<p>Has anyone requested that their S/D's GC and/or teachers include a self-addressed, stamped post card that the college can return indicating that the college has received CG or teacher's school report/rec. letter? If so, should the return post card be addressed to the GC/teacher or to the student? Since D's school doesn't send via certified mail, this struck me as a reasonable alternative to calling schools to see if applications are complete (at least for those schools where there's no on-line status check system). I'd be interested in hearing others' opinions or experiences. Thanks!</p>
<p>Your idea is a good one. Also, the Post Office and Fedex have various options for confirming delivery that do not require any action on the part of the people on the other end - for example, for 45 cents, a delivery confirmation number can be added to a priority mail envelope, and you can look up the number online. That's what I did for teacher recs - gave the teachers the priority envelope, they sealed it, I mailed it (and paid). Well, one teacher; the others were willing to stop at the Post Office themselves.
For the GC I gave her our Fedex account number. I could also check the delivery date of that one online.</p>
<p>Some people won't want to pay the extra money, but my kids only applied one place each ED.....</p>
<p>Some schools send YOU a post card to tell you what hasn't come in yet.</p>
<p>We did the post cards for every rec and transcript to every school which D applied to (we gave the post cards with the stamped envelopes to the teachers/gc) In the bottom corner we made little notations Ex: teacher rec and the teachers initials, Supplemental essay, etc . We had the postcards mailed back to our home address where we had copies of everything D had to send along with a check list so that we knew what we were waiting to get back. the colleges were really great about the post cards because they were stamped recieved and signed by someone in the deparment when the envelopes were opened.</p>
<p>The problem with the post office/ Fed ex confirmation is that all of this stuff goes to the college mail room so your receipt will state that it was received the the college, but you still have no assurances as far as the information getting to the intended person.</p>
<p>shoot, I did not think of this!</p>
<p>DD's college office packs and mails up to 6 applications received prior to Dec 1, and they include a card which the admission's office can stamp and send back - definitely worth it. Over 6 apps, or "signifcantly" late, you have to pack and mail, but they give you one of the cards with the transcript and rec copies, etc.
The other super thing they do is they follow-up with the teachers on recs! The student must ask the teacher for the rec (there are guidelines on timing, etc, you can't wait until the last minute or you are on your own), teacher says yes, student goes to CC, fills out an internal teacher rec form and the counselor then follows up to be sure the teacher recs get in on time - what a relief!</p>
<p>We created postcards on our home computer, stamped and addressed to S at our home address. On each it said something to the effect: "XYZ University has received a letter of recommendation for (S's name) from (teacher's name)." </p>
<p>We put a postcard in every envelope that we gave the school (i.e. all teacher recs and counselor/transcript evelopes). When the envelopes are opened and the information is placed in S's file, the clerks mail back the cards. </p>
<p>The post cards all arrived back for his EA school (last one came yesterday, postmarked Nov. 5th, from the English teacher... I think the cards get "lost" in the U.S. mail system and are slower to arrive than letters) and are trickling in for his RD schools. I keep them in a file we made for each school. It brings peace of mind, and we don't have to bug the Admission's Office.</p>
<p>Just for fun, we (okay, I -- S was too busy) made postcards that reflected S's main interest. Copied old-time artwork related to that interest off the internet and printed them out onto card stock we got at Office Depot. But you could do this with any kind of post card.</p>
<p>We got the idea off this board, by the way...so thanks to the people from last year!</p>
<p>The method I used to ensure that schools got what they needed was that I applied to most of the ED/EA schools and a few of the RD ones early, then cross reference with the schools that have websites where you can check status. </p>
<p>For instance, say Hamilton College has a site where I can check what is missing, and I am applying to other schools in that region as well. If a rec gets posted as recieved by Hamilton, it is likely that Colgate U down the road has also got it. That being said, however, colleges ALWAYS misplace someone's rec or essay or transcript, etc...even if they do recieve it. </p>
