Laughing about DSU Dakota State University MSIS admissions

I was just reading some posts from those that were not accepted into their doctoral program, despite having extremely high GPAs, and seemed very qualified.

My background is counseling, a Masters in Counseling, 3.9 gpa, done in residence with a thesis required. I only mention these last details as some suspect that in-residence candidates may seem more qualified than online-only students.

So i got 'provisionally accepted' due to them not receiving a 3rd letter of recommendation that I know was sent from a friend and colleague. They gave me the green light to start taking classes, but if they didn't have the 3rd LOR by the end of the term then they would throw me out of the program.

This turned me sour towards the program, and I decided that they were not going to be the right fit for me.

In the meantime, I started looking at doctorate degrees in Education. That is my current field. A few months later, i received a letter from DSU notifying me that I was on academic probation fom the school because I failed to enroll in courses. Supposedly, if you are admitted, then you cannot allow your enrollement in courses to lapse. I didn't know that, and didn't even care, considering how I was given conditional acceptance.

On top of all of this, I agreed to take an additional 9sh of courses that would prepare me, because of my non-IT background, to succeed in their program.

They totally dropped the ball. They are out of touch, to say the least. If they would have treated me right, and I know this is isubjective, then they would be collencting several thousands of dollars every few months from me.

No regrets, and I am glad to be starting my EdD in Education in Sept 2011.

 

Is it not possible that they did not receive the letter? And if they didn't, should they look the other way? IMHO, the fact that you chose not to go with DSU seems beneficial both to you and do DSU.

 

They do seem to be disorganized over there. I was looking into the D.Sc. IS and signed up for additional information. They sent me an email asking for my home address and contact info (not sure why as I filled that info out when I requested more info) so I replied with all the info they requested. Two weeks later I got the same email asking for info, so I sent the info again, and two weeks later I got the SAME email asking for info.

 

I agree with Blue Mason. From what you posted they behaved reasonably. They did not have a copy of the recommendation (maybe the postal service lost it) and rather than reject you or put you on hold they accepted you provisionally. Then you did not enroll in courses as was required so they put you on academic probation. This is an in demand program and they admitted you and since you are occupying a slot they expected you to take coursework.

Frankly, they seemed more than fair to you and your attitude is concerning (ie lacking in maturity). Have you considered the University of Phoenix? That may be more what you are looking for in terms of entrance requirements and not putting pressure on you as a more traditional academic program might.

 

Personally, I think it is ridiculous on their part not to fully accept someone that has a masters degree from a regionally accredited university simply for not receiving the 3rd LOR. It wasn't a good business move on their part, and I am glad that I am on to better things. Garp, my masters program consistently ranks in the top five schools in the nation, so I wouldn't be interested in wasting time with UoP, your alma mater.

 

Yes, a good business would look the other way, which they apparently are not.

 

Play nice everyone. :wiggle:

 

Ah, your Masters entitles you to bypass rules and regulations... I see.

On the contrary, a good business will, and in this case, did, hold you to the same standards as everyone else. Clearly a blow to your ego.


It would appear that your sense of entitlement is rather overbearing and rather unwarranted... so, I stand by my first post. DSU's stance also solidified them as my first choice for my next degree - so, while inadvertent, thanks for your help.

 

From? This is a current interest of mine...

 

NEU in Boston

 

BM, no blow to my ego. As i and others around me see it, DSU is clearly out of touch. I work in higher edu, and my colleagues agree that DSU's policies are laughable considering the current state of the world economy.

 

I think the fact that they are rejecting people negates your opinion. They have more people applying than they have spots for despite the "state of the economy." If you want to be in the program you do what it takes to get in the program. Your group of friends can sit around laughing all you like while someone else who wants to be there will do what it takes to get fully accepted to the program. If now you realize you would rather be in another program then it worked out for both DSU and yourself, as was mentioned earlier.

 

Exactly! I suspect he and his friends lack doctoral level reasoning. His posts on this subject are funny and I think in a couple of years he will go back and read them and realize how funny. DSU behaved perfect reasonably towards him. On top of that his posts indicate he expects a program that has no reason to lower standards (both in terms of integrity AND that they have more students applying than there are spots for) to lower them due to the economy. Essentially, he wants a program that has no reason to, to behave like a U of P in terms of a for profit business model. DSU is an academic program (evidently one with some standards and integrity).

I do not mean this offensively, but I think the OP is betters suited to a for profit (consumer driven model like U of P) and not a program like DSU. His post has actually substantially increased the reasons to go to DSU.

PS ijason (OP) Don't brag so much about your GPA since degree inflation makes few programs like DSU that impressed. As one professor wrote in a Chronicle article:

http://chronicle.com/article/Graduate-School-in-the/44846

 

Thank you for the article!

JFO