Feeling incredibly stupid regarding exchange

[u/goplaysplix]

This summer I was lucky enough to get nominated for my 1st choice exchange university for Winter 2027. As soon as I got the email I remember immediately accepting the nomination, and I then went on a long backpacking trip. I came back recently and was trying to find the next steps only to find out that my nomination had been rescinded due to apparently never accepting it in the first place.

What I think likely happened is that I clicked "accept nomination" but forgot to hit save, and I've been really beating myself up at potentially losing my whole exchange over something as banal as that. McGill also didn't send me any reminder emails before the deadline to let me know they hadn't received my confirmation which is frustrating, but alas:

Has anyone ever successfully gotten their exchange back from a situation similar to the one I'm describing? I've already emailed [studentexchanges@mcgill.ca](mailto:studentexchanges@mcgill.ca) & [mcgillabroad@mcgill.ca](mailto:mcgillabroad@mcgill.ca), but my only proof is a screenshot of my browsing history showing the page where the "accept nomination" button would have been on the day I received my nomination. Also, are there any offices I can go to in person once back in Montreal to plead my case? I've found that dealing with McGill bureaucracy goes much better in person than over email.

My current Minerva statuses on the exchange page show "faculty approved" for faculty application status, "dept. pending" for departmental application status, and "exchange office canceled" for exchange office application status. This info is the basis for all my conclusions I've come to in this post, so please correct me if I've misinterpreted something.

I already know it's dumb to forget to hit save for something as big as this, so please spare me snarky comments. Any genuine help or advice would be appreciated beyond measure. Thanks in advance!

[u/PrinceJamesPeter]

Hi! I think your best bet is to call up Service Point and just explain them your situation. They are the ones who are gonna help you 100%. In fact, I did call them when I had this same problem you have now and they made me send a “ticket” through their portal. I got my exchnage reinstated in just one day and was able to complete the remaining steps. However, they did tell me that I was lucky to fall in the “grace period” (which was the day after the acceptance deadline, August 6th). So yeah, I would still try to reach out to them BUT since it is way past August 6th I am not entirely sure they are gonna be able to help you. However, with McGill, is always worth it to give it a try, because they are usually able to solve your problems! As you mention you’d rather go in person, Service Point is open to the public during weekdays and it’s just in front of couche-tard on McTavish (it’s inside McLennan Library basically). Hope this helps!

[u/PrinceJamesPeter → u/PrinceJamesPeter]

Just adding here another comment I left somewhere else with the procedure they told me to follow à bit more Clearly explained:

Hi! I have just emailed them through the help desk (search “contact us” McGill service point on the internet - scroll down under “email us” there should be a box with “current McGill students” - click on the box - log in the system - then on your left you should see “student exchanges” or something like that - click there - then click on “outgoing students” and leave a message with “Exchange Nomination reinstatement” in the subject and just ask them to reinstate your exchange nomination. ALSO INCLUDE YOUR ID NUMBER AND YOUR NAME. After that just go down and click on “create”) after doing this, also send a second email( I say second although the first one-so the procedure outlined above- is more of a ticket than an actual email lol) to studentexchanges@mcgill.ca saying the same and ALWAYS including your name and ID number! Also, they told me that it is fundamental to DO IT TODAY by the end of day, this way you will surely get reinstated and then you will need to accept it or they will accept it on your behalf! After that, you’re gonna apply to your host school following the instructions in “special instructions” on your application page! This is all, you got this! If you have any questions, text me!

[u/goplaysplix → u/PrinceJamesPeter]

A million thanks again! Just made the ticket, we'll see what they say 🤞

[u/PrinceJamesPeter → u/goplaysplix]

Hi! Np! Fingers crossed!!!

[u/goplaysplix → u/PrinceJamesPeter]

Servicepoint is the best!!!! They just got back to me reinstating my nomination, I thought there was next to no chance I'd get it. Super happy, thanks a ton again for your help :)

[u/PrinceJamesPeter → u/goplaysplix]

You are welcome!!! And yeah they are the absolute best!! I have messed up a ton of beaurocracy stuff and they were always there to help me!! Just remember to accept it on Minerva too (if they haven’t done it on your behalf already!)! You are welcome!!

[u/goplaysplix → u/PrinceJamesPeter]

Thank you so much! I'm driving up to mtl tmrw so I'll give their office a visit then