I think USPS lost my transcripts...

[mixolyd]

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I sent out about 12 big envelopes containing my study abroad transcripts to the far reaches of the US.

I don't know why, but I always thought Certified mail was a safe bet. Seems not. It's actually just first class mail (the typical mail class) but with signature required and tracking. It's been a week, and 2 are unaccounted for. Tracking just says they left sorting facility at my location. Funny that these two are the closest. Philadelphia and Albany -- I'm in New Jersey. Missisippi, Kentucky, Montana, Wyoming, not a problem. But right next door? Nope

. I wonder where these lost letters go anyway? Mine contained sensitive documents with social security number, name, etc. I may lose my identity over this! Damn you USPS!!!

Just kidding, of course. But seriously, I am not happy with the post office right now. Now I have to spend $30 each to have Fedex deliver the goods. Well, that's just a drop in the puddle for all the money I've spent/will spend on this whole little endeavor

 

[Psychadelic2012]

Yup, it happened to me and it's probably happened to many others as well. I think we all have applications that go nowhere simply because a certain document never arrived somehow. The USPS doesn't care, the school you're applying to doesn't care, and you can try to remedy it but it doesn't always help (unless you can hand deliver it, but even then...). I guess it's just part of the experience!

 

[futurepsych0]

I wouldn't really worry about it getting into the wrong hands as anyone who receives that mail will have to sign for them. The most common reason is usually a processing machine "eating them" or being put in a supposedly empty bucket and sitting in storage for a while. It sucks that this happened to you. If I were you I'd call 1800-ask-usps. Sometimes people magically find missing mail when there is a documented complaint.

 

[emily621]

Ugh, worst nightmare. Sorry to hear. 🙁 I sent all of my stuff FedEx because 1, I was always submitting things at the last minute and wanted to be sure it got there on time, and 2, I obsessively tracked everything to make sure it was delivered. Cost me so much though.

 

[mewtoo]

D: My nightmare! I'm sorry that happened to you. I did certified mail for my app packets for 3 schools and paid for a tracking number. I was so glad they actually got there. If all else fails and you have proof of when you sent them (which you should if you have a tracking number) you can talk to the schools about it. I've heard of some schools being lenient when that happens and letting people have a bit more time to send stuff.

 

[Member999999]

Sorry this happened to you, but does anyone know if transcripts must be received by the university or can it be postmarked by the application deadline to be considered?

 

[mewtoo]

Sorry this happened to you, but does anyone know if transcripts must be received by the university or can it be postmarked by the application deadline to be considered?

I think it depends on the program. Some of my programs say they must have received them by the due date and others don't specify.

 

[deleted407083]

Two of my letters of rec were sent the same way. Both never showed as delivered. I managed to get ahold of the schools and they were received, luckily. I had to send more documents to the same schools and just paid extra for FedEx, worth it for my own piece of mind.

 

[phillips101]

OP: Have you tried calling the schools and just asking if they received your papers?

I called/emailed most of my schools (except for 1 that explicitly tell you NOT to call) and asked if my GRE and transcripts were received by the schools. All have been very nice and were very helpful. Most of them initially said no. So don't freak out if they do. Just tell them you had it sent from overseas, and tell them WHEN you sent them (so they don't assume you sent it yesterday). The persons I spoke to at each school tracked me down in their system and told me right away they received my info.

I wouldn't bother with USPS if I were you. Also, make sure you have already submitted your application before you start calling/emailing.

 

[mixolyd]

I called both the local post office and the schools. They had no idea. I resent both through FedEx yesterday

And....today one of the lost ones got delivered! So I guess someone found it....lol. Oh usps...

 

[Goobernut]

For future reference, its REGISTERED mail that is the most secure within the USPS system. however, it is the slowest because a postal member has to sign for it at each stop.

Additionally if you insure your package (even if it is just the paperwork -- put a replacement time/value on them), it almost always seems to get there. I've never had to file a claim on an insured package. I really think the USPS has a slightly different delivery system for insured packages. They lose other stuff all the time, but insured stuff never.

