Tuskegee complaint

[Max Power]

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Hi all,

Now that I'm accepted at SGU I can let out a little sigh of relief and shift my focus from applications/interview to financial aid, immunizations, etc. Another loose end I'd like to tie up is with Tuskegee. I interviewed there (on 3 days notice) and had to pay out of pocket for 2 nights at a hotel in Atlanta, the flight, rental car, food, etc to go there. I took the interview very seriously (even though at that point I had started to think about going to SGU). Needless to say, they sent their acceptances weeks late, and I never got an acceptance/waitlist/rejection notification. I went through tons of unanswered phone calls, unreturned voice messages, emails, and even certified mail (they did receive the letter). This caused me a great deal of stress, during dead week/finals mind you. It also forced me to apply to SGU and St. Matt's during that stressful time. Although it's over now and I'm happy to go to my school of choice (a third world country was nicer than the town of Tuskegee) I'd still like to take some action to let it be known that this type of behavior is unproffesional and cruel. I'm wondering, should I contact the AVMA and make some sort of complaint? I realize that Tuskegee doesn't even look at their mail/emails/phone calls. What else should I do? I realize it's over and I'm totally over it, but I sincerely don't want anyone else to have to go through that. Rejections sucks, but not knowing is worse. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[Pigsfoot]

I have actually heard of this happening with a couple of different schools, and even med school as well. Maybe some applications just fall through the cracks, who knows.

however-i'd like to know what peoples opinions are of Tuskeegee overall as a vet school. I've heard various things lately and i'd like to know more.

 

[AuburnPreVet]

I can't comment on the quality of Tuskegee's education since my first hand knowledge is limited - but, regarding not getting back to applicants, being rude on the phone, etc... that is the norm for them. I know several people who applied this year who simply didn't hear back at all (and one who interviewed, then didn't hear back). When you call it tends to go to voicemail, which they seemingly don't check. I'm glad I didn't apply there.

 

[kate_g]

I realize that Tuskegee doesn't even look at their mail/emails/phone calls.

Maybe - and only if the apathy is a failure of the "system" rather than a reflection of the actual attitude of the people at the top - you'd get through if you find out the name of the Dean of the vet school and figure out how to mail a letter so that it goes directly to her/him rather than into the general "admissions office" mail pile. It would be very, very important in this case to not sound like someone who's just whining over being rejected (not saying you *are*, just that this is the easiest defensive assumption for *them*).

Off the top of my head I'd suggest a polite but not effusive introductory paragraph, perhaps even stating that they were your second choice school just to reinforce that you're not whining, followed by a concise, dispassionate, bulleted list of the things that happened *to you* that you think were inappropriate or handled badly. Don't name names of specific staff people who brushed you off. Don't exaggerate, and give specific dates if you can (if it was eight days, don't say "I waited weeks to hear back..."). Don't include "my friend said that she heard..." type stuff. Again off the top of my head, I think saying you were "frustrated" and "confused" by their attitude and inaction would be OK, but "angry" or "depressed" or other strong emotions should be left out.

One other important point might be to acknowledge that they get *so* many applications that obviously the staff can't give every applicant the personal attention they might like to, but that your experience with Tuskegee was substantially worse than with other schools you applied to and interviewed with that had similar numbers of applicants.

Good luck. I am actually going to the school that did the *worst* job, by far, of making me feel welcome and wanted during the application/interview process. Now that they're just dealing with the people who are actually matriculating, though, I've found the staff to be nothing but friendly and helpful. I've been considering if there's some way I can politely let the relevant people know how hostile the application and interview process was, without making a "name" for myself with the administration before school even starts. 😀

 

[Nexx]

That's been a norm for Tuskegee for years as far as I know. Well, it's almost a norm for Alabama in general.

Try even getting an application and information mailed to you! Some of my former co-workers had to have a former student/former Class president call up there to get any sort of movement out of them.

If you feel that strongly about writing a complaint go ahead and do it. It may fall on deaf ears or it may help future students. But Kate's suggestions seem like a good place to start.

Congrats btw, on getting into SGU

 

[Max Power]

That's the reason I waited until now, to let the frustration blow over and concentrate on getting into SGU as I planned. It just seems that this kind of crap happens to too many people that deal with this school. I'd just like to do something constructive, not so much as to complain. And to think, I wanted to go there for the Southern hospitality! They can suck it lol

 

[River5]

I called and emailed a variety of people at Tuskeegee, even my contact person given to me by a vet I worked for who was a Tuskeegee graduate. No one responded to my requests for an application so I gave up around August of last year. In terms of the level of education, every vet I have worked for who graduated from there was top-notch, however I agree that not responding to repeated requests and especially not sending out an acceptance/rejection/waitlist letter is unprofessional.

 

[alldolledup]

Hi Everyone,

I applied to Tuskgee too this year, and still have not heard anything from them. I tried calling Dr. Webster directly and also tried calling a man named Dr. Mackinze who was also supposed to be in charge of the admissions process. However, I was not successful in being able to contact either of them and am thankful I was accepted to Ohio State but was also curious to see whether or not I was accepted/rejected to Tuskegee.

I think that whatever complaints that one might file against Tuskegee would be futile. There have been other problems with Tuskegee in the past holding students financial aid money from them and when the students complained to the state of Alabama etc., the state said that they had investigated the reports, but there was nothing they could do because it was a minority institution etc. I also know how you feel MaxPower, and I wish you luck in the future and congratulations on being accepted to SGU class of 2011.

 

[CookieBear]

I had emailed Tuskegee to request an application and never got a reply.

I mailed a letter of request, and the application came a short time later (maybe two weeks, or three weeks tops).

When I mentioned to someone who has vet education experience of my intent to apply there, I was given the advice to apply to Auburn instead.

🙁

 

[twosoakers]

and to top it all off (though certainly not reflective of the veterinary school):

http://www.brown.edu/Courses/Bio_160/Projects2000/Ethics/TUSKEGEESYPHILISSTUDY.html

 

[deadvet]

and to top it all off (though certainly not reflective of the veterinary school):

http://www.brown.edu/Courses/Bio_160/Projects2000/Ethics/TUSKEGEESYPHILISSTUDY.html

For those who do not know, this was a study done on the African American men of the town of Tuskegee by white scientists. No reflection on the entire school as these were scientists from outside the town of Tuskegee. It was called the Tuskegee Experiment because its "victims" were citizens of the town.

 

[wildfocus]

For those who do not know, this was a study done on the African American men of the town of Tuskegee by white scientists. No reflection on the entire school as these were scientists from outside the town of Tuskegee. It was called the Tuskegee Experiment because its "victims" were citizens of the town.

right, and this is actually really old news - the white scientists were from the pubic health department. clinton apologized to the victims in 90's (not that it makes it better), but this study has been acknowledged, made into movies, reported upon, and debated. it is often used as an example for what not to do to in human subjects research. also, it is important to note, that when they began the study, antibiotics weren't in high use - there had been other studies on the effects of untreated syphilis in other areas all over the world (on whites and blacks) - the real breach of ethics occurred after there was treatment and the scientists didn't provide it. yes, racist, but also very classist. if these poor men (and all whom they infected) had access to good health care, they could have been treated with penicillin. also, there was a real stigma about having syphilis all the way up to the 80's, so talking about it wasn't very common.

i work in a syphilis lab and am happy to provide more literature on the subject if anyone is really interested. pm me.

 

[Max Power]

yeah, the school wasn't involved

*because that would take organization lol

//sorry...too much miller lite