<p>That happened to me at Carleton, Wesleyan and Columbia the first time out (confirmed via mail reciepts) even though ALL were sent at the same time and in the same way. Luckily, I called once (and/or recieved an email), a week after the deadlines to check to see if the adcoms needed any information or if forms were outstanding. In the end, it was just that they had not sorted all of their mail. I would caution, however, to call only once or you might be viewed as a worry-wort at best. Again, schools will send a postcard to say what is missing, and/or email (Wesleyan & Columbia did this). If something was missing, I could have it resent or faxed. </p>
<p>This time around, I was able to do most of my apps relatively early (at least a month before the deadline) that I was able to sit back and relax about the process. Luckily, I was also able to check my status at a few colleges online, and they all recieved my information--and even if my ED school does not have an online status check system, I am resonably assured that everything got there. If it hasn't, I'm pretty sure I'll get and email and/or a card or letter telling me what they need. </p>
<p>Just a random though. :)</p>
<p>PS--one of my schools this time around misfiled my application, so the teacher recs were in one file, while the rest were in another. The only way I found out was from an email showing that it was not recieved. I called back, and they double checked (took a few minutes), and found that it was their mistake. Also happens with Financial aid paperwork as well--for that, I did use a reciept confirmation however.</p>
<p>For ED applications, at what point do you ask the GC to resend if the college cannot locate them?</p>
<p>Just an aside for any admissions officers out there reading in - DD applied to Carleton College, and they sent back a letter confirming receipt of her application, and a computer printout of what was in their database (including the SAT/ACT scores they had recorded), so you could see what was still outstanding. Other schools have sent us nice confirmation cards and letters, but the printout would be great if your materials were going out in different mailings</p>
<p>NU:</p>
<p>Give them 2 weeks. With Carleton, it took a few weeks, but they sent me a letter as well. Even my RD schools have begun to send cards letting me know what they have not recieved, and some of the deadlines are not until February. :)</p>
<p>Cangel: </p>
<p>Good luck with Carleton...it is an amazing college! I think your D would be very happy there. :) I almost re-applied there myself, but as I needed lots of aid and would be applying RD. Oh well.</p>
<p>Just got my email notice about what's missing from my ED app:</p>
<p>Dear Blaine:</p>
<p>I am writing to thank you for your interest in Amherst and to confirm
the status of your EARLY DECISION application. If you did not intend to
apply to Amherst as an Early Decision candidate, please contact our
office immediately. I've listed the required application components
below with their current status in our office. </p>
<p>The following items have been received:
First Year Application
Early Decision Signed Statement of Understanding
Essay - 2
3 Year High School Transcript
First Marking Period Grades
Mid-Year or First Trimester Grades
Counselor Recommendation
The following recommendations (2 required):
REC1-Chemistry
SAT-I Scores
SAT-II Scores</p>
<p>The following items have not been received:
$55.00 Application Fee or Fee Waiver
2nd Teacher Recommendation</p>
<p>If our records indicate that SAT or ACT scores are missing, please FAX
(413-542-2040) or send a copy of the score report to our office
immediately.</p>
<p>Please know that if we are currently missing materials, we will need to
receive them by Tuesday, November 23 in order to give your application
full consideration. If you have any questions regarding this message
(or would like to confirm the receipt of application materials that
arrived after the date of this message), please phone the Office of
Admission at 413-542-2328. You may fax your missing materials to
413-542-2040. Do not respond via email.</p>
<p>Remember to ask your counselor to submit the required Mid-Year Report
Form at the appropriate time.</p>
<p>Thank you again for your interest in Amherst.</p>
<p>Sincerely,</p>
<p>Office of Admission</p>
<h2>Amherst College</h2>
<p>I will need to call them because they said previously that I could substitute an employer rec for one of the teacher recs. And, I sent payment out a long time ago. Gonna call and see what they say. Will let you know.</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>Yeah, I'm only missing the fee (maybe not yeah, but at least I can do something from my end)....wish Common Application and Amherst would have given me the option to charge it, like at some of the other schools I applied to. Oh well. Have to go check back to September at my bank, but...it won't hold up the reading of my ED app. :)</p>
<p>Schoolmarm--we did the cards last year with our eldest and repeated this year with our second son. It worked well.</p>
<p>Return Receipt Cards (although they carry a hefty price) worked for me and Georgetown -- all of the cards were signed.. Express Mail for the actual App</p>
<p>Just put in regular post cards from the post office addressed to you. works wonderfully</p>