It’s already been 17 days after my deadlines (jan 1st), and my counselor still hasn’t sent her recommendation letter. It has been the only thing missing from my application. Two of my colleges (BC and Lehigh) have already emailed me telling me my application is incomplete… I emailed my counselor and she said she’d look into it this weekend (she did not even specify if she did it or not) but still hasn’t submitted it.
Why not ask a third just in case the 2nd isn’t sent. Send the teacher a politely worded reminder. Call the colleges and tell them what steps you took to get them the letter.
I misread that as teacher. So I will revise my suggestions to a) send a email to the head of the guidence counseling department at the school with a politely worded note. You can soften things by suggestion that there may have been a glitch (rather than blaming the GC-because you don’t want the GC taking out anything on you by rating you poorly), I’d also call the schools and explain the actions you have taken.
@lostaccount The thing is, I don’t know if my GC has actually done it or not and she didn’t specify in her email reply (so she probably hasn’t)
And good idea, could I email the colleges instead of calling them? I don’t want to call all 10 of my colleges.
Is your GC going to submit your letter directly to your common app account or naviance, if your school uses that system? Would you be able to check there first?
If you cannot verify if the letter has been submitted, I would escalate as politely as possible.
When did you request the letter?
@bjkmom Invited on Common App 10/14/2015. I told her I was going to apply early, but then decided not to, a few days prior to Nov 1st (which I let her know). I don’t know why she hasn’t done or submitted the rec letter yet.
@mamaedefamilia I have invited my counselor through Common App and not naviance (which is what I was told to do). I invited her on 10/14/2015, and the only thing that has been sent is my School Report (downloaded 1/2). The Counselor Recommendation, Optional Report, Mid-Year Report, and Final Report have not been downloaded yet according to common app.
We also have a fairly good relationship because she wanted to nominate me for some scholarships in the past. We spoke very early about college as well (since I initially thought I was going to apply early).
any other inputs? starting to panic…
Don’t panic yet. Colleges are used to things arriving late, and as long as it’s stuff outside your control you will be ok. There are still many high schools that haven’t finished the first semester and therefore have not sent in midterm grades.
Of course there is no reason for your counselor to wait until this upcoming weekend to check on this. Today is Monday - you don’t wait until Saturday to check on something. I’d politely ask her if she could just confirm if it’s been sent or not so you can respond to the emails in a timely fashion.
When my D applied EA to schools her recommendations did not arrive along with the application. My daughter saw her counselor and at the same time I also wrote an email stating that colleges were saying they had not received the recommendation and asked the counselor to check into it. That worked wonders!
email her tonight.
Then see her first thing in the morning.
Don’t panic but this is the time to utilize that good relationship with your counselor. Tell her your colleges think your application is incomplete and that you think it’s her recommendation that missing. If she overlooked it then clearing this up asap should be her priority as well as yours and if it’s something else you need to know that too.