Technical difficulties - a note to future applicants

[brassinpocket_]

Hi all,

So, the application for UNC's PhD program in Soc was due on Dec. 31st. I tried to complete and submit in on Dec. 30th (not normally a procrastinator, but I needed to wait for my paycheck,) but it would not let me save my personal information, nor would it properly upload my supporting documents. I tried on three different computers. I

Comments

[purplesocks]

I have been through something very similar to this before! At UNC, in fact!

I'm happy to share details, but want to keep it somewhat quiet for a couple of reasons (one is that I work at UNC!). Let me know if you want my story - I'll post and then probably delete - but there is definitely some advice within.

Good luck! I actually took one of the doctoral-level sociology courses last spring and really enjoyed it. The students in the course with me were definitely very bright and very friendly.

[brassinpocket_]

Thanks for your reply! I talked to someone in the help desk and she helped me with my application problems. Someone in the department assured me my app would be reviewed, so I am very relieved. Otherwise I would like to hear your story, so thanks for your offer :-)

[purplesocks]

I'm glad it worked out for you! I'll spare you the rest of my story, but I did most of what you did and it ended up not working out. I got the degree from my second-choice school and took it back to UNC to get the job I wanted there anyway, but it was not a pleasant experience. Waiting a year could've been an option, but I was so tired of the situation I was in at that point that I just wasn't willing to wait.

You were smart to contact the department right away as well - the one for the program I wanted into was on my side and helped me out a lot, but they weren't allowed to officially review my application until/unless the graduate school allowed them to, which they never did.

[everyoneiknow]

For anyone else who may be freaking out about something similar - please remember that it isn't the end of the world if you end up waiting another year to apply. And to anyone in their final semester of undergrad, they could use the year off to do more research, get work experience, really polish their application, and maybe even do some of the reading that will be required during the actual program to make your time there later a little less stressful. I wouldn't recommend that people take a year off because of missing a deadline at one school, but if it's a situation like this where that one school is THE school and the person hasn't really applied to other schools, taking time off and applying later should at least be considered as a valid option!

(Also, for anyone submitting anything for any reason around a holiday - always expect that there will be extra trouble, fewer workers around to answer questions, etc. during a school break and ESPECIALLY on a holiday weekend!)

UNC student

[anonymous]

I'm a student at UNC. The school just switched over to a terrible new system for everything computer-related--registration, enrollment, bursar stuff, and I'm assuming online applications. I want to reassure you that everyone at UNC realizes how glitchy and technically awful the new system is and because of that, will most likely not hold it against you at all. I see that you spoke to someone who reaffirmed this which is great. Just wanted to let you know that I feel your pain (and hope that by the time you are accepted here, they've done away with ConnectCarolina)!

Re: UNC student

[brassinpocket_]

Thanks for your kind words!