GrunkleSam
New Member
- Jurisdiction
- Other
Good evening, I wasn't sure which sub forum my question would fall under so I figured this would be the safest bet.
Without going into severe detail, I'll try to explain the situation and air my grievances. I apologize ahead of time if it gets a bit lengthy.
I'm a current Civil and Environmental Engineering student at a Philadelphia university, as well as a part-time employee at an Insurance company. In early August 2015 I had made the decision to apply to transfer to a school in Michigan, due to unhappiness, among other factors, at my current institution. I had applied to transfer the year before and was rejected, but due to the length of time they took to review my application, improved grades after the fact, and further job experience, I decided to give it another shot. After the summer quarter finalized I had my transcript sent over and began work on my Common Application Essays. After many months of perfecting my work and getting it reviewed by friends, family, and English professors, I submitted my application and letter of recommendations on January 15th, 2016. Knowing that it would take a couple of weeks to update I checked back in the beginning of February and noticed that my application was marked as incomplete. At that time I called the school and found out they wanted transcripts for college classes I took several years ago in early high school. I explained I was unable to obtain that information, and they were understanding. Before the end of that phone call I asked if there was anything else I needed, and was given a firm no.
A couple of more weeks pass and it is now February 22nd. I notice that my Transcript from my current school is now marked as "Not Received" on my Application Portal. I am working that day and decide to chat with a Undergrad Admissions representative online. They relay that they want an updated transcript showcasing my fall quarter grades. I explained to her that I took no classes in the fall and was working at my internship for the term. At that time I asked, since they wanted an official document, if a letter from (and signed by) my Internship Coordinator would suffice. The woman I talked to was unsure it would count as an official document. I explained that it would cost me $40 to ship a transcript overnight there, so I would rather try out the free method first. So advised me to try it and check back constantly to make sure it counted, and if it had not, to send the transcript ASAP. Immediately after the chat session ended I asked my Coordinator if he could send a letter to them. He happily obliged and sent the document on February 26th. On March 2nd I check the status of my application, my transcript is marked as received as of the 1st. Thinking I am all set, I wait a week or so to check back.
On the morning of March 16th I look at my application portal and my transcript is marked, yet again, as Not Received. I promptly chat with a representative when I get into work that morning and she confirms that my letter did not count as an official document. She suggests that I have my current school email a transcript to UM, and I explain that they don't email official documents, and that my quickest option is 24-hour processing and shipping. She simply suggests that I "hurry" to get the transcript there. At 9:17 AM I immediately ordered a Transcript to be sent from Drexel to UM.
On March 17th, I received an email stating that my application had been withdrawn from consideration due being incomplete by the deadline. This "deadline" was not once relayed to me in any way, shape, or form via Email, Phone, Chat, nor the school's website. In fact, I am under the belief that the representatives of the school went out of their way to avoid telling me about such a deadline. Had I been told about the deadline, I would not have risked sending in a letter from my coordinator, and would have sent a transcript on the spot without fumbling around to save money. I'm obviously not a legal expert, but such treatment may violate these statutes. 914. Concealment--Failure to Disclose | USAM | Department of Justice
42 CFR 1001.1101 - Failure to disclose certain information.
To continue: I immediately called the Undergrad Admission's office once I received the email, and explained the situation (the email stated I had 10 business days to resolve an error the office may have made). The woman I talked to told me to wait a few days to make sure they got it first. I logged on to my application portal on March 22nd and saw that my Transcript was marked as received as of the 21st. I called that day and was told to contact the senior Admissions counselor, KS. I attempt to call him twice and reach voicemail, so I shoot him an email to make sure my application will in fact be considered. He responds the next day and tells me that if they end up reviewing my application, it would be on a space-available basis. I give KS the breakdown of what happened and he tells me he'll look into it once he returns to the office, since he was out on travel all week.
After a couple weeks of not hearing anything, I email him back, awaiting an update. Again, I hear nothing. On April 18th I send another follow up email. He responds on the 20th, essentially ignoring the situation and giving me the "we needed all the application materials by the 'deadline'" spiel.
At that time, on April 20th, I wrote a very lengthy letter to JM, the Executive Director of Student Affairs. I received no follow up. I resent the email on May 2nd, and received a response from an assistant, who told me she forwarded the letter to BE, Associate Director of Recruitment and Admissions. On May 3rd BE told me he and JM sent the letter to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and have not heard anything. He assures me he will let me know when he hears something. I ask BE via email on May 23rd if he has heard anything. He tells me that I have not been mentioned by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, but that they are steadily releasing decisions. On June 27th, I contacted him again requesting an update. The next morning I received an email from him and he seemed completely unaware that my Application had been withdrawn back in March, despite me clearly conveying that in my first correspondence with him. He tells me there is nothing further he can do and directs me back to KS. I email KS and he responds stating that I'm S.o.L.. Then, he proceeds to state blatant lies. He says that I was told that the letter from my internship coordinator would not count, and that I ordered my transcript on the 17th which was past the "deadline". (When I was not told that it may or may not count, and have proof of payment that my transcript was ordered on the morning of March 16th, as previously stated.)
Furthermore, the massive amount of stress and headache induced by this fiasco resulted in my worst quarterly performance of my academic career (a 2.17 GPA and failed class for the spring), severely hurting my chances of getting into a good graduate school, an aspect that is immensely important in furthering my Engineering career and pursuing a PhD. (That performance is not indicative of the type of student I am, as that is compared to a 3.67 and 3.50 GPA the terms before and after, respectively.) Not only did it screw me grade wise, but now, there is a slight chance that I may not graduate on time, which would result in outrageous out-of-pocket costs that I cannot afford.
