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Should I call UMich and ask them what the status of my application is? Im an international student so would it not be wise to call and see the possible mail problems or should I not bother?

By Vulcano (Vulcano) on Friday, January 09, 2004 - 01:19 pm: Edit

Common, please help me. I applied on October 31st, its been 9 weeks. Should I call?

By Dstark (Dstark) on Friday, January 09, 2004 - 01:33 pm: Edit

As I said on another bb, call. Call now.

By Massdad (Massdad) on Friday, January 09, 2004 - 01:35 pm: Edit

A gentle call to ask the status is never a problem, and would never be viewed as offensive.

You could call and say that you applied on such a date, had not heard anything and just wanted to check if the file was complete. After you learn it's complete, you could simply ask where in the process the app was.

I did this with my D at a rolling admissions safety school in December, and was told her app was in committee, but that they had just accepted her. So I knew about a week before my D got the official letter.

By Vulcano (Vulcano) on Friday, January 09, 2004 - 01:39 pm: Edit

Ok, thanks to both of you for your responses.

By Pennamom (Pennamom) on Friday, January 09, 2004 - 01:47 pm: Edit

Hi,
I registered just to answer this question! Absolutely, call or email, a reasonable amount of time has passed. My son had a similar problem. After 2 months I made a gentle inquiry. The admissions officer emailed me immediately to apologize and let me know that there had been a problem with the "tape" they use to process applications. My sons app was lost in the system and would never have been processed if I hadn't inquired.
It turned out my son was admitted that day and actually offered a very generous scholarship as well.
Just be nice when you ask and be clear about the date you applied!

By Northstarmom (Northstarmom) on Friday, January 09, 2004 - 02:20 pm: Edit

I would suggest e-mailing first. When my son applied to Michigan several years ago, we found it was very difficult to get through to their phones. Neither of us was impressed either by their speed or politeness in handling inquiries of any kind.

By Dstark (Dstark) on Friday, January 09, 2004 - 02:26 pm: Edit

I would just call. They take too long to get back with e-mail. Hopefully the rude people of a few years ago are no longer there. You have waited long enough.

By Marite (Marite) on Friday, January 09, 2004 - 02:35 pm: Edit

If the time differential makes it possible to call at a reasonable time for both you and the adcom, call and ask for an email reply to your query. For the adcom to find out what happened to your application may take a lot of very expensive time on the phone.
Whichever you choose, it is absolutely appropriate to enquire about the status of your application. If nothing has been done, make sure to ask whether the application is complete.

By Massdad (Massdad) on Friday, January 09, 2004 - 03:18 pm: Edit

Marite, most large schools, and U Mich is certainly in this category, have all the information on line. An admissions officer will almost certainly not take the call. An office receptionist or support staffer probably will, and will also have access to the information. I've found this to be the case at all three schools where my D applied and I needed to follow up on something.

By Marite (Marite) on Friday, January 09, 2004 - 03:33 pm: Edit

Massdad:

Thanks. Sometimes, staffers are reluctant to interrupt whatever they are doing, even though they are on the computer, in order to look for something that may be online. I have also found that email messages are not always attended to promptly (and sometimes not at all). So perhaps an email first, and if nothing happens within a couple of days, a phone call reminding the staffer that an email was sent?

By Vulcano (Vulcano) on Friday, January 09, 2004 - 05:15 pm: Edit

Well I called and they said they were still reviewing my application, which is weird considering I submitted it 9 weeks ago. Should I just wait and see? On the other hand, I also called Tulane and they told me I was accepted to at least I know I'm in somewhere.

By Massdad (Massdad) on Friday, January 09, 2004 - 05:26 pm: Edit

Marite, given the ubiquitious nature of email now, I find the phone has actually become more effective, and I've had people say (in a focus group no less) that they get so few calls compared to emails that they welcome the change. Just food for thought.

In contrast, my D has had very mixed experience with email queries. Answers seem to take a long time.

By Marite (Marite) on Friday, January 09, 2004 - 05:35 pm: Edit

Massdad:

You've just reminded me that I owe a response to an email from a colleague. If I leave it much longer, it may disappear from my screen and my memory!

By Dstark (Dstark) on Friday, January 09, 2004 - 05:42 pm: Edit

Vulcano, you have to wait and see. They are not finished. At least you know that.

By Massdad (Massdad) on Friday, January 09, 2004 - 08:37 pm: Edit

Vulcano, I've heard from others that the only ones who heard quickly from U Mich were those that applied much earlier than you did.

Besides, very little happended in most of the colleges from mid December until January 5, when most staff returned to work.

By Mina_Mathew (Mina_Mathew) on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 09:57 am: Edit

Two of my niece's lost their applications at University of Michigan this year(pre-med). One of my friend told me that she also heard the same type of issues through her friends. How come university of Michigan is loosing applications like this? It is strange that the students received confirmation on receiving the papers, but UM do not have it in their file. Also forms filled through on-line are also claimed to be lost. The students I know are minorities. Is there any investigation on lost applications?