# of applications received prior to Wednesday, 2/27: 11
# of applications received ON Wednesday, 2/27: 16
# of applications received on Thursday, 2/28: 20
# of applications received today, Friday, 3/1, the final day for submission: 42
FORTY TWO... that's right, forty two. This afternoon I was able to finish processing all of the applications received up until today. That total was 47. Now I have 42 more. Forty two! I think this must be a new record. It has to be, right? The unofficial total is 89 applications. I take that back - I have one more via e-mail that wasn't printed out yet, so not counted. So the grand total (unofficially) is 90. And just when I thought I was on top of it all, I now see that I am only half way there. I like being busy, but WHOA. It has taken over three days straight to get those 47 processed, and that was ignoring all of my other duties (sorry, everyone's e-mails I've been ignoring). Boy am I glad I timed the final week of submissions this year to correspond to RIT break week! Or am I?... some break. (Though I can't really complain, I did just spend all of the week before in Florida - in case you were wondering where I've been... (see my last post)) Now I start class again next week, AND I still have the rest of the applications to process. Next week is not going to be pretty.
But WAIT! The complaining doesn't stop there! (Sorry.) Can I just take a minute to express my frustration with people waiting until the absolute last minute to do things? I have included an incredibly painful to look at timeline graph below to demonstrate:
12/20/2012 - Applications Posted
1/3/2013 - Applications formally announced
2/1/2013 - First related material received (letter of recommendation)
2/5/2013 - YNN Feature airs
2/11/2013 - First application received
My point is, all of the data is AAALLLLL the way to the end on that graph. Save for a measly few materials received in a timely manner, most of the applications were concentrated on the last three days. Over all of the time leading up to Wednesday morning, only 12.5% of the eventual total number of applications had arrived. Wednesday accounted for 18%; Thursday, 22.5%; and Friday alone brought 47% of the total applications. Seriously? I mean, I know that's human nature, but.... come on. And it really gets ridiculous when I become bombarded all at once with phone calls, e-mails, and in-person visits. Yesterday I received three phone calls AT THE SAME TIME - no joke. And yet, applicants who just submitted want to know the status of their application, and students who "just found out about it" want to know if there's anything I can do for them. Yeah, right. (Sorry.) If you can't tell, I'm a little overwhelmed. Although, I guess it could be worse - I could be the selection committee, who, after my processing is eventually completed, will be receiving 90 applications all at once. (Seriously, this has to be a record - that's an increase of 50% over our normal totals.) ...Oh well. With the responsibility comes the work; and when it rains, it pours. (Don't get me wrong, though - for all this complaining, honestly I revel in being so busy, and thrive under the pressure ;-). )
Two more random data points of note: 1 application was late (5 minutes), and I only got 1 unaccounted for material (a recommendation letter with no corresponding applicant).
And with that, I bid you TGIF! I'm going to go cool off for a weekend. Good luck to all the applicants!
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