Portals

[Old Navy BGO]

Wow, over 4500 posts on SAF , and I don't remember initiating a thread....but I'm curious. Do all colleges have Admissions Portals now, or is it just a Service Academy thing?

I don't recall my daughters having an Admissions portal when they applied to well know East Coast schools 10-15 years ago (of course, they might have , I was 100% hands off in the process.. I think I read each of their essays once ). My recollection is that they simply submitted their application online, and got an email when they got accepted. I never heard anything about checking portals, questions about updates, trying to dissect the admissions process into minute details, etc. like I see here. They just waited for an answer. (It wasn't a whole lot different than when I applied to USNA .... but we submitted everything using a paper file).

I've watched all the hand wringing and attempts to read the tea leaves every time something changes on the portal, and have to ask myself if the Service Academies shouldn't just get rid of all information on the portal. Perhaps a "thank you, your application is complete, please wait patiently for a response....." In other words, do students and parents have access to too much information these days ?

 

[basketball101]

Yeah most colleges do have portals now! Usually after applying to whatever school they'll send an email to you with a temporary username and password for the portal. Then, you change the password and wait for communication through the portal! Sometimes they'll request more info through the portal if they want spring transcripts or another essay. Thats how you also find out about the decision! they'll just say check your portal! or a letter will usually appear in it as well!

 

[Just Bee-cause]

Yes, basically all of the colleges are on portals and many use common app, which streamlines the process. USMA is also on common app. USMA doesn't have a status nor a last updated timestamp. These 2 items seem to be all the "tea leaves" so many people try to read. Other colleges have a submitted status, but not all have a posted decision date. Personally, I think it would be better if USNA released in batches like ROTC boards. I'm not sure that all BGOs get any updates on where admissions is in the process, but that would be helpful too. Our BGO hasn't been able to give much insight, even if it's just an internal status that says the candidate has been reviewed and is/is not competitive. From the posts, it seems many people don't have any hint on whether or not they've even been evaluated. We happen to know only because DS tried to update his application & wasn't allowed, but nothing since then.

 

[justdoit19]

Look at you go, @Old Navy BGO !!

 

[OldRetSWO]

I'm not sure that all BGOs get any updates on where admissions is in the process, but that would be helpful too. Our BGO hasn't been able to give much insight, even if it's just an internal status that says the candidate has been reviewed and is/is not competitive.

BGOs, ALL BGOs do not get updates on where admissions is and even if they were to see something, they are absolutely not allowed to divulge anything. They work for ADMISSIONS and if they are found to be crossing lines, they are fired from their volunteer job.

Don't expect the BGO to give you insight into where they are on your application, you just have to wait and see.

 

[bethf]

Portals are the rage! I think it takes away from the fun of hanging out by the mailbox, personally.

 

[Spano5]

Portals are the rage! I think it takes away from the fun of hanging out by the mailbox, personally.

And Informed Delivery has now ruined the traditional mailbox experience… seeing the mail man just isn’t the same.

 

[justdoit19]

Forget portals.

They need apps

 

[IronmanDaremo]

Want to accept? Swipe right! No? Swipe left!

Oh s--t!! Swiped the wrong way!