So I go to a small school. Me and this guy were the only seniors to apply to college. We had both applied to these three schools: Princeton, Stanford and Cornell. I also applied to some other schools, but we had those in common.
The other guy lets call him ‘Ned’ was very determined to get his recommendations and transcript sent in before winter break. Our teachers are kind of last minute so it was understandable. I, on the other hand, asked for my teachers and counselor to do it during winter break.
They did not.
After a strenuous battle to get my transcripts and recommendations submitted they finally did it a week after the missing materials deadline.
Does turning those materials after the deadline penalize me even if they’re not in my control? Also since Ned turned his in way earlier than mine will admission officers see that? Theyre such elite schools so I’m not sure what to think. Thank you!
Colleges don’t care when you turn in materials as long as it is before the deadline. So it wouldn’t make Ned look any better. But usually colleges do not accept late materials, but since it isn’t your fault its late I would call and find out further information and speak with your counsler at school for further guidance. Good luck!
Your application was in on time. The supporting material was not. Given the source of the material, the school would have contacted you - or more likely your HS GC, if there was a problem that would disqualify your app. Don’t sweat it.
I remember after one information session, in private Q&A with an elite college admissions officer, the person before us asking a very similar question - this was in late January of D’s junior year, the person before us was a senior who had applied and was visiting over a winter break - but her GC had a baby 2 months premature and hadn’t sent the teacher recs on time. The admin officer told her not to worry - while they MIGHT have to have follow up questions, they don’t like to advertise that they can sometimes bend the deadlines for unusual circumstances beyond the student’s control. They clarified that if it were for Early Action, they might automatically defer the application if it was incomplete, but that doesn’t sound like your situation.
As for Ned, good for him, but please remember that you are not being compared to him, you are being compared to the 30,000 other awesome applicants.