<p>First off, I don’t mean “dumb” as in a low ranking on some superficial magazine that ranks schools just to raise it’s subscriber base (Ahem, US NEWS). </p>
<p>I define “dumb” as a critical blunder caused by a school that a student or your child has applied to, a blunder so stupid and so consequential that the university/college in question, should really ought to know better. I knew that sometimes colleges messed up once or twice, just due to the sheer number of high school seniors who apply to these fine institutions of higher learning. This year, on my own journey towards applying to colleges, I personally encountered not one, but TWO schools who messed up my application so badly, that they ruined my chances of getting in. This isn’t just my ego speaking here-I personally spoke with admissions counselors from both institutions, and needless to say, they said I would have been admitted with flying colors if it hadn’t been for their screw-up. </p>
<p>School #1: Santa Clara University (Santa Clara, California)</p>
<p>A school well-known for not only its rigorous academic work but also for its very talented athletic teams, SCU was a part of the first batch of colleges I applied to. Not only did I send my application in several days before the deadline, but I had checked, double-checked, even triple-checked everything: My application, my resume, my transcript, etc etc. Well, several months pass by, and here I found myself in the month of March, eagerly waiting a letter of either acceptance or rejection from SCU. I religously checked SCU’s online application status webpage, only to show that besides my application, everything else was marked as having been “unsent”. I was not worried however, as the caption at the very bottom of the status page read that due to the “sheer volume” of applicants, to please allow for a few weeks for the online application status page to be updated. Alright I decided, I’ll give them some time-understandable no doubt. This went on for another two weeks or so, until I began to grow worried. I finally got through to someone at the Office of Admissions who knew what they were talking about, and I laid out my story clearly and quickly. The lady on the other end tells me she’ll check: Guess what? My application, my transcript, everything, was just neatly organized and stored right there…ever since January (My fall term ends in mid Janurary-I sent in my transcipt day after term ended), waiting to be read. The nice lady said she’ll rush my papers over to the review board as quickly as possible, and that was that. You could not imagine my anger that after promptly and correctly filing and sending everything I had to send, they just forgot about it. Needless to say, I did not get in, as such because my files weren’t read in time since it was approaching April. </p>
<p>School #2: Loyola Marymount University (Los Angeles, California)</p>
<p>LMU had one of the best online application websites I had ever encountered. The font was big and legible, It had a easily viewable application checklist to be followed, and the process was just quick and easy. Now, this one I admit I sent in only two days before the deadline, but then again, I had many tasks to juggle during the time, and so I was lucky to get it in at all. My rush however, did not retract me from being cautious and careful, checking multiple times that I had done everything according to their directions, and that I had written down the correct address to send my files, and etc etc. Anyways, to make a long story short, It is now April-I have narrowed down my choices to between UC Santa Barbara, UC Riverside, or LMU (If I got in). The UC Student Agreement form is due by May 1, and the clock is ticking. I am anxiously awaiting the news from LMU, as its getting closer and closer to when I have to make my final decision. I had tried calling several times, only to be put on hold indefinitely or just disconnected. Today, I finally connected and was able to speak to someone at the Office of Admissions. To no surprise, they tell me something is wrong: They never received my fall semester transcript. I REMEMBER, specifically,spending one of my lunch breaks at my school’s counseling office, requesting my final transcript be sent to LMU, providing the needed business sized envelope, correct address, exact amount of stamps, correct heading, everything, paying for the transcript, and watched my counselor print, stamp, and fold my transcript, put it into the envelope I had just provided, and put it in the mailbag. Done deal. And now, here I am in mid April, with LMU saying that they never received it. Its bull@#$%-no other way to say it. </p>
<p>So whats your story? Any college blunders made by the schools themselves? Please, If so, please share.</p>