<p>Call this taking paranoia to the next level but I submitted my applications and mentioned that I haven't taken the SAT yet and will be taking it on October. I also mentioned that rather than self reporting scores, I will have college board send the reports when results are released. Could they take a look at my application now and keep it in a locked drawer until my SAT results come out then 'forget' to recheck it?</p>
<p>When you send in an application, the college opens a physical or electronic file. They hold the file until all the application components are collected. Then it is assigned to the readers. It is common for applications to come in in parts. They don’t keep them in drawers off on their own. There is a system in place to process them and they do it year after year.</p>
<p>"Call this taking paranoia to the next level " Yep. </p>
<p>Once your app comes in, a stream of other docs come in. Even if they misplace your app, don’t you think they’ll notice: Hmmmm? Where’s the base file for Adam?</p>
<p>Relax. Colleges are gonna process a million apps this year.</p>
<p>Most colleges have some online way you can verify they received the basics. Later, you check to verify they received scores.</p>
<p>This is what I recommend:
After you take the SAT and have the score sent, confirm with the school that your applications is complete. As time passes, call to confirm that missing items have been resent and received, etc. This is your job to be sure your application is complete.</p>
<p>Not all schools do this, but many of them will give you an electronic way to watch the status of your application after it arrives. Not your acceptance, but whether all the pieces have been collected. Rolling admissions colleges sometimes also just post your final decision in the same place once they make it. This is actually a lot easier for the colleges, then students and parents aren’t bugging them with phone calls on the status of applications. Some colleges don’t do this, but an awful lot do now. The waiting period for all the stuff to come together, them to make a final decision, and communicate it to you is the very hardest part of this process, I think.</p>