University of London is *Very Frustrating*!!!

Hello,

What is wrong with the University of London?

I applied for one of the external Diploma for Graduates programs. Sent my application in early June. On July 6th I received an email from the admissions department, stating that they received my application and that I should be hearing from them shortly. So September comes along and I still don't hear anything from the school so I decided to sent an email enquiring about my application states, but did not receive a reply. So I sent two more emails in October, but still have gotten no reply.

I am really appalled with this schools poor costumer service!!!

 

I do not know never heard of that school. Why don't you try calling them you should get an answer then.

 

Also if they can't responding to your e-mails within months is this a school you really want to go to?

Just my 2 cents!

 

UK schools tend to be pretty slow. (over-worked and under staffed?) Best thing to do would be to call them on the phone.

 

Hi bo79,

I edited the title and first line of your post as it may offend some. I understand your frustration, but it cut a little close.

Cheers,

George

 

Good call.

 

Bo,
Give them a call, usually someone will field your call to a mover and shaker. Then if your call is greeted with all the malaise of a three-toed sloth, then you'll know what you're facing.
Good luck,
Gavin

 

Probably to do with its size (said to be one of the largest universities in the world)

15 Different colleges including Imperial College, and Goldsmiths. Francis Crick (co-discover of the structure of DNA) was a student.

These details from

http://www.factspider.com/un/university-of-london.html

 

My impression of UK schools is that they can be very bureaucratic (But the admin staff at Imperial College, the one I am studying, is very good and helpful!). Of course that goes down to which school you are referring to.

People can get very busy during admission. I had experience in answering emails late, though they immediately replied my email that they were currently handling many admissions requests and would not be answering immediately. This is certainly not the kind of "late" you are facing now. It maybe even possible that they would miss your email when they are busy too.

Which college you are applying to? and which one you have sent emails to?

In some programmes, it is the college handling the admission, e.g. MBA at Imperial College. But in some cases, it is UoL centralise this.

I don't have alternative suggestions. But making a call would be the best way to do and get a feel on how they handle these administrative requests.

Admission is only the beginning. There could be further issues that a student could face throughout the programme.

 

The failure of this school or any other, whether in the US or international, to return e-mail communication in a timely manner is not an auspicious sign. It appears that you have complied with this school's timelines for application and have made repeated attempts to followup to determine the outcome of your application with no reciprocity on their part. NOT GOOD regardless of any rationalizations such as this is how UK schools function, etc. If any school does not demonstrate the respect for their students by acknowledging their e-mail correspondence in a timely manner or by apprising them of the status of their acceptance to a program it impies a cavalier and "who cares" attitude regarding the needs and concerns of the student.

If the program offered by this school is unique and you wish to still attend in spite of the strong possiblity that a similar level response may be the modus operandi of this school then you may wish to contact the administrator of the program or the chair of the department to voice your concern. Unfortunately by making rationalizations for this school's obvious failure to followup will not correct the problem and will reinforce this unacceptable level of timely and respectful service that each student is entitled to What some of these online schools fail to understand is that they are a business as well as being a school and that they are entering into a reciprocal business relationship with students who are paying hefty tuitions and that the student is not the only one who is repsonsible for demonstrating an acceptable standard of performance; so are they.

 

University of London

Really? That's very surprising. I've found them to be very helpful. In fact, they just sent me an unexpected refund of an application fee because I had paid an application fee once before - for a totally different program. I've also gotten quick email responses from them and they have been very helpful to me whenever I've called them on the phone.

 

Hi:

The University of London usually has more workload from August?September onwards, which may, to a certain extent, explain their delay.

However, in several years working towrds my BSc., I've never experienced such a delay.

I suggest you write or call William Eames, a very kind Admissions Officer.

Good luck,


Joi

 

Re: University of London

With all due respect, I am glad that you have "found them to be very helpful" but your experience has absolutely nothing to do with poster bo79's specific issue with this school. This is especially true during the admission process when students are anxious to learn whether they have been accepted or not. Therefore, it is imperative, that as they promised, this school should have communicated to this student in a timely manner so that he could have adequate time to prepare to start the program or if necessary to implement alternative options. However in this case this poster has made repeated attempts to contact this school without a reply after a significant period of time and there is no excuse for them not to have responded.

Bo79 is correct. It is poor and unacceptable student/customer service and the school needs to get their "act together" in this regard.

 

University of London

With all due respect, I am glad that you have "found them to be very helpful" but your experience has absolutely nothing to do with poster bo79's specific issue with this school. This is especially true during the admission process when students are anxious to learn whether they have been accepted or not. Therefore, it is imperative, that as they promised, this school should have communicated to this student in a timely manner so that he could have adequate time to prepare to start the program or if necessary to implement alternative options. However in this case this poster has made repeated attempts to contact this school without a reply after a significant period of time and there is no excuse for them not to have responded.

