The admissions office heartily recommends the Tao approach to all things admissions.
As such, we believe in the practice of "wu wei," or non-doing. Think of the paradox "wei wu wei," or "action without action."
This universal mystery is easily seen in the practice of credentials processing. For example, a student who is not familiar with the Tao notices his or her credential is missing, and emails the office (despite a note on the credentials checking site that says not to), and resends his or her missing document. In the meantime, the missing document shows up on its own accord. Then the admissions office gets another envelope, must open that, and process that as well. Now there are two credentials.
Meanwhile, a second student, who happens to be a student of the Tao, sees that his or her credential is missing and does nothing. The credential shows up on its own a few days later. The student is pleased.
Here is a second example: the midyear report.
Midyear reports, like anything wishing to reach enlightenment, should be kept in a state of p'u, simplicity, or "uncarved block," for as long as possible. The uncarved midyear is free from the complexities and travails of mortal life. It is in a state of passive receptivity.
Let's say that a student unversed in the ways of the Tao submits his or her midyear report without his or her grades, because he or she wants to make the deadline. The midyear is no longer in a state of p'u, and when the student's grades actually come, and he or she wants to submit them, there is no way to do so.
The student familiar with the Tao waits until his or her grades actually come in.
If you need your midyear unlocked, please email questions@phoenix.uchicago.edu and I will be happy to unlock it.
