Early Action & Scholars Applications are In!

November 01, 2009

Thanks for your application to Oxford!  We understand this is an anxious time for you, as you await your admission and/or scholars decision.  One request from us is to pack your patience.  The mail and online submissions have been pouring in, and, as this is our peak processing season, it can take 3-5 weeks to process your file.  Don't worry - if you applied through a November 1 notification plan, your file will be processed and reviewed in time for a December 15 admission decision!  Here's what happens with your file once it arrives in our office:

1. Applications arrive online and via the mail.  Hardcopy applications must be manually entered into our database, and online applications must be printed.  Both applications then go through a verification process to make sure the database information matches what you indicated on your application.
2. At the same time, loose documents arrive online and through the mail.  We check to see if they match a current applicant in the system, then we update the applicant or pre-applicant checklist with the received items. Documents matching an application get filed with it, and those that do not, get filed in our loose document holding file.  As new applications get entered on the system, already received loose documents are matched accordingly.
3. Once complete, your application moves onto file review, where it will be reviewed by two admission staff members.  A final decision is then made by our admission committee, which meets weekly.

So, what can you do during this time?  Log on and check your OPUS account to track the status of your file.  Student may retrieve their OPUS login ID and password three to five business days after their application is entered in our system.  You will receive a confirmation letter from our office with further information about this and other important admission and financial aid information.  In OPUS, you will want to pay close attention to your To Do List.  This is a list of initiated (incomplete) and complete items for your application.  This list is a real time status of your file.  However, please remember that we may very well have documents in our office that just haven't been processed yet.  We encourage all students to use OPUS rather than calling our office during this busy time and not to worry about missing items until the end of November. 

We look forward to reviewing your file and working with you through the admission process!