<p>According to FedEx, Oxford signed for my materials (which arrived in three different packages) earlier this month. A week later they sent out a snail mail letter saying that they hadn’t received most of the things that they had signed for (including, it seems, exactly half of the materials in a single package). I am told that I have now missed the deadline for my gathered field. </p>
<p>Do you think that they sent out status letters before checking in all of the materials sitting in the admissions office? Is it possible that they actually lost a big heavy pile of letters and writing samples between the reception desk and their file cabinets? I mean, we had to submit everything in duplicate… In addition, do they <em>ever</em> respond to e-mails? I’m happy to phone but it’s easier to give details in a letter. </p>
<p>Finally, without being overly paranoid, I think that they have mistakenly assumed that I am Israeli–long story. I know that there was an academic boycott in the works in Britain. Do you think that could have anything to do with their sudden bout of extraordinary inefficiency? If that is indeed the problem, do you think that they will put things right now that I have complained or should I just write off Oxford as a lost cause?</p>