They didn't get my application packet which was sent like ten days ago!!!!

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Jan 30, 2006

Keep calling them. That happened to me at TWO of the places I applied. Stony Brook in NY said they couldn't find two of my transcripts (they eventually located them; I called about four times to check with them) and I actually missed the first application review for Duke because they said I hadn't sent my GRE scores to them (I HAD; they were in the system but the person who reviewed my paperwork said they weren't - GOOD THING I CALLED - they verified the download date that they got the scores from ETS and couldn't apologize enough, but STILL...)

Be nice, be professional, but be persistent. Did you send them registered mail? I hand-delivered all my stuff to UNC and then asked the secretary to sign a note verifying that everything on that list was there (she was actually very nice about it and said she didn't blame me one bit). I did the same thing for Duke; Stony Brook's app was online and I could check my credentials status online as well. I don't trust the US mail for regular mailed bills, much less documents this important. And anything that had to be mailed went certified or registered AND priority. (I even took prepaid priority envelopes to my schools for my transcript copies. A bit overzealous? Maybe - but I once saw it take the US mail six weeks to deliver a card from NC to Oklahoma. It took them eleven weeks to deliver a priority envelope - with my tax information in it, I might add - via APO to Saudi Arabia - but I was getting stuff from amazon.com in SIX DAYS to the same address! I haven't trusted them since.)

If you copied the app before you sent it, ask them will they accept your copy for right now, and will they help you in retrieving second copies of your transcripts. When my transcripts were missing, the schools in question (one was small and private; one was a community college) both offered to submit second copies for free for me.

Hang in there - and let us know what happens.

nurseyoon · Jan 30, 2006

Thank you for your concern..

Well, I called them again, but they just said they don't have mine.

I am very suspicious about USPS...

Unfortunately, I didn't get any tracking methods right now.

what I am nervous about the most is that package should have been sent as first class mail.. does it take like over a week?

Jeff said me to call them again on this Friday....

I don't know what they are talking about.

I am so sad...

I didn't make any copies.. though I have my transcripts,,,

I can make new application but the problem is recommendation letters.

I am so sorry to do that again to my professors.

Maybe, I have believed blindly about USPS..

please wish me luck.

hope all's well with you.

Kathyz · Jan 30, 2006

I'm sorry to hear what happened. Knowing schools it's probably there somewhere. Give it a day or two then call back. I hand delivered mine!

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Jan 31, 2006

I am so sorry to read this. Lets pray it will get there soon. Did you mail it with a confirmation or signature receipt?

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Jan 31, 2006

Thank you for your concern..
Well, I called them again, but they just said they don't have mine.
I am very suspicious about USPS...
Unfortunately, I didn't get any tracking methods right now.
what I am nervous about the most is that package should have been sent as first class mail.. does it take like over a week?
Jeff said me to call them again on this Friday....
I don't know what they are talking about.
I am so sad...
I didn't make any copies.. though I have my transcripts,,,
I can make new application but the problem is recommendation letters.
I am so sorry to do that again to my professors.
Maybe, I have believed blindly about USPS..
please wish me luck.
hope all's well with you.

I've seen regular first class mail take two to two and a half weeks.

I would go ahead and give your professors a heads up and request another rec letter, redo your app, get your transcripts together, and resend it – but I’d go ahead and spend the money and either send it overnight through USPS, or use UPS Document services (which doesn’t cost much more than the post office in most cases). If you send something overnight, the post office GUARANTEES it will arrive the next business day as long as it’s mailed by COB – and if it’s NOT there, they have to reimburse your postage. Priority mail is NOT guaranteed; all that means is it goes in the bag before regular first class mail, so it’s moved a bit faster.

I do not trust the USPS with anything of any importance - unless I MAKE them handle it responsibly, either by just letting them bilk me for express mailing, or by certifying/registering the mail. If I do the latter, I pay the extra buck or so and attach a return receipt. When the letter/package arrives at the destination, the recipient signs a little card, detaches it from the letter, and then drops it in the mail. You get it back, with the person's signature on it - and then you have proof SOMEONE there got it.

