If a proram does not accept an applicant...

[southerngirl100]

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Do programs always send out rejection letters or some kind of notification if they do not accept an applicant, or do some of the programs not send out any notification at all to applicants who are not accepted? Also, if someone is not accepted for a program, would it be appropriate to ask the program why they were not accepted?

 

[StudentK13]

So as far as I know they always send a rejection letter. Last year I was rejected from a school and I did decide to send them an email asking why I was rejected and what I could possibly do better for the next time around. Unfortunately, they replied back telling me that they do not discuss individual applicants and if I had any questions I should attend the graduate open house for the next year.

 

[Johann00]

You should absolutely ask why you were not accepted and see if there's anything you can do to strengthen your application for the following year.

To StudentK13, whichever school that was that gave you that response is being, I believe, extremely unprofessional. I imagine they're probably trying to "cover their butt" to avoid any claims of discrimination or applicant bias.

 

[StudentK13]

You should absolutely ask why you were not accepted and see if there's anything you can do to strengthen your application for the following year.

To StudentK13, whichever school that was that gave you that response is being, I believe, extremely unprofessional. I imagine they're probably trying to "cover their butt" to avoid any claims of discrimination or applicant bias.

You're right. I was so taken back by their response. I expected some kind of useful advice, but they really would not give me any kind of feedback.

 

[southerngirl100]

Thanks for the replies! I am hoping that they are just delayed in sending out the acceptance letters. however, I will definitely be asking them what I could have done to have made my application stronger if I do not end up being accepted this time around.

 

[OTfuture]

I would definitely call or email and ask the status of admissions. Maybe they are just behind, maybe your letter got lost in the mail. If you do end up being rejected or wait-listed, ask them why. I am a 2nd year OT student and was wait-listed. Turned out the school had calculated my last 90 gpa incorrectly. When I corrected them, they took my application back to the admissions committee and called me that night to offer me admission. Schools make mistakes sometimes so it is worth checking it out. Good luck!!

 

[c2902]

You should receive some sort of notification as to your status - to my knowledge, there are no schools that do not send you anything if you are rejected. While I don't know that the schools are really obligated to tell you why your application was rejected, I do know that plenty of them will take the time to talk to you, especially if you offer to come visit them. In some cases, it's purely a numbers game - they have certain qualifications they want for GPAs and test scores, and they do their initial weed-out that way.