It’s always dangerous for a Computer Science student to do online applications. We’re the most demanding and we’re the least patient when the technology fails. Most of the seminaries have downloadable PDF applications. It’s the standard. When I applied to colleges four years ago, it was the standard then too.
Two of the four I’m applying to do not have downloadable applications. One, Vanderbilt Divinity School, only has paper. That’s become a problem since I’m studying abroad and think it’s pointless to send a paper application overseas just so I can fill it out here and submit it. Vandy is definitely behind the times.
Brite Dvinity School, on the other hand, doesn’t offer a downloadable application because it’s an interactive online process. They give a preview of the process (screen shots), but don’t let you download an app. Where are the letters of recommendation forms? They mail them to me after I apply. I have to then submit them to the recommenders and once I get them back from them, send them in with a bunch of other information. I understand the process in theory because it definitely limits the amount of information Brite personnel have to enter.
In practice, it’s not so great. When I first went to the application, it said that I had a Macintosh computer and was using Netscape (which I’m not: Safari uses a kernel that Netscape also uses … but so does Firefox and others … but back to the point). I chose to take the basic application instead of their special secure version because I didn’t want it to crash. Even though I’ve enabled a feature in my browser (making it one of the best in the world) so that I can emulate six different web browsing platforms, I didn’t know what type of server system Brite was using for the application. I would understand not having phenomenal compatibility with Macs if it was a Windows Web Application. It’s possible to have them communicate well together, but it’s not easy (I had to program around it a lot with some projects I designed).
When filling out my application, it gave me an error, saying it couldn’t insert my record. That halted the application process and wouldn’t let me advance further. So, I went to the application page and sent an e-mail to the link they gave. I immediately got an e-mail back telling me that the address doesn’t exist. That was even worse than having the application fail! To send an e-mail asking for help and to get a reply saying it doesn’t exist — that’s just demoralizing.
I checked my other e-mail account and got a thank-you letter from the Brite Director of Admissions thanking me for applying. How nice. I wish I could have. When I looked at the bottom of his e-mail, there was a link for updating any information. What’s the protocol they’re using? PHP!?! It’s not a Windows-specific format. I’m still trying to figure out why it crashed on me. Until then, I’m just working on my applications for the two schools with the straight-forward process: Lexington Theological Seminary and the University of Chicago Divinity School.
Speak Your Mind
You must be logged in to post a comment.