Do the rec letters have to be sent in at the same time as the rest of the application? They are the only pieces we are waiting on and we were hoping to finish the applications this weekend (both Common App and a few separate college apps).
Thanks!
They usually trickle in and colleges are fully aware of that. If not rec’d and a practical, drop dead deadline is approaching, they’ll contact you directly.
No, you can send in your application anytime they are ready before the deadline. Some schools accept recommendations after the deadline as well, but check with the school.
Here’s how it works both at the high school where I teach and where my kids go:
- You submit your application(s)
- You fill out a form in guidance, requesting that they send your transcripts, letters, and whatever else needs to go.
- You give them some time-- ballpark 2 weeks-- to get that stuff out. As much as it kills you, you've got to know that there are limited working hours in a day, and that if each senior applies to 8-12 schools, it's going to take some time to get the packets out.
So my son’s apps have been in for a week, and probably nothing has gone out of guidance yet-- my guess is that they’re probably still getting all that ED stuff processed first.
Great-Thanks everyone!
They usually allow about a week or more from the submission of the application for delivery timing. Typically colleges won’t review your file until they receive everything.