[CrazedZooChimp]

[quote author=82lsju link=topic=11950.msg117036#msg117036 date=1429560751]
[quote author=ferrari link=topic=11950.msg116730#msg116730 date=1429052295]
[quote author=washingtonismoney link=topic=11950.msg116728#msg116728 date=1429051480]
I requested the admissions material, but it's useless now -- the registrar claims they've destroyed the assessments of applications.

I requested a copy of the file and, even though I provided all info, including alumni number, they said the info was only for students who entered Stanford.  For a few minutes I thought about sending them photos of my BA and MBA but finally thought, F*** it.  I got in, I graduated (twice) and would be shocked if either happened today.  Even then I wondered if someone had stepped on my IBM card with their golf shoe (you youngsters may not get that so just move along.  Nothing to see here.)
[/quote]

I have a classmate (class of '82) who they also "could not find evidence of attending".  After a couple of email exchanges they somehow found her file, she's going in the see it soon.

I requested mine, completed the on-line form they sent me and I am now waiting to hear back about when I can see mine, if I get to see it I am curious what it says when they turned me down for freshman admission then accepted me as a sophomore transfer.
[/quote]

To set your expectations, I also requested through the online form and was told that they could mail me a copy of my application, but that none of the accompanying evaluation was kept (I graduated in the mid-2000s). I think you basically have to be a current student for them to still have your evaluations on file.
[/quote]

Hmm, I never attempted this.  Where is the online form to fill out?

[CrazedZooChimp]

[quote author=82lsju link=topic=11950.msg117036#msg117036 date=1429560751]
[quote author=ferrari link=topic=11950.msg116730#msg116730 date=1429052295]
[quote author=washingtonismoney link=topic=11950.msg116728#msg116728 date=1429051480]
I requested the admissions material, but it's useless now -- the registrar claims they've destroyed the assessments of applications.

I requested a copy of the file and, even though I provided all info, including alumni number, they said the info was only for students who entered Stanford.  For a few minutes I thought about sending them photos of my BA and MBA but finally thought, F*** it.  I got in, I graduated (twice) and would be shocked if either happened today.  Even then I wondered if someone had stepped on my IBM card with their golf shoe (you youngsters may not get that so just move along.  Nothing to see here.)
[/quote]

I have a classmate (class of '82) who they also "could not find evidence of attending".  After a couple of email exchanges they somehow found her file, she's going in the see it soon.

I requested mine, completed the on-line form they sent me and I am now waiting to hear back about when I can see mine, if I get to see it I am curious what it says when they turned me down for freshman admission then accepted me as a sophomore transfer.
[/quote]

To set your expectations, I also requested through the online form and was told that they could mail me a copy of my application, but that none of the accompanying evaluation was kept (I graduated in the mid-2000s). I think you basically have to be a current student for them to still have your evaluations on file.
[/quote]

Hmm, I never attempted this.  Where is the online form to fill out?

[Farm93]

I too have wondered what the admissions office noted in my application.  Did they predict my level of involvement in the Stanford community?  Likely majors?  Were there elements of my essays that had positive or negative comments?  Did my HS teachers help or hurt my cause?  I am sure I could learn a lot about myself and the school through that experience.  Would be fun for sure.

And yet, I can't imagine any admissions office is staffed for these types of trips down memory lane by alumni.  The work required to properly handle these requests is probably not trivial.  The materials might also contain comments that could anger or upset the recipient.  I can't imagine any of the highly selective schools' admissions offices are staffed to meet the customer service level apparently expected by many on this board.  And I doubt many in the admissions office chose that career path so that they could hunt down 20, 30 or 40 year old applications for those seeking to return to a meaningful moment from their past.

My guess is the university would prefer these requests go away for so many reasons.  I can't really blame Stanford, Yale and the rest for deciding to delete older files ASAP as a lot of negative outcomes are possible from these queries.

I guess many are too curious to resist, but the queries are not exactly cost free to the university.