 

[mixolyd]

Does anyone know how Clinical PhD programs are with late submissions? I think a couple might get delayed and not receive all transcripts by the deadline

 

[AcronymAllergy]

Does anyone know how Clinical PhD programs are with late submissions? I think a couple might get delayed and not receive all transcripts by the deadline

It's going to vary from program to program. Some might still review the application if everything but the transcripts are there, and some will essentially automatically disqualify it as incomplete if everything isn't in-hand by the deadline.

 

[psych for path]

Does the same go for letters of rec? Yes, still not in.

 

[AcronymAllergy]

Does the same go for letters of rec? Yes, still not in.

I would say so, yes. It all sort of gets bundled together as stipulations for "incomplete applications" as a whole. Some programs will be ok if a piece or two is missing, while others will require that it all be in-hand (or at least post-marked) by the deadline.

 

[ndlek21]

Does the same go for letters of rec? Yes, still not in.

I totally feel your pain, psych for path. I'm going nuts over here. TWO of my letter writers have no submitted their letters yet (all online) even though I asked them months ago and they were notified by the programs in the beginning of Nov.

I know one of them (a professor here where I go to undergrad) has been in communication with me about it and she tends to upload them all at once on their due date. The other one lives in my hometown and has been pretty much unreachable through the whole process...

He got back to me earlier this week saying they'd be in by deadline. All I can do now is hope he submits them all!

I've been reading up on programs' policies on this and it seems like most don't start reviewing right away anyways. AND because it probably takes a while to match everyone's documents...I'm thinking it'll be okay at most places if things get in a day or two late (ESP because it's a weekend!).

 

[psych for path]

Glad to hear someone else is in the same boat...10:52 on 12/1 and still radio silence from my 3rd recommender. Thank god a lot of my applications arent due until January, but this is just so unfair! It's a terrible feeling. Anyone else?

 

[phillips101]

Glad to hear someone else is in the same boat... this is just so unfair! It's a terrible feeling. Anyone else?

👎
Why would you wish for others to go through the same "terrible feeling" you're having?

 

[mewtoo]

👎
Why would you wish for others to go through the same "terrible feeling" you're having?

Misery loves company is not just a saying.

 

[psych for path]

Woah...so misunderstood! I would never - ever - wish for someone else to feel what I am feeling right now. However, it is comforting to know that while most people are celebrating, I am not the only person going through this - I would certainly wish no one had to, but since someone already said they "felt my pain," that was comforting, that is all.

 

[mixolyd]

I'm worried too. I didn't realize that the bigger schools take weeks just to process everything after receipt AND completion of application. I definitely would have had everything in by October if I knew...

Going through this process makes it very obvious how inefficient and technologically antiquated schools are. Transcripts should be digitally sent. In this day and age its absurd for them to print and mail something that can be easily sent securely through the web.

 

[ndlek21]

I'm worried too. I didn't realize that the bigger schools take weeks just to process everything after receipt AND completion of application. I definitely would have had everything in by October if I knew...

Going through this process makes it very obvious how inefficient and technologically antiquated schools are. Transcripts should be digitally sent. In this day and age its absurd for them to print and mail something that can be easily sent securely through the web.

My undergraduate institution gives us the option of submitting official transcripts securely through email...so I think that's the way things are headed. There's hope for future applicants, although that doesn't help us (unless we find ourselves in the unfortunate but common situation of having to apply again...).

I'm still getting in touch with admissions offices to make sure everything got in, and I'm finding that somehow things haven't been getting to these schools. UConn doesn't have my transcripts (sent 10/27) or GRE scores (sent 11/14). I'm so frustrated and I'm wondering if they'd now accept an official transcript sent electronically just because it's faster and simpler...opposed to having to overnight entirely new copies...

 

[Goobernut]

I had everything sent to me, then I sent it out all in one packet. Printed an unofficial GRE report with date that the official report was sent. Have I mentioned I have trust issues with the mail? I did have to let go on some of the rec letters, but when possible, I had them returned to me sealed and mailed them myself insured. I really liked the departmental applications that were online. I just scanned everything in 🙂 So nice!