I ordered my official ACT tests a few days ago and I was wondering if I have to wait for a notification that they have been sent to the colleges of my choice before I send my application for the colleges (through the Common and Coalition app), or can I just send my application now knowing they will reach the colleges in a week or two?
From what I have learned so far, you don’t have to wait for colleges to receive your test scores (SAT/ACT) before submit your application. So you should send out your application before the deadline or/and whenever you are ready. Colleges will include your test scores in your portal whenever the score arrives (in about a week for ACT).
Schools are very good at correlating pieces of admission data - application, test scores, transcripts, recommendations, etc. - received at different times through different channels.
Go ahead and send what you have when you’re ready.
Most schools, in my experience, provide some kind of student portal to track the status of your application - just keep an eye on it to see that all pieces are received and accounted for over the next few weeks.