I only share this for two reasons. 1. For anybody who does apply at Henley. First, be over their age limit, and secondly be ready for a ride. 2. I wonder if anybody has gone through this. (Also, I have been asked so many times in independent e-mails, I thought it was time to clear the air). My biggest worry has come true…. Henley has changed their minds… which I didn’t think COULD happen. Cancel the plane tickets, everything has changed. Ok, here is what happened. The one person in the interview panel had told me he was concerned I was under 35, and they had never accepted anyone under 35 before. I tried to explain if I was qualified for the program, except for the age, Henley should see this as a strong asset, since I will bring a perspective that differs from the current student pool. They now had doubts and bumped it up to the Director. I spoke with the other person I interviewed with and I was told I was unofficially accepted and expect a letter in the next week. But then I heard nothing……. I called the Director, and I spoke with him directly, and he said he was also having doubts. I asked him for my options. He said he needed something to tip the scales. I did not have a Master’s dissertation, so the GMAT was the only alternative for him. I received official e-mails later in the day. “ The Application Panel agreed that given you are relatively younger than the majority of our applicants, they would wish to see further evidence in support of your application.” “The Director of Studies would therefore wish to see a GMAT, and we would normally look for a total score in excess of XXX, to give you an indication. If you were able to do a GMAT test quickly, we may still be able to consider you for entry onto the programme this year (http://www.gmat.org)” I received a follow up e-mail about 5 minutes later: “(Name taken out) has asked me to confirm that the GMAT would be seen as supporting material, and wished to assure you that the scores would be interpreted intelligently. We do not rigidly apply any minimum score, as the application as a whole would be considered. It is recognized that the GMAT has a limited value in predicting how people would perform, however, it is often a helpful indicator. Have you already taken a GMAT test? If so, this may be sufficient. “ I took the GMAT and did not score up to par (which I knew I wouldn’t). I knew my only option was to give some supporting material and hope for the best. I received a call on Thursday that the Director was going to take the material to the board, and he thought that he might be able to make a miracle happen. Since my age hadn’t changed much in a week, I wasn’t holding out much hope. I received an e-mail to all of the concerned parties (interview, admissions, and the Director), stating my dismay in age playing a factor, and not the entire application. I was told I had been accepted, and was very concerned if the program can take back its acceptance after making these statements in the interview process, that I didn’t want this to happen after the program begun. On Friday (24 hours before I was to get on the plane), he sent me an e-mail stating that I would not be accepted, but to apply next year. He did state that he took a personal interest in my application and thought I had the qualities and overall application they were looking for in a student to start the DBA program. After this roller coaster, I am not sure what to do. I completed my application months in advance, and did not receive any communication until a month from the program start, and then received an e-mail above to take a test, not required in the application process, to get accepted. “If you were able to do a GMAT quickly, we may still be able to consider you for entry…”. I did get accepted to 2 other programs and am scrambling to get all the information in. What a horrible way to start the process.
Hi Kristie - I'm sorry for this developement and I'm surprised that the issue is age (I must confess, I don't get it). If you have other realistic options then I'd go that route. I know that I'm talking about my own foibles, but I don't know if I could really wrap my mind around a program after such an event. In any case, good luck. Jack
I did get accepted to 2 other programs and am scrambling to get all the information in. What a horrible way to start the process. [/B][/QUOTE] Sorry to hear that... So what are your other two program options?
I have read two threads today about problems with Brit schools: John Spies on Queen Margaret U. C. and kristie7 on Henley. A lack of professionalism in each case. Rather a disturbing trend. My own involvement with UK postgraduate education has involved University of London, who were polite, efficient, & effective, and University of Manchester, who frankly were a little flaky so I abandoned ship.
This is really sad. I think this is one of the problems with DL. You may not see it now, but in the final analysis this will have all been for the best, I truly believe. Good luck with your other options and may God bless you.
Re: Re: Henley was a roller coaster..... I don't want to say, since I contacted the one I am very interested in now (my second choice), and they thought I was accepted and going to Henley, so not sure if there is still a spot for me. I e-mailed the Director to see if there is still a spot over a week ago and have not heard back...... the nightmare continues... I will post when I actually get accepeted, in writing, pay, and start the program (once bitten, twice shy)..... Denver - Help!
I can't believe any school in the 21st Century would base ability on age. I'm really sorry you had this experience, but glad you're hanging in there with others. If they had accepted you, it may have been an unpleasant situation where you were always expected to prove your merit in an inequitable manner. Its their loss, not yours.
Kristie, I'm sorry this happened to you. Hopefully it will all work out for the best. One question, from your post it seems as though you did not take the GMAT when you applied to the University of Tulsa. If this is the case, how did you gain acceptance into that program without GMAT scores?