[Farm93]

I too have wondered what the admissions office noted in my application.  Did they predict my level of involvement in the Stanford community?  Likely majors?  Were there elements of my essays that had positive or negative comments?  Did my HS teachers help or hurt my cause?  I am sure I could learn a lot about myself and the school through that experience.  Would be fun for sure.

And yet, I can't imagine any admissions office is staffed for these types of trips down memory lane by alumni.  The work required to properly handle these requests is probably not trivial.  The materials might also contain comments that could anger or upset the recipient.  I can't imagine any of the highly selective schools' admissions offices are staffed to meet the customer service level apparently expected by many on this board.  And I doubt many in the admissions office chose that career path so that they could hunt down 20, 30 or 40 year old applications for those seeking to return to a meaningful moment from their past.

My guess is the university would prefer these requests go away for so many reasons.  I can't really blame Stanford, Yale and the rest for deciding to delete older files ASAP as a lot of negative outcomes are possible from these queries.

I guess many are too curious to resist, but the queries are not exactly cost free to the university.

[CrazedZooChimp]

I too have wondered what the admissions office noted in my application.  Did they predict my level of involvement in the Stanford community?  Likely majors?  Were there elements of my essays that had positive or negative comments?  Did my HS teachers help or hurt my cause?  I am sure I could learn a lot about myself and the school through that experience.  Would be fun for sure.

And yet, I can't imagine any admissions office is staffed for these types of trips down memory lane by alumni.  The work required to properly handle these requests is probably not trivial.  The materials might also contain comments that could anger or upset the recipient.  I can't imagine any of the highly selective schools' admissions offices are staffed to meet the customer service level apparently expected by many on this board.  And I doubt many in the admissions office chose that career path so that they could hunt down 20, 30 or 40 year old applications for those seeking to return to a meaningful moment from their past.

My guess is the university would prefer these requests go away for so many reasons.  I can't really blame Stanford, Yale and the rest for deciding to delete older files ASAP as a lot of negative outcomes are possible from these queries.

I guess many are too curious to resist, but the queries are not exactly cost free to the university.

Yeah, well, they can take one of the kids they have call me every week asking for money and put them on this task instead.  It's more likely to get me to give them money than getting the same damn phone call over and over.

[CrazedZooChimp]

I too have wondered what the admissions office noted in my application.  Did they predict my level of involvement in the Stanford community?  Likely majors?  Were there elements of my essays that had positive or negative comments?  Did my HS teachers help or hurt my cause?  I am sure I could learn a lot about myself and the school through that experience.  Would be fun for sure.

And yet, I can't imagine any admissions office is staffed for these types of trips down memory lane by alumni.  The work required to properly handle these requests is probably not trivial.  The materials might also contain comments that could anger or upset the recipient.  I can't imagine any of the highly selective schools' admissions offices are staffed to meet the customer service level apparently expected by many on this board.  And I doubt many in the admissions office chose that career path so that they could hunt down 20, 30 or 40 year old applications for those seeking to return to a meaningful moment from their past.

My guess is the university would prefer these requests go away for so many reasons.  I can't really blame Stanford, Yale and the rest for deciding to delete older files ASAP as a lot of negative outcomes are possible from these queries.

I guess many are too curious to resist, but the queries are not exactly cost free to the university.

Yeah, well, they can take one of the kids they have call me every week asking for money and put them on this task instead.  It's more likely to get me to give them money than getting the same damn phone call over and over.

[washingtonismoney]

The claim is that they've *destroyed* the evaluations of past applicants*, so it's not a question of effort.

*(but not the applications themselves...because they obviously don't want enterprising reporters seeking to find, say, biases for wealthy students or against Asian students...)

[washingtonismoney]

The claim is that they've *destroyed* the evaluations of past applicants*, so it's not a question of effort.

*(but not the applications themselves...because they obviously don't want enterprising reporters seeking to find, say, biases for wealthy students or against Asian students...)