Problems with MacEwan?

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Has anyone else had problems with admission at Grant MacEwan in Edmonton?

I applied there for both Jan and Sept 2010 and have nothing but problems. I'll spare you the details, but suffice to say: I transferred there (fully admissible) because I felt so strongly called to nursing. Since Jan was full, I took some of the required courses that semester. They labelled me as "lacks early acceptance" (not according to all their pamphlets and web documents!) and I have heard nothing since March. No one will give me any information about my file. I've emailed, gone in, phoned, and written a formal complaint (which was not responded to). I applied six months ago and am still waiting to hear from them!

The apparent incompetence and lack of professionalism is appalling, especially from a post-secondary institution attempting to market themselves as a "university". Customer service is lacking. And with over a thousand applications per intake, it would be advisable for them to hire an additional admissions person for the BScN (there's only one lady doing it--really).

Unless you are applying straight from high school within a short time after applications open, I would think twice about attending. It's unfortunate, because it seems that they turn out great nurses and I've heard good things about the program from people I know who are in it. But the lack of professionalism and integrity is serious. The message I got was that they are not interested in anything but my money. (Tuition is more there than at UofA, and they constantly pressure you to "apply for the next intake right away".)

I know there is at least one other person who had a bad experience with admissions there (we were classmates and she is also on this forum). Anyone else?

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Well, you know about my experience, similar to yours. I'm also curious about what others are experiencing.

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Oh--I failed to mention that as soon as they told me they were full for Jan, I reapplied for Sept. That was on the first day of winter classes.

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MacEwan's nursing admissions have always been a mess and open to interpretation. It's not since GM gained university status.

I applied in the '90s for the RN diploma course. Was rejected outright, told my Grade 12 was "too old". Totally ignored my Arts courses and nursing courses offered at night school I'd taken at GMCC (which worked out to B average). At the same time they also rejected a paramedic. We were in the same interview group. Don't even get me started on the joke of "maturestudent" applications (too many university credits to qualify). They had a very specific student in mind was the opinion of many of the older applicants there.

At that time, they accepted people fresh out of high school. They had over 1200 applicants for roughly 120 places.

I remember thinking that nursing applicants must pay for their own clerk in their admissions office.

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I remember thinking that nursing applicants must pay for their own clerk in their admissions office.

Now there's a good idea! That might actually get things done!

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