an accept from Michigan, that was then reneged, some years ago. He was deferred instead. I think Cornell pulled a blooper of that sort too. In addition , there are schools fooling around with other sites so that it sends what I call teasers to kids as to whether or not they are accepted. This is all ever so sloppy. Also there are schools who send out acceptances bit by bit, just prolonging the agony of those at the end of the process. It's ridiculous, and I, for one, wish there were more consequences for this sort of sloppy work.. All the judgements these people make on these students and they can't do their job efficiently, smoothly and as courteously as possible.
So, yes, I am very sorry about this and shame on NU admissions office!
Where did they publish a date. By saying that everyone would have a decision by April.
Every year hundreds of schools are able to say you will get your decision ON a certain date and alot of times at a certain time. Like the ivy decisions tonight at 5PM. The notification has been out there for a long time. There is no reason NU can't do this as well.
Of course there are numerous ways to let a person know if they are accepted or not.
This year there was a problem with the decisions and now we have a person waiting days for their decision. Can't they just FAX the darn letter to him. Jeez.
^Are you really sweating over this? At least Northwestern let people know earlier. Many people have already been able to book their Chicago trip by now. Doesn't seem like you give them any credit. You can go to Ivies and complain "there's no reason Ivies can't do this earlier" if you really compare every little thing.
Also, you really don't know all the facts surrounding this apparently *single* case. Not even one other person came to CC to complain. I wouldn't get so worked up at the point and would withhold judgement until you know all the facts if I were you.
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To me if you are going to email the student - just put the result in the body of the email.
Again, if you are not an expert on IT, there may be things you are not aware of. Clearly, there's an extra step and it's reasonable to think it's there for a reason. I am no expert; it could be related to extra security or additional control against error...etc.
Bellport Dad - I don't know if your son has still not received his notification but I would suggest that you speak with someone other than whomever answers the phone. I would speak/email the head of admissions and explain your situation. Surely you've learned that after one try with the bottom person you go straight to the top. At this point you could even contact Morty via email telephone and I'm sure you'd get a response. Complaining to CC will do you no good.