Having gone through something very similar at Torquemada University at the diss stage, all I can tell you is run, run, run. A squirrelly institution is almost as bad as a "repentant" credentialmonger. Believe nothing they say. Trust nothing they write, especially in e-mail or internet (endless editing by the CYA dept). Go somewhere else. Curse perfidious Albion. Best of luck to you. Carpathicus implacabilis.
Kristie, It is not a big deal to have suffered this sort of rejection. I truly hope you aren’t disappointed. If it’s a consolation for you, my wife was rejected by a middle of the pack British university, and simultaneously accepted by the LSE, the best possible school of the world in her field of study (she ended up somewhere else for her PhD though where she’s truly happy). I think the world is full of opportunities up for grabs, and there is no reason to feel disillusioned. Well, maybe just for a few minutes…. Good luck. Seeing your motivation and drive, I am abolutely confident that you’ll be a PhD student in a few weeks. PS. Have you considered EBS of Heriot Watt University? It’s my impression that EBS is better regarded in Europe that Henley, a perfect unknown. I am aware you are into AACSB accreditation but this may still be a good option for you.
I did take the GMAT, but it was considered to be in the "old" format when I applied. Not sure what that means, becuase the two tests seemed similar to me, but they asked me to take the updated version.... $225 later.... urgh!
Disease of the learned Kristie I cannot comment on Henley’s admissions procedures or the administrative problems you have experienced (only to sympathise with your feelings about them). Reading between the lines this may have crystallised into an age criterion but there also appears to be more in it than a mere number. Your age is not stated but your Bachelor degree is 2001 and your MBA 2003; if these bring you under 25 I can see the problem with a DBA degree application, once it goes to a final committee session. Most DBAs admission committees would be looking for an over 25-age criterion, probably nearer over 30. Bear in mind at the committee stage most members will not have met or spoken to you. Your sponsoring faculty would be responding to colleagues looking purely at the paperwork. Marginal candidates (those whose criteria includes a criterion on the outer boundaries of normal acceptability) can fare badly here unless sponsoring faculty speaks firmly in their favour. The delays associated with your application suggest you were on the margin, not firmly through, which does not reflect on you personally but may reflect a crowded field of candidates passing all the set norms (over 30, strong senior industry experience, strong academic record, etc.). This should have been made clear to you much earlier on as it seems unsatisfactory (let alone discourteous) to be told at the last minute by e-mail that you cannot join the programme, especially on the limp excuse at this late stage of GMAT and age criteria. This is where a PhD programme is different from a DBA programme. PhDs welcome applicants from recent graduates under 25 who can be supervised. It is for professional researchers with a viable academic thesis topic. DBAs are for research professionals who have senior background in business management and prospects of access to business data. Personally, I am sorry about all this and I appreciate you are upset by it. Academe can be a cruel place to inhabit. I hope you emerge stronger from this experience and that when it is all over and you are on one of these faculty committees you will always remember to curb those of your colleagues who suffer from the disease known as the arrogance of the educated that is most prevalent in those who have not learned much.
Re: Disease of the learned I am over 25, but under 35. The one Professor said their criteria was about 35. It is a function of experience, since you can not have 20 years of experience if you have 30 years experience on the earth... I am feeling a bit better, once I got this on the board, I have been a bit disappointed, actually, very disappointed, but with every door that is shut, one opens. I do not like that I received an e-mail 24 hours before my flight, a personal call (since I went through so much) would have been appropriate. Thanks to all.
Re: Re: Disease of the learned Actually it does. Look at the Henley DBA web pages and go back to what Professor Kennedy has just said. The DBA is a degree aimed at relatively senior industry or academic practitioners, and you don't get to be senior much under the age of 35. If you do get to be fairly senior by that age, then you probably don't need the DBA to help you count your income! For what it's worth, I think Professor Kennedy is right on the money. My impression from what Kristie has told us is that they liked Kristie's academic skills and her attitutude a lot (if they hadn't she'd've been removed from the candidate pool a long time ago), but the reservations about depth of experience finally tipped the balance. I do hope you get into a programme you like, Kristie. If the whole experience hasn't put you off the UK education system for ever, do have a look at the Cranfield DBA (and yes, they are AACSB). Angela
Easy Solution Thx for the info ... If I decide to go to Henly I will just add 10 years to make sure I dont have any age-related problems. When it is time to graduate I will just ask and administration person to change my age - as it must have been a mistake somewhere -
I am sorry that you had such a rough ride with this, Kristie. I recall from reading your posts that you were looking forward to graduate studies. The "on again/off again" communications that Henley had with you certainly made an already difficult situation all the more worse. I do hope that it doesn't colour your views on future graduate studies, regardless of the institution that you finally chose.