With all that being said, do I have anything legitimate here?
Thank you in advance,
-Sam
Without going into severe detail, I'll try to explain the situation and air my grievances. I apologize ahead of time if it gets a bit lengthy.
I'm a current Civil and Environmental Engineering student at a Philadelphia university, as well as a part-time employee at an Insurance company. In early August 2015 I had made the decision to apply to transfer to a school in Michigan, due to unhappiness, among other factors, at my current institution. I had applied to transfer the year before and was rejected, but due to the length of time they took to review my application, improved grades after the fact, and further job experience, I decided to give it another shot. After the summer quarter finalized I had my transcript sent over and began work on my Common Application Essays. After many months of perfecting my work and getting it reviewed by friends, family, and English professors, I submitted my application and letter of recommendations on January 15th, 2016. Knowing that it would take a couple of weeks to update I checked back in the beginning of February and noticed that my application was marked as incomplete. At that time I called the school and found out they wanted transcripts for college classes I took several years ago in early high school. I explained I was unable to obtain that information, and they were understanding. Before the end of that phone call I asked if there was anything else I needed, and was given a firm no.
A couple of more weeks pass and it is now February 22nd. I notice that my Transcript from my current school is now marked as "Not Received" on my Application Portal. I am working that day and decide to chat with a Undergrad Admissions representative online. They relay that they want an updated transcript showcasing my fall quarter grades. I explained to her that I took no classes in the fall and was working at my internship for the term. At that time I asked, since they wanted an official document, if a letter from (and signed by) my Internship Coordinator would suffice. The woman I talked to was unsure it would count as an official document. I explained that it would cost me $40 to ship a transcript overnight there, so I would rather try out the free method first. So advised me to try it and check back constantly to make sure it counted, and if it had not, to send the transcript ASAP. Immediately after the chat session ended I asked my Coordinator if he could send a letter to them. He happily obliged and sent the document on February 26th. On March 2nd I check the status of my application, my transcript is marked as received as of the 1st. Thinking I am all set, I wait a week or so to check back.
On the morning of March 16th I look at my application portal and my transcript is marked, yet again, as Not Received. I promptly chat with a representative when I get into work that morning and she confirms that my letter did not count as an official document. She suggests that I have my current school email a transcript to UM, and I explain that they don't email official documents, and that my quickest option is 24-hour processing and shipping. She simply suggests that I "hurry" to get the transcript there. At 9:17 AM I immediately ordered a Transcript to be sent from Drexel to UM.
On March 17th, I received an email stating that my application had been withdrawn from consideration due being incomplete by the deadline. This "deadline" was not once relayed to me in any way, shape, or form via Email, Phone, Chat, nor the school's website. In fact, I am under the belief that the representatives of the school went out of their way to avoid telling me about such a deadline. Had I been told about the deadline, I would not have risked sending in a letter from my coordinator, and would have sent a transcript on the spot without fumbling around to save money. I'm obviously not a legal expert, but such treatment may violate these statutes. 914. Concealment--Failure to Disclose | USAM | Department of Justice
42 CFR 1001.1101 - Failure to disclose certain information.
To continue: I immediately called the Undergrad Admission's office once I received the email, and explained the situation (the email stated I had 10 business days to resolve an error the office may have made). The woman I talked to told me to wait a few days to make sure they got it first. I logged on to my application portal on March 22nd and saw that my Transcript was marked as received as of the 21st. I called that day and was told to contact the senior Admissions counselor, KS. I attempt to call him twice and reach voicemail, so I shoot him an email to make sure my application will in fact be considered. He responds the next day and tells me that if they end up reviewing my application, it would be on a space-available basis. I give KS the breakdown of what happened and he tells me he'll look into it once he returns to the office, since he was out on travel all week.
After a couple weeks of not hearing anything, I email him back, awaiting an update. Again, I hear nothing. On April 18th I send another follow up email. He responds on the 20th, essentially ignoring the situation and giving me the "we needed all the application materials by the 'deadline'" spiel.
At that time, on April 20th, I wrote a very lengthy letter to JM, the Executive Director of Student Affairs. I received no follow up. I resent the email on May 2nd, and received a response from an assistant, who told me she forwarded the letter to BE, Associate Director of Recruitment and Admissions. On May 3rd BE told me he and JM sent the letter to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and have not heard anything. He assures me he will let me know when he hears something. I ask BE via email on May 23rd if he has heard anything. He tells me that I have not been mentioned by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, but that they are steadily releasing decisions. On June 27th, I contacted him again requesting an update. The next morning I received an email from him and he seemed completely unaware that my Application had been withdrawn back in March, despite me clearly conveying that in my first correspondence with him. He tells me there is nothing further he can do and directs me back to KS. I email KS and he responds stating that I'm S.o.L.. Then, he proceeds to state blatant lies. He says that I was told that the letter from my internship coordinator would not count, and that I ordered my transcript on the 17th which was past the "deadline". (When I was not told that it may or may not count, and have proof of payment that my transcript was ordered on the morning of March 16th, as previously stated.)
Furthermore, the massive amount of stress and headache induced by this fiasco resulted in my worst quarterly performance of my academic career (a 2.17 GPA and failed class for the spring), severely hurting my chances of getting into a good graduate school, an aspect that is immensely important in furthering my Engineering career and pursuing a PhD. (That performance is not indicative of the type of student I am, as that is compared to a 3.67 and 3.50 GPA the terms before and after, respectively.) Not only did it screw me grade wise, but now, there is a slight chance that I may not graduate on time, which would result in outrageous out-of-pocket costs that I cannot afford.
With all that being said, do I have anything legitimate here?
Thank you in advance,
-Sam
