How on earth do I get teacher recommendations? Do they fill out some special form??

[luminousdesigns]

I’m getting involved with college apps and this stuff is far more confusing than it should be. I’m very new to this whole American system so apologies for these dumb questions.

I have two teachers who are willing to write me recommendations. But how are they going to write the recommendations? Do they write the recommendation on a blank document in Google Docs or do they have to fill out some special form? If so, what form? I’m applying to ten universities globally, so I doubt there is a standardized form for them all to fill out. Surely they don’t have to write recommendations for EVERY university I want to apply to, right??

Also, do I send my SAT scores via the Common App or via the CollegeBoard crooks? What about ACT? Lets say I send my SAT via the CollegeBoard website, how will I “unify” it to my Common App? What if I’m not doing it through the Common App?

Finally, what on earth do people mean when they say “start working on college apps?” Does that just mean I log into the Common App and just start filling stuff out for schools? I mean I started doing that and it doesn’t seem very tedious, so I must be missing something.

Also (sorry for my many also’s) what if I’m NOT doing it via the Common App? Do I get my pen and pencil and start writing out the prompts from the University websites or doing it online through whatever portal they use?

Finally what am I supposed to do with my transcript? Do I send it out to colleges? If so, how do I attach it to my Common App? Does my counselor do it?

I’m so lost. No matter how hard I try, I cannot find this information through Google. They changed their algorithm recently and are making it impossible to find good accurate content.

I’m done whining. Any solutions? I’m particularly worried about the recommendation issue I mentioned.

[Erin_s_Dad]

Google Docs recs are fine. They can use the same rec for all the universities.
All SAT/ACT scores have to come from the Company that scored them. If you choose to call the crooks, whatever.
Yes, filling out the common app (and writing any extra essays) are working on college apps.
Your Counselor sends your transcript.

You can ask your HS counselor these questions, too.

[4kidsdad]

have two teachers who are willing to write me recommendations. But how are they going to write the recommendations?

They should know.

Also, do I send my SAT scores via the Common App or via the CollegeBoard crooks?

You should self-report the scores on your Common App & pay CollegeBoard to send your scores to schools.

I mean I started doing that and it doesn’t seem very tedious, so I must be missing something.

Essays?

Finally what am I supposed to do with my transcript? Do I send it out to colleges?

Your school would send your transcript directly to schools.