I try not to post things that are only me complaining but I am about to do that right now. I’m registering my child for pre-college tests. ACT? Have to create an account on their website. Registration requires me to answer about 100 questions about my kid’s academic history before I get to the actual registration. So now I have his transcript open in a separate window because I don’t fucking remember when he took English Lit or what grade he got in Algebra 1. These registrations are linked to his school-issued ID but that apparently does not serve any actual useful purpose.
On to the SAT. I have to create an account on their website. Then for the SAT to get the “admission ticket” for the actual test, kiddo has to download a separate app. So I registered and paid for the test but my kid can’t get in unless he also downloads an app, registers in the app, and answers more questions.
I’m over it. So over it. But wait! There’s more! I need to pay for their AP tests now. Two kids are taking AP courses and those require a whole separate procedure. The kids have already registered at school for the AP testing, but to pay for it we have to create a separate registration on a separate site–one for each child–which is also linked to their school-issued ID. And then I get to scroll through a list of ALL the available AP classes, find the right ones for each kid, and pay for them. (We’re not even talking about how classist and screwed up it is that you have to pay out of pocket for AP tests, that’s an entirely separate rant.) Somehow the system can communicate well enough to identify that there are testing fees to be paid for this child, but cannot communicate well enough to identify which tests the fees are for. I have to tell them that part. Okay! Fun! I am going to do this procedure twice, and it is a great way to spend a little time after a full day of work. I LOVE IT A LOT.
BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE! I’m lining up a new therapist for my child! This is a fun process! My pediatrician sent a list of referrals. To access it I need to log into our medical ‘my health chart’ blah blah blah account where I should be able to access all documents and info for all three of my under-18 kids who all go to the same pediatrician. BUT NO! Only one child’s information is accessible today! Why? WHO FUCKING KNOWS. So I spend 20 minutes in a customer service chat figuring that out, and at least it’s a real human and they solve it and I get to the documents I need and that’s great. I totally luck out because the first place I call does not have a 6-month wait list, so I make an appointment and they say Great and I say Great and then they say We Will Send You The Intake Packet. And I sigh, I knew it was coming, and I say Okay. And when it comes, yes: It’s not a PDF I can fill out and email back real quick, or a form I can print and bring with me to the appointment. Of course not, no. It is a Patient Portal and I get to register and have a new account on a new website where I get to answer even more questions about my child in a new format and somehow, weirdly enough, all this logging in does not make me feel like any of my children’s information is secure.
Also WTF this is dumb and I hate it.
Sam Davies I had to do this recently for my kid. It is awful and a racket. The College Board for the SAT was somehow even worse? Complain on!
Sam Davies Oh, and don’t get me started on the “sitting fee” for mandatory Senior Pictures. $30 just for the privilege of a mediocre picture in the yearbooks and getting the chance to order an $80 print?
annie @kalikambo there are times I really love being able to manage stuff online rather than phone call / in person... But so much of this stuff would be way simpler with a simple phone call and a paper form. it's most frustrating when it's all digital, somehow connected (eg all linked to the same school id) but that still doesn't remove the form-filling labor, somehow. ugh.
@annie I won't even mention to you the East Coast college financial aid application process. They might as well ask for a blood and stool sample. 😂
kalikambo @annie Oh yikes! I didn’t take the ACT. But for SAT and AP tests, I’m glad I was a few years before that was done totally online and in apps. I still paid for the SAT online but most of the paperwork was…paper, returned to the guidance counselor at school.
annie @jasonekratz oh good god almighty. the application process we did last year for my oldest was a bear but i'm sure not nearly as bad. trying not to think about starting that process up again in about a month for next child in the line.
