<p>I'm applying to math graduate schools. Now that I have the list of schools I'm applying to, taken the gre and subject test, secured letters of reccomendation, now Thanksgiving Break is upon us and I really ought to start filling out apps right? </p>
<p>I have 1 app due Dec. 15, and most due in early January. </p>
<p>Ok here's what I'm worried about.
1. Transcripts: They want to see my grades from this semester right? But my grades didn't appear until Jan.5th last year and I imagine any transcripts my school would send wouldn't get there until atleast the 15th, so what to do?
2. Sending GRE, The Oct. Subject test went okbut I think I may have done 30 or 40 points better in November, if I wait to recieve the November scores, will I be able to submit those by Dec. 15?
3. Do letters of rec need to be in by the app due date, most of the online apps only submit email requests for letters after you submit the entire app. </p>
<p>I guess the real question is what constitutes meeting the application deadline? Is it just having paid the fee, submited the basics and sending the other stuff as close to the deadline as possible, or is literaly get everything in? </p>
<p>1) For a December 15 or early January deadline, I highly doubt they expect to see this semesters' grades. I sent mine last week; you should send yours ASAP so there's time to sort out any issues that may pop up (for example, I just received notice from one university that they want further documentation for some freshman classes I tested out of).</p>
<p>2) I wouldn't count on getting November GREs in on time unless you're confident enough to automatically send the scores when you take the test. You know how long it took to receive your October ones--about two weeks, and then you have to request that the scores be sent to the university, which would take another few days at least. Maybe if you took advantage of the Scores by Phone service (for extra $$$) you could find out whether those scores really are improved and get them sent as soon as possible.</p>
<p>3) LORs are tricky--I'm not an adcom so I don't know what they consider late. It's not really your fault if the professors you notified don't send them in exactly promptly, they're busy people and I'm willing to bet many letters come trailing in late, so I doubt they would throw out an application if one or two of your professors don't submit them until later in the month. Honestly, it's not like they close the offices on December 15 and say "OK people! That's a wrap! Even though we're not going to look at these until mid-January, anything received after this point is null and void." A lot of universities I've looked up (mostly public ones, though--not the ultra-prestigious private ones) even have a process for people who /begin/ the application process after the deadline.</p>