February 12th, 2016
In this week’s blog, our study abroad student, Clayton Winston Johans, continues sharing his experience and frustration as he tries to get accepted into a university in Germany.
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After much delay I finally received the news I didn’t want to hear. Yes, the infamous quote of “No we have not received your transcripts” echoed from the loudspeaker on my cell phone. If you are an international student or are planning to be these are words of dread. I reassured the admissions representative that over a week and half ago I received confirmation of receiving my transcripts with a signature of receipt by a school official. I even explained that I had emailed this confirmation but of course had not heard back any response. After a quick and succinct relay of questions and answers from the admissions office who has been handling my file at the school, I was instructed to resend my email that had the aforementioned confirmation. That night I double checked the emails I had sent and of course I was in the right and had provided all the accurate information to the school admissions office. A week goes by and no response addressing my resent confirmation email. I decided best to speak to the person in charge, so I called and was confronted with a messaging service to which I left two voice messages regarding my case. Another week starts to pass me by and I am all the while wondering as to why I am not getting a simple response to my email; even an acknowledgement of the communication would have calmed my nerves.
I wait another day and I call the international student office, whose staff has been completely helpful during this entire procedure and they explained that they will contact the individual responsible for school admission directly and that I would hear back from them the following day. At this point I thought, I’ve heard this all before, so long for my adventure, my future European education was coming to a halt even before it started, as my expectations were completely shattered.
The following night, I was headed to sleep and decided to check my emails once more. Lo and behold an email had been sent to me, not in the evening of course but had arrived in the inbox midday and somehow had been overlooked. Words of relief! “We have in fact received your emails and you will be contacted for an interview by our staff once the professors have reviewed your application and academic records.” (At this particular university the professors of the desired department gather and review the student’s records together and request a time from the future student to present to them their portfolio). I am now to wait further for the anticipated date to which I shall finally have my acceptance answer.
I have to say this admissions procedure is like climbing a ladder, every other rung breaks from under you but you are still able to move forward. Strange analogy I know, but this is a strange process to a stranger in a strange land.
That’s all for now, until next time!
Clayton Winston Johans