Hang in there. It sounds as though your school is being very understanding. But I’d go ahead and get that app redone and resubmitted before they run out of niceness…

smile123 · Jan 31, 2006

I am sosososo frustrated!
How come this happen to me?
I called TJU which I want the most, and the lady said they do not have
anything from me.
I put every material in one envelop which they sent me to use!!!
The envelope has their address on it and I didn't even need to put my postage at all. It was so perfect!
i don't have any copies now and I cannot beg another recommendation letters to my professors!
I want to cry but I can't!
I am so stunned.
:angryfire
whose fault is this?
They said that i should call them like 2-3 days after,

Sorry to hear about your predicament. The lesson in all this for others is: always send your application packet with a confirmation return receipt with tracking numbers (It's worth sending FedEx for something that has your career at stake) and make copies of all your stuff. When you have professors who write recommendations for you, ask them to keep electronic copies in case you need another one. Always keep an extra set of transcripts (sealed) as backups. Have your essay available online; email it to yourself so if your computer blows, you'll have a copy. I've seen and heard too many stories of how the mail service did not come through in a timely manner and the school did not bother to look for the application due to the volume of applicants. Taking some of those extra steps will alleviate some of the stress. Good luck!

Smile123

charleybarley · Feb 1, 2006

Hey nurseyoon. Did you hear anything yet? I also applied to TJU and it did take a while for them to finally receive my application. I was calling them frantically and they said that they recieve hundreds of pieces of mail each week, so just to be patient and wait. I know its hard to be patient in this situations- especially when a deadline is near. I would suggest mailing whatever you have right now- mail that out again. I know how much of a pain it can be to access and then ask professors for recs so.. maybe.. if you can hold out on that for another week... or just shoot them an email to let them know what happened and maybe they will see the problem and write another one. My advisor said that most profs do keep recs on file, so they should still have them.

Good luck with everything!!

BlaineCM · Feb 1, 2006

I had a problem with two of the schools I applied to. I sent my application and letter of recommendations in as early as possible. I figured everything had gotten there so I wasn't concerned with calling to find out right away. I called a month later and both schools said they had not received one of my LORs. I had to call the professor again and have him send another LOR. What a mess! Also the third school I applied to has a place on their homepage where you can check your admission status. Well I checked my status and it says "there is no application on file for me". I called the college of nursing about that one and they said they have all of my stuff and they don't know why it is sayng that. I hope they know what they are talking about or I will will be out of luck. Anyway, schools seem to mess up during the application process quite a bit. Hopefully your materials are there or will be there soon, but in the future I would make sure to make copies of EVERYTHING! Good luck.

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Feb 1, 2006

Just checking in, been wondering what the outcome was. Still praying for ya!

missninaRN · Feb 1, 2006

Since I am the type of person who tends to obsess over things, I sent my application wtih confirmation delivery and made sure that I had a second official copy of everything just in case.

I checked USPS yesterday and it shows that it was delivered. Now I just have to worry about the Nursing School losing it! Perhaps I'll call a couple of weeks before it is due just to make sure they got it? Or am I becoming paranoid?

nurseyoon · Feb 1, 2006

I called them again today, but I heard from them just to call again of Friday.

WhyWhyWhy friday? And also I asked why they want me to call on Friday?

Are they sure that my application will be there on Fri? Don't they think I should resend my stuff?

And she goes like.. "Someone(maybe supervisor?)will tell you about your application and let you know whether you have to resend your materials again."

Well, I should just take a deep breath and wait 2 days more.

and then take another step as asking professors LOR again.

I hope USPS has successfully done their work already.

Is it possible not to deliever "business reply mail"? Because I sent my things inside the business reply mail envelope which Jeff gave me to use for my application.

Thank you for all your warm replies..

I will let you know on this Friday!!!