They knew this was coming! But, the first day it is available to the public, tons of problems present themselves to users. Now, it’s entirely possible that applications will NOT be processed in time. What is going on?
Oh, you thought I was talking about Obamacare, right? It certainly has problems. Sentient beings (ok, me- here’s one example from the summer) were complaining that an awful lot was being kept from us, and there did not seem to be enough testing and developing to preclude a “third-world” experience when it opened. It didn’t help that a slew of Republican states were refusing to participate, because now the design parameters were not just revolving about the back end connector to databases that needed to be developed.
No, now the federal government had to design the front end- the part citizens need to navigate- for more than half of America. The system was contemplated to be 51 states (OK, DC is almost a state) with their own individual health care choices and front end, connecting up to the financial databases on the federal level. (By the way, the logic (?) of these non-complying states is that they don’t want federal intrusion into their state- so they let the federal government intrude into their state????)
It certainly didn’t help that someone (OK, a lot of someones) designed the systems expecting an orderly array of folks lining up for this new insurance program, 2 to 3 million at a time. Not with everyone needing insurance, trying it the first few days. (Really? Isn’t that why Apple always ran out of phones on the first day? Who does this planning?)
I just mentioned that Apple has problems with its roll-outs. But, as is stated in my first paragraph, this is not just a problem with Apple or the federal government. No, the big problem I am discussing today is the application process for college- the “Common Application”. This concept is about 35 years old, started long after I had to submit 50 some applications for undergrad, and some 40 application for grad and professional schools. (Now, you know why I was always working- I had to shell out some pretty big bucks for all those applications 🙂 !)
The concept was to develop a new system for this year’s applications. You know, to make it easier to use, with a simple – and standardized- supplement that each college could customize to meet its needs, above and beyond those provided by the Common App.
The Common Application (a non-profit company) is supposed to make it easier for students to apply to some 500 institutions of higher learning. From the elite Ivies to the brainiest Techs- they all dropped the ball. This system is a disaster. Universities are almost opting out (Minnesota institutions now have their own partial application.) Georgia Tech pushed its early application deadline back from the ides of October to 1 November.
One problem- just like with the Obamacare system, is that the front end has to interface with a separate back-end. In this case, it’s not the IRS database of income data. Here, it’s Naviance, which paints itself as a method to let school counselors know how well their students are doing, track results, and make the system easier (for the high schools). This system is, therefore, employed by many secondary schools to process and submit transcripts, recommendations, and agreements to the higher education establishments.
Sometimes when you log into the Common App, you think you’re looking at a front end display (in English characters) of a Cyrillic or Chinese document. Because all you see is gobbledy-gook. Words combined, others randomly split, blank spaces, no paragraphs. Preview your application to make sure it’s complete- and you see BLANK pages!
You want to pay for the process with a credit card? No problems- NOT! It can take up to 24 hours for that page to process and display. And, if you completed the application over the summer, you found out (I hope you did!) that the app was not complete- because more questions have been added, after you submitted it!
After all, the idea behind the common app was to make the system easier to navigate, a means to reduce the stress of the process. Instead, the designers seemed to ramp up the adrenaline for this year’s crop of applicants. So much so that their FAQ just goes on and on about their problems. And, of course, the blame is on too many students using the app. (They say the numbers are up by 20 %.)
They promise to have the system in full swing by January- when the final deadline to apply to colleges loom. Let’s hope the Obamacare consultants get theirs done sooner!
Like so much – it sounds like a great idea in theory. Perhaps some things are just too large to be managed “en mass”…. This, though, I would think should be do-able.
I think they are DO-able. The question is why folks don’t consider the proper parameters when they design them, Alessa!
My son used the common app to apply to college last year and I thought it was pretty easy to navigate. I’m not sure why they would need to change it.
I think your son got in before these changes. He was lucky, Suerae.
There is something similar this side of the pond (http://www.ucas.com/). Every year, there are horror stories. It must be so stressful! My older wants to go to a US university, I will have to have a closer look. These sites can’t be that difficult to set up, right? I don’t understand why it isn’t working.
MuMuGB recently posted..Tutored To Death
The site for the application is easy. Integrating with 5000 or 10000 high schools across the US- that’s a bit different. Maybe they should make the high schools use the app of the Common App- and not another one!
Which schools is your eldest considering? That sounds intriguing, Muriel.
I love reading your posts. You’d think the colleges could utilize some of their computer savvy students to redesign they systems. They could provide extra credit or a make it a class project – or something. It just makes no sense, whereas you have made total sense of what happened with the health exchange site.
Julia Neiman recently posted..Growth vs Fixed Mindset
I think the colleges fear that the students would make it easier for their friends to be accepted- or to sell the data. (OH, wait, there is no guarantee that those they hire don’t do that, either…)
Everyone forgets, Julia, that the more links to other programs you have, the more places you leave failure points…
I am in the middle of the insurance mess. Why don’t these people get the bugs out before they throw the clients into the abyss.
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You are living in one of those states that made the problem worse, Ann. But, that is of little consolation to you- and others like you. I am guessing they will have this solved before Thanksgiving. And, I also understand there is now a phone number you can call and can provide a paper application. No instant pricing (which you are not getting now, either), but…
Claimed solutions to simplify rarely do. Of course, as you note, it usually involves too many chefs (and mind-boggling sums of money) – so there’s plenty of opportunity to place the blame elsewhere. I’m still shaking my head at the voting machine mandate. How hard were those levers to operate (and figure out) to justify monster cost to municipalities to replace what worked just fine. Oh right, it was the hanging chads. Odd a single state in one election promoted a nationwide revamp. Sorry, guess I got caught up in your rant mindset :-). Just once, I’d like to see the developers of such ‘simple solutions’ be required implementers and users.
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Nanette, I’m with you.
I had written a program several decades ago to control the finances of our (and our clients’) firm. It was efficient. It was simple. (OK, it had 500 lines of code.) And, it worked. But, the IRS took umbrage that I wrote the code and could, therefore, change something at will. So, we were forced to change to another program. That cost money (ok, they all do), but only did 1/2 what ours did. (The statute of limitations is now over. I continued to use the program and grew our company; I hired someone to do what the IRS wanted for their books…)
Oh god, I’m so dreading this and we’ll be there in a couple of years! x4, we hope!
I am sure they will have the ducks aligned by then, Marie!!!!
I can read your frustration. Governments should be able to get the best; but they don’t.
Carol Tomany recently posted..Artwiculate
Everyone should get the best. But, we do too many things by committee, Carol!