<p>I'm applying ED (Nov. 1st) and also RD to another school that has a November deadline. </p>
<p>I know it's best to ask teachers for all of your recs at the same time, but how does it work? I don't want them to mail recs to RD schools waaay ahead of my actual completion of the apps. I don't think I'll be able to finish my applications (8-10 schools total) all at once, and it all seems to depend on my ED school. If I'm notified in Dec. of acceptance, I wouldn't be sending any of the other apps. for the Jan. deadline.</p>
<p>Is there any way I can ask for recs to not be directly sent, except for the ED? Would I be allowed to just hold on to them and send them myself as/if needed?</p>
<p>It's about time for me to request recs, so I'm just confused as to what I should do...</p>
<p>Any comments/input would be much appreciated. Thanks!</p>
<p>Ask for recs, explain your situation. Give the teacher the forms for the ED school as well as an envelope + stamp for it. Let them know that they should save a copy of the rec so that in Dec, if you're not accepted, you can give them more envelopes + forms and they can just attach the rec again and send it off.</p>
<p>It's not a problem, though, if they send the rec early. Most schools will just start your file then. While you'll have wasted the costs of the stamps, you'll have made it easy on your teacher, which is always appreciated. Imagine how you'd feel if you have 10 people asking you for something and each one gave you different directions & requests - and you still had your full time job to do. Too hard to keep track of, and even if he or she wanted to do it as you requested, it's too easy for him or her to miss one of the deadlines. Respect your teacher's time, and keep it simple!</p>
<p>My daughter just asked a teacher for recommendations and brought only the form for her ED school with her. The teacher specifically asked her to provide all the forms at once, for both the ED school and the RD schools. Perhaps this is more convenient for teachers.</p>
<p>I think it's more convenient for the teachers to send out all the recommendations at once. I'd give the teachers all the forms and envelopes now. I agree with Chedva.</p>
<p>If I give the teachers all of the forms/envelopes now, would they just let me I just keep the ones that don't need to be sent until later? Maybe I should just explain and ask what they prefer to do?</p>
<p>I want to be considerate and respect their time and efforts, but I'd also like to save the application time and money if I'm (hopefully) accepted to my ED school. :) </p>
<p>If you "want to be considerate and respect" your teachers' "time and efforts", give them all the requests and envelopes AT THE SAME TIME. Do NOT ask them to hold some; do not come back in mid-December saying, "Oh, by the way, can you do 10 more by January 1 because I didn't get into my ED school?"</p>
<p>Your teachers can send the recommendations before you send your application. The schools will make a folder for you and when your app comes in, will put it together with the recs. </p>
<p>Then you can wait for your ED decision and send whatever other apps you want to after your get it. You are wasting only the time it takes to put together the envelopes and the costs of the envelopes and stamps.</p>
<p>"Do NOT ask them to hold some; do not come back in mid-December saying, 'Oh, by the way, can you do 10 more by January 1 because I didn't get into my ED school?'"</p>
<p>Um...that I definitely wouldn't do. </p>
<p>I'll get organized and give them everything at once. Thank you for your responses.</p>