Snobby ICO Admissions Rep.

[OATAcer]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

I just called ICO, and wanted to ask them a couple of questions in regards to admissions as I am running late, and the representative in the admission department was a B****. She was like "What are your questions!?" Like demanding me to give my questions and cut to the chase. I was like "I need some inside info. on how many seats are open for the class, and for interviews as I don't want to waste my time/money" and she was like "Okay then just apply next year, I don't have that information." I was like "okay would the department have that information?" Her voice gets all loud and goes "no, this is the department" She said it was was not the department, she said it was Admissions!

 

[janedoe88]

:/

 

[withinvision]

Sorry, but I think you should be kinder/flexible to the people that you speak to in admissions. They're literally dealing with hundreds of applicants and I believe right now is when they're most busy. Fact is it's pretty late in the cycle - so they're probably in the middle of processing a lot. I would be careful what you say about them, especially since they can pass along the message if they thought you were being discourteous. Also realize that they are NOT obligated to tell you how many seats are open for the class. Some schools are open about that information but others are not.

 

[OATAcer]

Thanks for being "Sorry." However, I completely disagree. I don't care if they are super busy, it is their job to deal with questions. I am dealing with a whole lot of steps into getting to the school and that includes $$$. I will be investing $$$ into the school for my education and with that I deserve excellent customer service. All the other schools I called, they were so sweet to me! If they are having a bad day and want to give attitude to some students, then they shouldn't of applied for being an admissions counselor and instead went for another career.

Sorry, but I think you should be kinder/flexible to the people that you speak to in admissions. They're literally dealing with hundreds of applicants and I believe right now is when they're most busy. Fact is it's pretty late in the cycle - so they're probably in the middle of processing a lot. I would be careful what you say about them, especially since they can pass along the message if they thought you were being discourteous. Also realize that they are NOT obligated to tell you how many seats are open for the class. Some schools are open about that information but others are not.

 

[twelvesixteen]

Thanks for being "Sorry." However, I completely disagree. I don't care if they are super busy, it is their job to deal with questions. I am dealing with a whole lot of steps into getting to the school and that includes $$$. I will be investing $$$ into the school for my education and with that I deserve excellent customer service. All the other schools I called, they were so sweet to me! If they are having a bad day and want to give attitude to some students, then they shouldn't of applied for being an admissions counselor and instead went for another career.

I honestly agree. I can't say anything for the ICO admissions rep but the prospective students for the school deal the most with the admissions counselor. Yes, maybe some students may be more/less knowledgeable than others but if an admissions counselor is rude, it is a really big turnoff from the school for me.

 

[hiddenf]

Maybe you just happen to get her on a bad day. All of the ICO admission people that I dealt with were extremely nice. I don't think you should let that one person ruin your image of the school.

 

[withinvision]

Don't misunderstand - I understand why you'd be upset - I've run into poor customer service in the process too, but the first thing that ran through my mind was that it was probably an off day for her. When I interviewed at ICO, all levels of the administrative staff, students, and ODs were among the most friendly and nice that I've encountered yet. I only wanted to point out that every school varies in terms of whether they want to share how many open spots they have available. You can't always expect it and you have to be careful with the phrasing of questions. I agree with hiddenf that you shouldn't let that one person ruin your image of the school because I honestly believe it was probably an off day or she had a lot of other duties to handle. I just wanted to provide other explanations that you should take into mind too.

 

[OATAcer]

Don't misunderstand - I understand why you'd be upset - I've run into poor customer service in the process too, but the first thing that ran through my mind was that it was probably an off day for her. When I interviewed at ICO, all levels of the administrative staff, students, and ODs were among the most friendly and nice that I've encountered yet. I only wanted to point out that every school varies in terms of whether they want to share how many open spots they have available. You can't always expect it and you have to be careful with the phrasing of questions. I agree with hiddenf that you shouldn't let that one person ruin your image of the school because I honestly believe it was probably an off day or she had a lot of other duties to handle. I just wanted to provide other explanations that you should take into mind too.

Sure, let's see when I call again how they will talk to me. But like I said, if they are having a "bad day" or like ya'll say "off day" then they should of just studied for another career

 

[dinkus]

Sure, let's see when I call again how they will talk to me. But like I said, if they are having a "bad day" or like ya'll say "off day" then they should of just studied for another career

It's should have...

 

[Jason K]

I just called ICO, and wanted to ask them a couple of questions in regards to admissions as I am running late, and the representative in the admission department was a B****. She was like "What are your questions!?" Like demanding me to give my questions and cut to the chase. I was like "I need some inside info. on how many seats are open for the class, and for interviews as I don't want to waste my time/money" and she was like "Okay then just apply next year, I don't have that information." I was like "okay would the department have that information?" Her voice gets all loud and goes "no, this is the department" She said it was was not the department, she said it was Admissions!

You guys just don't get it. As an applicant to optometry school, you're not in the power position - they are. You guys SHOULD be in the power position because they need YOUR money for a product which they provide TO YOU. Unfortunately, as screwed up as the education business has become, schools no longer consider themselves as a provider of a service/product, they've become a collection center for student loan checks.

If you get miffed out by an admissions rep who forgot her Midol, skip ICO completely. You won't fit in there. If you don't have thick skin, you'll need to go to a place like Oklahoma or Ferris to be comfortable. Some programs will go out of their way to crap on you, just like MD programs. Others won't. If it bothers you, you should find one that doesn't.

 

[euphaire]

I just called ICO, and wanted to ask them a couple of questions in regards to admissions as I am running late, and the representative in the admission department was a B****. She was like "What are your questions!?" Like demanding me to give my questions and cut to the chase. I was like "I need some inside info. on how many seats are open for the class, and for interviews as I don't want to waste my time/money" and she was like "Okay then just apply next year, I don't have that information." I was like "okay would the department have that information?" Her voice gets all loud and goes "no, this is the department" She said it was was not the department, she said it was Admissions!

I can understand how you feel. When I talked with ICO admissions in 2010 and 2011, it was the same lady, and she was not very easy to talk to. You probably talked to the same person. I think it's easier if we just accept that not everyone is going to be polite/pleasant. It's especially true once we become health professionals. To be honest, once I see past her unpleasantness, she's pretty helpful and has given me all the info I needed.

 

[netmag]

I attended an open house there with a friend once. In person, the people seemed nice to me overall. The only thing I would personally say based only on my friend's future dealings with their admissions is that perhaps their act isn't quite as together or quite to the level as the school's very high tuition might suggest it would be. That's only based on one experience though and as others have said, while the attitude may rub the wrong way a little, that doesn't necessarily mean that the school as a whole has issues. It could also be that they're swamped with apps and have absolutely no trouble filling their class. That's certainly not a good excuse, but if so then it would give them the power to be that way if they choose to and to make admissions decisions however they wish. It's then up to you as to whether that becomes a deal breaker then.

 

[eyegirl89]

There's no need to take it so personally. Perhaps she isn't able to answer that question or you asked or phrased your question the wrong way. Either way toughen up and don't let such small things bother you. It's part of the whole process.