Before winter break last year (December 22 to be exact) I requested transcripts for Northwestern and NYU through Naviance. On December 31st I actually submitted my regular decision application with the common app (yes, I’m a procrastinator). About a week after winter break ended I also applied to University of Minnesota Twin Cities using their own application. A week after I submitted that app, I emailed my counselor about when he would have my transcripts and evaluations sent. He sent the transcript to Minnesota, but he still hasn’t sent them to NYU or Northwestern. It’s now been 2 weeks since the end of winter break (when he could have sent them) and a whole month since I initially requested them. How badly will this affect my chances, and what other actions should I take to make sure my transcript and evaluation are sent?
I don’t know your school policy. My D’s school requires a 3 weeks advanced notice.
Guidance counselor here. I tell all my students with Dec. 15, Dec. 31, and Jan. 1 deadlines that they must request those transcripts by December 1st, then I can send them before Christmas break. Our office is closed from Dec. 21 - Jan. 3, so if kids don’t request them in time, they’re not going out until after January 3rd. (And that is the week we’re usually busy sending out transcripts for Jan. 15 and Feb. 1 deadlines!)
@fernicole21 This one is on you - you should never wait until the last minute. A 2- or 3- week lead time on transcripts is reasonable. I’d suggest you ask your counselor when he will send them out.
If those schools have started reviewing applications already and closed the window, you’re out of luck. Some colleges will allow stuff to trickle in…but often not. You have some phone calls to make!
That is really absurd. At my kid’s HS, they are sent the next day. The counselor herself told me that “it’s just a click on the mouse.”
My son’s high school sent very clear emails and reminders with the dates that had to be adhered to. I’ve never heard of a school getting them out the next day. We have maybe 4 guidance counselors, with 250 kids applying, not to mention the rest of the student body beginning class selections for next year.
December 22 was the day before Christmas break, a 1/2 day at the schools around here. i’m guessing guidance didn’t even see your request until January 2 or 3, and they likely had many requests that came in before yours. The only thing you can do is talk to your counselor and ask what his timeframe is.
To apply to a college, the counselor needs to send the school report as well. Some schools also have specific forms to fill. In a public school, each counselor may take care of several hundreds of students (300+ in our district) and 1/4 are seniors. Don’t underestimate the amount of work considering the average number of colleges each student apply. For our school district, it is the student that submit the transcript online. However, there is still a 3 working week notice required to guarantee submitting other school document before the deadline. It is much easier for schools on CommonApp after the first application.