Why do potential college students think it is ok to misspell?

Question

This is not a question, but a shout-out to all the people who post here.

Please learn to use spell check and do not abbreviate everything. This board is not a text message and it shows lack of eagerness to learn.

I am on several scholarship committees and I would say that at least 35% of the essays submitted are written like the following:

"Plz help me get some money for school. IDK how I can pay 4 it. "

Please take the additional 5 seconds out of the day to write in complete sentences using complete words.

Thank You,

A concerned scholarship administrator.

Answer 1

AMEN!  

The students who email me as Seniors use some of the most attrocious, inappropriate spellings and grammar that I have ever seen, especially in what should be formal communication.  Just to make their day harder and my life more interesting, I take their spellings at face value, email them back that I do not understand the word "idk", and have them write it over.  I am supposed to prepare these students to be professional adults, so how can I do my job if I let this stuff slide?

Yes, this is informal posting here on the board, so I indulge in posting phrases for dramatic effect instead of complete sentences, and the occasional sentence ends with a preposition.  However, if you have difficulties in writing, you should take every opportunity to work on this skill, and the Yahoo! board is an opportunity.  (Personally, I need to work on my spelling and overuse of paranthetical comments.)

Answer 2

I am a potential college student, and all of that text talk/misspelling, drives me absolutely batty. I can't hardly read some of the questions/answers on here.

Answer 3

I'm way past college ... I hate when people can't bother with spell check ..  I find many questions are intelligible.

Answer 4

You are great FinAidGuy, your answers are great.

Answer 5

Now that is sad.  I thought the only place people abbreviated was on forums and text messaging.  I have three boys ages 8, 10, and 12. I'll have to make sure I keep them on the right track.  I can't believe that anyone would submit  something like that... especially when you are in competition for scholarships (when I was in elementary & junior high).  I'm old school, we didn't even have spell check.  We had to grab the dictionary.  How times have changed.  I'm 34 and times are much different now.

Answer 6

I sympathize with your position, but I would rather they post here however they can and learn about financial aid, rather than not post because they're intimidated by having to spell everything correctly.

Now, that doesn't go for scholarship essays.  I have sat on my share of scholarship committees, and that simply wouldn't fly there....but here?

It would be nice if everyone would take the time...but a bit unrealisitic.

Now, asking unintelligible questions is a WHOLE other matter....  ;)