Worst Admission Letters

Colleges and Universities A-Z Rutgers University
1

<p>Has anyone else had the experience of becoming LESS enthusiastic or even repelled by a college BECAUSE of their interactions during the admissions process? </p>

<p>In our case, Rutgers University (so far) is doing it's darndest to keep my D AWAY from attending. Some background: We're NJ residents; her SATs are 800 V, 730W & 610 M, top 5% in her class. She has a very strong artistic portfolio, as she was going to apply to art school, but decided to do a BA rather than BFA. She'd love a scholarship from Rutgers. But when she applied, there was no place for her to submit an artistic portfolio. Bear in mind that they are saying they're judging scholarships 'holistically' this year, whatever that means. </p>

<p>She wrote an email to see if she could possibly attach her portfolio in an email, and got a very rude, impatient comment back to the effect that she should have clicked on such and such button when she was submitting, and anyway her question was one day too late, and besides, if she wanted to do art, she should have applied to Mason Gross. (She emailed a few other colleges with this question and with the exception of Rutgers, all the others were helpful, polite, enthusiastic.) BTW, there WAS no way to attach her portfolio; hence the email. She emailed a polite email back saying she understood, but was there still any way she could email an attachment? Another snappy email saying, basically, "I guess so. If you want." She did, feeling already repelled.</p>

<p>Within a few weeks she was accepted into Rutgers and honors program, but hasn't heard about any scholarship.</p>

<p>The other day she got the most bizarre letter from Rutgers. It started like this:</p>

<p>"Congratulations! You have earned the opportunity to join Rutgers' internationally acclaimed faculty and extraordinary students. They will challenge you to grow, they will prompt your curiosity, and..." Etc. </p>

<p>Now, when she saw the congratulations, she thought she'd gotten a scholarship, since that's the only news she's waiting for. </p>

<p>JK! The letter then spent an entire page listing how great SAS was -- with generic, non-informative slogans and randomly bold phrases such as "signature courses" or "combining foreign study with service learning in international nonprofit organizations."</p>

<p>It then told her how to "enroll in the School of Arts and Sciences." </p>

<p>HUH? We stared at this in bewilderment. What on earth was the point of this letter, except to reveal, yet again, that Rutgers was highly bureaucratic? She had already been accepted. So what was the point of this letter? Why would they tell her how great SAS was if she already applied? She knows SAS is good--that's why she applied! Besides, throwing out random, generic slogans in a mass produced cover letter isn't exactly informative. Also, why would they tell her, in JANUARY, to enroll? So weird.</p>

<p>So far, every single interaction she's had with Rutgers has sadly convinced her it's not the school for her. Because we have very little money, it was on the TOP of her list before.</p>

2

<p>O...cool story</p>

3

<p>Do not be discouraged. Call financial aid and ask when merit money will be awarded and students notified. You may be pleasantly surprised. Computer generated letters are often not timely. I notice car dealers sent out repair coupons right after I have a service.</p>

4

<p>hoveringmom..
My son was accepted into Business and SAS a while back. He just received the same letter as your daughter from both schools. He also though it was a merit award. I gather Rutgers is not the best administratively organized institution. I'd call and ask...with your daughters stats they would certainly want her to go there....</p>

5

<p>I believe it was in March last year that students heard of their award/merit offers.</p>

6

<p>So far the only people that seem to have been notified are those that are receiving Presidential Scholarships (free rides). The other awards should come later.</p>

7

<p>what about other state schools like TCNJ?</p>

8

<p>
[quote]
HUH? We stared at this in bewilderment. What on earth was the point of this letter, except to reveal, yet again, that Rutgers was highly bureaucratic? She had already been accepted. So what was the point of this letter? Why would they tell her how great SAS was if she already applied? She knows SAS is good--that's why she applied! Besides, throwing out random, generic slogans in a mass produced cover letter isn't exactly informative. Also, why would they tell her, in JANUARY, to enroll? So weird.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I'm guessing your daughter hasn't applied to any other schools or hasn't been accepted yet? I haven't heard back from Rutgers yet, but the two other schools I was accepted to EA sent me those kids if letters too. "Congratulations again! Come to our school it's so awesome! Blah! Blah! BLahhhhhhhhh!"</p>

<p>And I think you're overreacting. :)</p>

9

<p>haha, yes, I think you're overreacting a bit. I saw this thread and thought, "hunh, I don't quite remember Rutgers giving me a terrible admissions letter."</p>

<p>a note on secretaries: they come in all extremes. I have met the nicest women ever and some of the most frightening, all across the board. whether you are in a doctor's office, middle school, or an admissions office; secretaries are oft not paid enough to deal with everything that they deal with.</p>

10