Rude admissions Dept.

[PT to D.O./M.D.]

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Has anyone else out there had a bad experience whe calling to verify application status with admissions. For me, this is the biggest TURN OFF! I am getting ready to spend thousands of dollars and 4+ years of my life with your institution - I don't need to hear you SIGH on the phone when I call to verify that all my materials have been received (AS INSTRUCTED ON YOUR INSTRUCTION SHEET!). I understand that they have a ton of type A personalities calling daily but ITS YOUR JOB!!!!!!! If you don't like it - QUIT
NEEDED TO VENT!! ANYONE ELSE???????😡

 

[Monkeyguts]

😱 Wow.

Dude, maybe they were having a bad day or something.

 

[sddoc]

Although I'm not excusing them, my guess is that they were tired. Judging by the receptionist at LECOM, during interview season, they receive hundreds of requests about the status of applications daily. (I was guilty of making those calls before I was accepted as well!) Between interviews, new apps, and taking care of current students, you could see where someone might get a bit exasperated.

Don't let the admissions staff scare you off from a school. I haven't had much to do with them in 2 years. Good luck!

 

[Robz]

I wonder if there is a significant drop in phone calls for those schools that have online status checks. I bet they do.

 

[Fat Chick]

Secretaries have way too much power in medical schools. You should have asked her if she had her own secretary, some actually do. Smile and nod with the staff, otherwise you'll go nuts. Good luck with the process.

-Fat Chick

 

[DrInW8ing]

Sit back and think about this,

Are you upset because of the rudeness presented or because you are anxious about getting accepted to med school/ or a particular med school?

Keep in mind that this is not the only time that you will be dealing with rude people or dealing with people that have had a bad day!

This could happen daily with patients. Learn to shrug it off.

Understand that the secretaries are extremely busy at this time. Be polite even though they may not seem to be polite back. Besides, it is not the secretaries who will be making the final descisions or instructing you once your accepted.

 

[sia_simba]

People might have a tough day at work, especially for secreteries working for admissions, receiving hundreds of applications, so give them a break because no one is perfect. Plus, its okay to have someone be rude to you over the phone... it makes you feel good when the school accepts you and you reject them. =)

 

[YoungFaithful]

I recently had a bad experience with a SECRETARY at a school. The school had requested 3 letters. 2 science. 1 nonscience. They had received my 3 letters, but were still waiting for a science, I was like WTF!?

I called and the secretary said that my letter from a psychopharmacologist was not a science letter! He teaches out of the psych dept at my school. I tried to pursuade her otherwise, but she wasn't budging. He does pharmacological research with parkinson's and teaches neuroanatomy, and many other neuroscience classes. She kept saying "well he taught you psychology". I got frustrated and gave up.

This is the only component to my app that is missing. I have had to hunt down another science faculty that does not know me well and ask him to write me a letter.

I agree that sometimes secretaries have too much power.

Any suggestions on what I should do??

 

[Idiopathic]

You should have realized that psych is not a science...no offense. It doesnt matter what the letter-writer's research interest is, it matters what class they have experience with you in. Your premed advisor should have been of better assistance here. I dont mean to sound critical, but the people at the school are just doing what they are told to do...dont give anyone a reason to say 'no thanks' to your app. DO WHATEVER THEY SAY!

 

[gonnabeaDO]

Hey YoungFaithful,

Don't be discouraged by Idiopathics response, he just may not know how to relay his thoughts properly. Psychology is a science course.......every university I am aware of in this nations lists Psychology as part of their Science department. However, most schools want a letter from a representative who has taught you in the physical sciences such as chemistry, biology, anatomy, etc., since this is the type of material you will be bombarded with and expected to learn in your first two years of school. This being stated, I would try and contact the Director of Admissions at the school and explain your situation to her. However, if this brings you no luck, Idiopathic is right in saying to "Do what they want". You should explain to the evaluator you end up choosing what your situation is, they will most likely try to make up for your inconvenient situation by writing an appraising letter (assuming you know them fairly well). Take some time to discuss your understanding of osteopathic medicine, extracurricular activities, and academic performance so they have some additional info.

Keep your head up!!

 

[NDESTRUKT]

i disagree with the previous post.

psychology is a social science. i am not aware of any school that psych falls under the science department, but am not closed to the fact that it could be at some places. i only know a certain number of schools, however, so i'm not an authority on this - but every school i know, from my alma mater, Purdue, to the UC school system to Stanford, Harvard, Indiana University, etc...lists psych as a social science or liberal art...hence the bachelor's degree is a BA (Bachelor of Arts), not a BS (Bachelor of Science). Neuroscience, though, is close to what psych is and I believe that's in the science departments.

None of my science letters came from a chem, bio, or physics class. My science letters came from Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, and Electrical Engineering professors. I guess you could say those are pretty closely related to physics, but a far cry from what you or I would learn in med school.

To YoungFaithful, I can understand your frustration and under the circumstances you have presented, I think you are entitled to have that letter count; however, that's just out of my believing you. I guess schools can't just go with "ok I believe you" and stop there, so they're just playing by the rules. Best of luck to you with that letter.

