<p>After sending off my application materials ie: transcripts, fee, form, scores, SoP and sample work to the Grad School and Department of PolSci at USC by the Dec 1 deadline, I thought everything was sorted. Two of my referees had submitted their LoRs well on time. However...</p>
<p>I'd nominated four, as I thought the extra one wouldn't do any harm, since the school asks for a minimum 3. Getting up to the deadline, one of my referees says he's having trouble submitting online. I promptly email the professor who had shown interest in advising me, and she said a fax with signature would be fine. I tried to call to tell ref. No.3 to send a hard copy, but he didn't answer. The deadline passed. I frantically try to get another one sorted. I called the head of my deapartment in Cambridge and asked for his help, to which he agreed. However, because the deadline had passed, he was unable to submit any information online, although the system flashed that he had submitted a reference anyway. By this time, No.3 had been back in touch, faxed the reference and the department immediately updated the reference received manually field on the online app. No.4 is currently sending his reference in the same way. So essentially, I'm left with four LoRs, two online, two manual, but with two arriving a few days late- as well as a confusing status on the online application.</p>
<p>It's really annoying that I polished the application so well and was let down by things beyond my control. How considerate do you think the department will be about these late references. I emailed to apologise for the confusion and they seemed quite polite.</p>
<p>They won't care. They normally won't look at the applications for a few weeks anyhow until winter break starts. This kind of thing is very common. I had a problem with my GRE scores being sent to the wrong place last year and they didn't bat an eye when they arrived late.</p>
<p>My ex-roommate was in the same situation when he applied for grad school.</p>
<p>One of his recommenders simply forgot to submit the LoR. However, 2 universities notified him in feb or march that he's still missing one LoR. Once he got his recommender sent in the last LoR, he was given acceptances to both universities.</p>
<p>schools want your application in by deadline time...most are willing to be flexible about test score reports and letters of rec...i'd just contact usc and let them know what's going on.</p>
<p>I'll add to the chorus -- they won't care, and they won't punish you for it. The application deadlines are usually artificially early so that lost items can find their way to your file.</p>
<p>I had a letter get lost in the mail last year. Although the department's deadline was Dec 15, the administrator contacted me and asked that my recommender please submit the letter by Jan 3 (which was when they were convening the admissions committee). No harm, no foul.</p>
<p>Cheers. I remember applying to stay on at Cam this year and folks rushing around like crazy to get in their apps by the deadline. Still, it was March 31th or something, so there's no excuse. I just rang the uni admin and, like people have said, they've not even sifted through the reems of stuff that's been sent to the buisness school, so looks like I'm ok.</p>