Hi, I need you help. One of the “Other recommender” for my daughter’s LOR is her hospital supervisor where she volunteers. My daughter added her name to the “other recommender” list in Common app and invited her through that. But the supervisor is having a hard time uploading LORs. Its not letting her do it. I don’t know is it due to any restrictions as part of the hospital network ( she is trying from her work computer) that is banning the uploads. Has anybody come across this issue?
My girl spoke with her counselor about as to what to do in this situation, he is suggesting to give stamped addressed envelopes. She is applying widely and that is a lot of snail mails to keep track. One friend suggested that her school counselor is capable of uploading the LORS from outside recommenders if its sent to him ny the outside recommenders. Is this true?
Also as a last resort, if we are to snail mail the LORS, where will we find the addresses of all the schools? or should we mail ahead the individual schools and ask which email to send? The early action deadlines are fast approaching. Kindly suggest a solution. Thank you.
I believe the Common Application accepts any email address, given that schools use .com, .edu, .state etc. Is the problem with the email to create the recommender’s account? If so, IIRC there’s a button you can click on the recommenders tab of any college where you’ve assigned the recommender to re-send the request, and ask the recommender to check their spam email.
I would not recommend submitting via snail mail, UNLESS the college only accepts supplemental recommendations that way (like Brown.) There are too many addresses to keep track of, and most schools want everything electronically submitted via the Common App due to it auto-syncing with the schools that use Slate (and especially this year given that many admissions offices are closed. If it’s truly necessary, I recommend checking with the admissions website/office first. It might be possible to have it submitted via email to the main admissions email, like at Brown where it says so in the application FAQs.
Regarding mailing addresses, some schools (like CWRU,) have separate application material processing facilities listed on their website. Most don’t, so you can just send the letter (if email isn’t fine, but it should b/c of COVID as long as it’s sent directly by the recommender and NOT from you,) to the mailing address or contact address listed on the website. If you have any questions, again, contact the admissions office to be sure: that’s why they’re there!
Hope that helps! Good luck with admissions!
Thank you so much for the detailed response. At this point, we have deleted the invite, reloaded back 3 times. When my daughters went to gently remind her about the LOR invites, that is when the supervisor lady told her about the issue and she herself was trying to fix it by calling Comm app. She said they couldn’t fix it as well.
I am going to make my daughter suggest maybe uploading from a non hospital computer so that it is not blocked for any security reason. Meanwhile I am also going to make my girl email some early action colleges as to what to do.
Thank you again.
Bear in mind, LoRs are meant to be one educator communicating to other educators about your classroom performance.
That’s working fine through the Navinace. This is for Non teacher ( outside) recommenders. She’s is applying to a combined program which specifically asks for LORS from a supervisor/facility that she volunteers ( if a student has done it). That Is where the problem is.
As a healthcare worker, I can get nowhere on the computers at the hospital. The person should forward the app to her personal email and send through that when she gets home.
@2plustrio , That’s what we are thinking the problem is, esp file uploads to outside sources might be blocked. Thank you for the suggestion. I will make my daughter suggest that. Will reply here how it goes so it might someone in the future.
Bear in mind, many schools provide for outside letters of recommendation if they can provide a valuable additional perspective on an applicant.
Yes, I leapt to the conclusion this was another more is better issue and OP clarified. Mea culpa.