Bo79 is correct. It is poor and unacceptable student/customer service and the school needs to get their "act together" in this regard.
____________________________________

With all due respect, it does have something to do "with poster bo79's specific issue with this school." He expressed his opinion regarding their level of customer service and I expressed mine. That he has had a bad experience with them is acknowledged but does that mean that I cannot let this poster know that I had a different experience? Perhaps he might consider giving them another chance if he heard different points of view. If not, then so be it. If so, then great.

 

Re: University of London

DELACE: With all due respect, it does have something to do "with poster bo79's specific issue with this school." He expressed his opinion regarding their level of customer service and I expressed mine. That he has had a bad experience with them is acknowledged but does that mean that I cannot let this poster know that I had a different experience? Perhaps he might consider giving them another chance if he heard different points of view. If not, then so be it. If so, then great. [/B][/QUOTE]


SIMON:

EMPATHY- The capacity to experience attunement, understanding, awareness and sensitivity to another persons unfortunate situation and experience.

A hypothetical example. YOU have an operation performed in a certain hospital and it is unsuccessful. Consequently, you are not feeling very well and are conveying these feelings to others. However, although I didn't have the same operation as you I had a wonderful interaction with a doctor from the same hospital. Subsequently I tell you and others that my experiences with this hospital were wonderful! Doesn't that just make you feel terrific that you are not doing well post surgically but yet I am feeling just great regarding an unrelated outome and am intimating "what is your problem"! How does that help you with your post surgical pain and dissapointment? Get the drift my friend.

Poster Bo79 is expressing his concerns and disappointment regarding a legitimate issue with a school. You come from left field and provide an unrelated example to Bo of a teriffic outcome regarding an unrelated issue with the same school that is totally disconnected from BOs situation. And what is underlying your ultra positive response but something to the effect that "I had no problem with the school; they were terrific with me. I don't understand what your problem is."

 

Hi bo79:

I'm sure you've read all the posts in this threads, depicting quite opposite views on this situation.

As I pointed out in my previous post, this situation is far from excusable, but the testimony of several people currently or enroled in the External Programme shows that this institution normally has an excelent customer service, which gives you a reason to ask for ( or rather demand) a swift response.

I've read comments here regarding the supposedly hefty fees this school charges. Actually, the diblomas for gradautes and bachelors degrees are quite inexpensive, even the more so taking into consideration the reputation of this university.In fact, if you're going to enrol in one of the Diploma for Graduates, you'll be enroled in a program designed by the London Shool of Economics and Political Sciences (LSE), one of the reates institutions in the world.

The LSE doesn't handle admissions directly, so I suggest you don't dismay and quit such a great program due to this incident.

This is the email of the person who handled my enquiries:

[email protected]


I hope everything works out fine.

Joi

 

Yes, if BO79 is gung-ho about this program he may wish to pursue this matter further and determine its cause. For instance was it due to his e-mailing the wrong party or some other unforseen glitch or problem yet to be determined that prevented his e-mail from being reponded to after repeated attempts? Or was it due to a pervasive ongoing problem of the university to understand the necessity of responding to students regarding a critical matter of importance to students?

Within the context of an online distance learning program where face-to-face contact is either nonexistent or infrequent and where misunderstandings or misinterpretations can occur with more frequency, it is extremely important to identify the underlying issue(s) that resulted in this significant communication delay prior to investing any money with that school.

The bottomline is that if this school provides a reasonable and excusable rationale for this delay and apologizes for it then by all means it may be a viable choice. If not, then one should keep in mind that the problems they encounter in the early stages of admission may possibly continue and even possibly exacerbate once you have invested your money and no longer have the clout of being a prospective customer. In addition ANY distance learning school and their administrators need to understand that their relationship with students is not unilateral but bilateral meaning that as they expect timely submission of applications, tuition payments and course papers, they too are accountable to responding for students in an timely manner.

 

They don't view applicants as customers. This is a massive, well respected institution of national stature. Therefore, they tend to be arrogant and bureaucratic, if you compare them to a for profit company, who does view applicants as customers. It's no excuse, but may be an explanation.

 

Hello Everyone,

Just wanted to update you all on what is going on with my case.

I received my admission package from the university on Nov 21 and sent in my registration on Nov 22. However I was told by Canada Post that the letter will most likely not arrive in London before the Nov 30 deadline.

Right now I am very angry and frustrated with the University of London. They have wasted tones of my time, and have put me in a very difficult position, that I should have never bean put in. The way that University of London treated me was very unprofessional and unfair to me.

 

Hi bo79:

In my opinion, you are entitled to an extension, as your letter arrived late not because of any fault of yours, but because of a fault of theirs. I once had this situation with them regarding the examination fee, and they offered me a special extension.

Your frustration is totally understandable. They failed, not you.
Nevertheless, as I told you in a previous post, I advice you to keep in mind that LSE doesn't handle the admissions process. I think you'll love their program.

Good luck,

Joi