<p>I know I'm way behind schedule in the college application process. If only I was more of a type "A" person...</p>
<p>Anyways, I'm a transfer student (graduated from a community college), and a lot of the schools I'm considering have a deadline for their materials on November 1st or November 15th. The problem is that I'm <em>really</em> indecisive, and I'm still narrowing down the schools that I think I'd like to attend. I do have in mind a few teachers who I know would give me great recommendations. But should I approach them even though I don't know definitively which schools I want to apply for? ( I need to give them enough time so they're not rushed). I was thinking about setting a deadline for Oct 3/4th for myself and if I haven't decided by then, I could speak to my community college professors and just let them know the situation? I guess they could at least <em>start</em> my recommendation, hold on to it, and then once I made my final decision (hopefully no more than a week later), they could make any necessary changes and tailor it to the university(s) I decided on. </p>
<p>Or the other option would be just to wait until I'm sure which schools I'm applying for (that might take another week for me?), and <em>then</em> see my professors, but that would give them less time....</p>
<p>What do you think? </p>
<p>(Ahhhhhhh! I know I waited too long!) </p>
<p>Given your penchant for procrastinating, I’d go ahead and start the process if I were you.</p>
<p>Unless you are applying to schools which explicitly require the recommender to send their letter directly to admissions, you can just have them write multiple copies of your letters of recommendation now and enclose them in a sealed envelope with a signature across the seal. You can address them to the appropriate recipient later once you decide where to apply. (I recommend doing so with computer-printed labels in case the letter is handwritten. While the signature across the seal should be sufficient proof you haven’t tampered with the letter, no need to arouse suspicion by having different handwriting on the front.)</p>
<p>The other thing to consider is whether any of the schools to which you are applying require the recommender to respond to a specific prompt. If so, go ahead and advise them now that they will need to do a different letter for those schools, or work the prompt(s) into the more general recommendation letter they are writing. If the schools require them to fill out a form as well, give them the forms ASAP whether you’re sure you will apply to that school or not.</p>
<p>Better you should have someone fill out an extra form or two when they have time to do so, than wait until the last minute and find yourself contending with their crowded schedule. Do as much as you can <em>now</em>.</p>