<p>I have been advised to enclose a cover letter with my application. The letter would list what I was sending in (teacher recommendation, early decision agreement, etc). It would express how honored I would be to be accepted into the university. I would also tell them I am in the process of completing the scholarship application, and I am in great need of scholarships, financial aid, blah blah blah. Is this a good or a bad idea? </p>
<p>A lot of schools do not personally send out the supplement materials (including recommendations), so that's probably a non-issue. To the OP, I think it's a good idea since you're sending everything together. Plus it would add a personal touch.</p>
<p>IMHO its a waste of time. Your essays give you ample room to explain how honored you'd be to be accepted and why you're a fit for the school. As for being in great need of scholarships, etc. that's why they have the whole financial aid process. And for that matter they don't care about your perception of need, they care about what their formulas tell them.</p>
<p>What I would consider doing, though, is enclosing a self-addressed postcard so that you know they received your application if they don't have a website that allows you to track the status of your app. With everything you mail simply add a postcard (with a stamp on it) for them to drop in the mail; on the postcard write what was sent along with it so you'll know the app was received, letters of rec received, etc.</p>
<p>At my S's school, you can turn any paper app materials over to the counselor who assembles it all together with the teacher recs, transcript, school profile, counselor rec & sends EVERYTHING together in one packet from the HS. This worked extremely well for my S last year, so he wasn't missing parts of his apps for the schools he applied to. That said, most of the app materials my S completed were on-line anyway.
I have heard of others who did not do things in this way & were hounded by Us about various missing teacher recs, counselor rec, transcript, etc. I thought it much tidier for everyone if things are in ONE packet. Of course, your counselor & school have to be willing to collect & mail such a packet (we provided envelopes & stamps, pre-addressed).</p>