GonnabeDO, I think it'd be neat to see what schools you know of that would place psych under a science dept, this would help shed some light on my understanding too =)

 

[PT to D.O./M.D.]

Maybe I should clarify myself slightly. First of all, I currently work as faculty at a large University in the graduate dept. We deal with thousands of applicants and phone calls as well. I have NEVER heard our reception dept. deal with any students in this manner! We have to remember that we are trying to tempt the best and brightest to come to our University. Yes, I concede that everyone has a bad day but I am not the only one to express this about this particular university.

Secondly, I understand that the majority of us are type A personalities BUT if you don't want a bunch of phone calls then don't put the statement on your application instruction sheet that "it is the students responsibility to CALL and verify that all application materials were rec." !!! I was extremely courteous and even offered to call back if they were busy and this was just met with another rude comment.

I am not anxious about acceptance - I have already been accepted to my number two choice (and this is not my #1 thank God) I was simply calling as instructed to verify completion of my application.

I am not usually one of those people who is always complaining - just thought I would try and find out if this is a common problem
THANKS for the input

ANY OTHER BAD EXPERIENCES OUT THERE???

 

[jonb12997]

Why don't you try emailing in stead of calling? I've tried to do that mostly and that way they can get back to me when they're able. It's no huge rush, they don't feel like they HAVE to answer me right NOW. I think it takes the pressure. Oh well, just my $.02.

 

[Megalofyia]

Originally posted by jonb12997
Why don't you try emailing in stead of calling? I've tried to do that mostly and that way they can get back to me when they're able. It's no huge rush, they don't feel like they HAVE to answer me right NOW. I think it takes the pressure. Oh well, just my $.02.

Apparently the school instructed applicants to call to see if their application was good to go.

 

[PT to D.O./M.D.]

Exactly - just following instructions

 

[PT to D.O./M.D.]

serenity now!
-Kramer😀

 

[Idiopathic]

I called all the time...and sometimes i got the impression that I was the 100th caller that person had heard from in the last hour about this subject. I just tried to keep it all in perspective. BUT, I also understand that if you are looking for a reason to not consider a school (you seem to be in a position of power), then this could certainly be one.

 

[Robz]

I dunno....I don't think there is an excuse for being rude. UNLESS the caller is being rude or short with you. They are getting paid to answer the phones and to do the work. I really would have no probelms calling the department head or a supervisor if I was treated like crap or hung up on. Its just common respect.

 

[Idiopathic]

People have bad days...lighten up.

edit: a SIGH does not exactly equal being hung up on.

 

[Robz]

lighten up? You should see me when I am actualy serious about something. 🙂

Anyway, people do have bad days. That true. I have have had them...so have others. Thats nice. I used to work for the disney company...bad day? They don't care. They expect you to be happy and respectful to everyone and thats what I got paid for.

Don't get me wrong I'm one of the most forgiving people out there except when it comes to certain things. My whole point is if I was treated with a lack of respect by an office staff, I would mostly likely give them a second chance. Maybe even on another day, but if it happened again? Thats when I would go around. We spend a lot of money on secondaries and this whole application process so I treat it as a business. 😳

 

[JolliBee]

I agree with Robz and PA to DO/MD...there is no excuse for being rude. I used to be an engineer for a major corporation and our motto was "One face to the customer", i.e., everyone in contact with the customer should treat him/her with respect, no excuses even if you're having a bad day. There is only one chance to make a positive first impression and once that's gone, it's really hard to rebuild your image once it's knocked down.

I realize that admissions personnel are bombarded by tons of type A callers everyday but I have met admissions people who are consistently courteous and others that are consistently rude. When I've visited these schools with the "nice" admissions people, the positive feeling carried over to the entire visit and atmosphere of the school. I declined an interview with the rude people because I spoke to them on three different occasions and I came away with a bad feeling everytime. After a while all the schools start to look so similar that, for me, personal interaction really does play a factor in choosing the school.

On the other hand, I've heard that admissions departments should not be the discouraging factor...however, if you have choices...RUN AWAY!!! Just joking but schools should realize that oftentimes an applicant's first contact is with the admissions office and personable, friendly people should be answering the phones. Best of luck to all involved...even to the people answering the phones.

 

[polo8250]

Originally posted by NDESTRUKT
i disagree with the previous post.

psychology is a social science. i am not aware of any school that psych falls under the science department, but am not closed to the fact that it could be at some places. i only know a certain number of schools, however, so i'm not an authority on this - but every school i know, from my alma mater, Purdue, to the UC school system to Stanford, Harvard, Indiana University, etc...lists psych as a social science or liberal art...hence the bachelor's degree is a BA (Bachelor of Arts), not a BS (Bachelor of Science). Neuroscience, though, is close to what psych is and I believe that's in the science departments.

GonnabeDO, I think it'd be neat to see what schools you know of that would place psych under a science dept, this would help shed some light on my understanding too =)

I got my BS in Psychology from the University of Florida so it is considered a science 😉

 

[Idiopathic]

LOL...I think you can get a BS in English

 

[NDESTRUKT]

hmm...very interesting. i guess i learn something new all the time! =)