The Student Visa that Ate Chicago

Wow. Wow. I've heard people complain about the bureaucracy in other countries but today was my personal initiation into the chaos that is the Italian Consulate General of Chicago. Spurred by a warning in my study abroad adviser's previous email that I may have only a 30-day window in which to present my student visa application, I spent my day desperately trying to understand what documents were required by the consulate for a fleshed-out application, trying to collect these documents, trying to reach the consulate by email, phone, or fax to verify the 30-day window, and trying to find out if I needed an appointment or not. I ended up stumbling upon the website of another college, located in Chicago, which operates a program in Rome and has worked with my consulate for years. After reviewing their detailed list of required documents (you know, the one that the consulate deemed unnecessary for their own web page), I impersonated one of their students in a phone call and was told that the Chicago consulate does not impose a 30-day window rule on student visa applications. And after several more phone calls I finally managed to reach an actual human being at the consulate who, after surlily confirming a 90-day window, hung up on me before I could inquire about an appointment. In addition, my three emails were finally answered with one, condescending note providing me with absolutely no information I needed and informing me that I am allowed only one email to the consulate per day and that I had best remember that a student visa is not a right, but a privilege. However, there was some good news in there: the 90-day window means that I do not have to present my application this weekend in Chicago! But due to my (and others') hard work all day long, I am only missing one piece of the puzzle anyway: a statement from my health insurance agency verifying that I am covered internationally. Since they are "as slow as molasses," as my mom described them today, this extra time is a real blessing.
Finally, I attempted several times to call SACI today regarding my financial aid but could not reach anyone. I ended up calling my UI financial aid advisor to see if perhaps he had gotten the fax and I simply hadn't received the promised confirmation. This turned out to be the case indeed and I was told that since he was quite busy with orientation, he would not start refiguring my aid package for a couple of days. I wrote with this update to my study abroad advisor and told her I'd give him a follow-up call on Friday. If nothing has been started by then, I'll inform her and then make an appointment with the dean of students.
I just realized that I still don't know if I need an appointment at the consulate or if I can just walk in. Hmmm...perhaps that college in Chicago would fall for my act a second time?
I bought my tickets today.