<p>Hi, I've been working on applications lately, and I've created alternative versions of the Common App for most of the schools I'm applying to. However, I have all my teacher recommendation forms sent, but they were taken from the original application version. Since each alternative version has a different ID, most of my teacher recommendation form ID's won't match the ID of my online Common App that I submit to each school. Will this be a major problem? How should I fix this?</p>
<p>Um, yeah sounds like a bad problem...Very bad. Why did you do this??</p>
<p>Well, I guess you could just write the app # on each copy if they haven't sent them in already...</p>
<p>Um, if they have been sent I guess you have to use the original App to submit to all your schools...which is what you should have done in the first place...</p>
<p>The numbers need to match up. Just send your original Common App to each school and forget about the alternate versions.</p>
<p>Why did I do this, you ask? Well, the Common Application didn't even allow alternate versions when I had first requested teacher recommendations. Then, I realized that after submitting for EA, I could update using alternative versions (to add new awards, edit my essay, etc.). Only today did I find out that the application number changes. Anyone else have this issue? I mean, my name and social security number are still on each form.</p>
<p>Should I just call the colleges and ask them what to do?</p>
<p>Definitely call the colleges and see what their viewpoint is. From reading other posts, many colleges don't even use that Common App ID number, they have their own ID system, i.e., SSN or something else.</p>
<p>And Rememberme, we did the same thing. D's GC required all the rec forms be submitted to them a month ago (for EA), before they changed the common app policy on alternate versions. </p>
<p>Let us know how you make out.</p>
<p>What?</p>
<p>So there is a specific ID number associated with each of Common App. alternate version? It is unacceptable to simply photocopy the Teacher Evaluation form and send it to each school? Does this mean that the teacher is expected to fill out a form for each school (since the forms have different ID numbers)?</p>
<p>Python, I know it sounds ridiculous. Check around on some other threads. I think this has pretty much been discussed and dismissed as not being a big deal.</p>
<p>Again, the schools (most) don't even use the id number on the common app. Boy Common App really blew it this year, shouldn't have changed it from last year.</p>
<p>Wait...I did the common app online but then tore off a sheet from a paper copy of the common app lying around my guidance office and used that for my teacher recs.</p>
<p>Is this bad?? I didn't even know there was a number!</p>
<p>I emailed my Yale admission officer and he responded saying that they generally disregard the ID number since the name and social security number are all that are needed to identify the applicant. I'm not sure about the other schools yet, but at least we have one confirmation.</p>
<p>The adcoms are trained profs at pairing up all the pieces, and they actually want to get it right. I think name and address are going to be enough.</p>
<p>Thanks for alerting us to this problem. If your name is really not that common then there should not be a problem.</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure it is fine. I think schools generally look at birth date and name.</p>
<p>Of all the colleges I've looked at, only Stanford requires the Common App ID number to actually match on the Teacher and Counselor recommendations. For the other colleges, I'm sure that full name, SSN, DOB, and school are enough to differentiate you. If they're missing something, they'll usually show it online at the status page or email you about it. I don't think its a huge problem, so don't worry!</p>
<p>Where exactly is this common application id number? I've been looking for it and the only thing I could find was a number on the bottom of all the forms next to my name, but to me it didn't look like a common application id. Is it this number? Or where can you find it?</p>
<p>I believe that is the number.</p>
<p>Do you think it's okay if I write it with a pen on the recommendations and cross out the number below, because one of the teachers that wrote my recommendations isn't in school any more, and he wrote it on a printout made by my counselor. So I would need to ask another teacher for a new recommendation, and I think this recommendation is much better.</p>