Hi guys! Just submitted my app a few days ago. Super nervous. How’s everyone else doing?
Doing well. Nervous too. What other schools are you applying to? And what are your stats, if you don’t mind posting them.
Columbia was on my list but the third rec and the thought that I wouldn’t want to go if it weren’t in NYC prompted me not to submit my app last minute 
I know Columbia doesn’t meet transfer student’s financial need 100%, but I submitted the app anyways. It doesn’t hurt to try.
How important do you guys think that third advisor recommendation letter is? I didn’t think it was mandatory because of the common app only requiring 2 and I didn’t ask mine. Even if I asked him now he might be able to scrap together something mediocre by April (I don’t even know him), but it seems pointless. Do you think it disqualifies me; what should I do?
I spoke to them on the phone about this. Woman on the line didn’t really sound like she knew what she was saying, but she did reiterate that the advisor recommendation is a requirement. you should be calling them up/emailing them instead of asking us!
I told her that common app allows us to upload only two. she said ignore that and look at the website. I said this can confuse other applicants. she apologised.
Yup, I had trouble nailing down an advisor’s recommendation, too. I did have one helpful advising director offer to help last minute, so hopefully that’ll be worth something!
My main worry is the secondary school report. I’ve been e-mailing and calling my old high school counselors like crazy but they haven’t responded, and I was told that it’s mandatory, too. Ugh.
If you’re talking about the final year report, I just sent that along with my high school transcripts in a sealed envelope
Yup, that. I just can’t get in contact with a counselor who’ll fill it out because the person who handles transcripts is not a counselor. My high school was a mess.
Did you all get the 3 letters of recommendation?
Yes. 2 from professors and 1 from an advisor.
P.S: Two recommendations from Academic Evaluators and one from an advisor is required. I spoke to the admissions department and they said that we have until March 16th to submit the recommendations (that’s when they start tracking your documents).
That’s really helpful information, @egoist. Thank you for letting us know! I’ll have to bug my advisor to finish it before then.
Crossing my fingers that the extension applies to secondary school final reports.
The final report is a required but unimportant component of your application. It is just a statement of good standing /“student completed high school without screwing up” of sorts. recommendations, on the other hand, can play an important role. so if there’s an extension for those, I am pretty sure there’s an extension for the final report too.
does everybody have access to a portal? my page just shows up blank
I attend a huge school and have never spoken with my advisor – ironically one of the reasons I want to transfer. I don’t feel comfortable asking someone I don’t even know to write me a rec. The letter would probably hurt me when being compared to amazing advisor recs. At my school, it is also very clear that they don’t want anyone to transfer out. Point is, I believe an advisor rec. would only hurt me. The question is, will failing to submit it and risking an incomplete application/ineligibility hurt more? What would you all do in my situation?
That’s a tough situation, @transfer48109. But there’s no way around the rules. Be safe and go for submitting the evaluation.
@transfer48109 I was in the same position at my community college and called every number I thought might help. I finally got in touch with someone who was very helpful and wrote me a shining letter of recommendation once I sent her my resume and some background information. Hopefully you can find someone just as helpful at your school! Good luck.
I still haven’t had any luck with my secondary school final report. It’s stressing me out like crazy.
@jdarnielle don’t stress. I got off the phone with them earlier today about my college report, which is the same kind of document as the final report – only, probably, slightly more important and relevant. they said the application will be considered anyway and not to worry.
That’s a huge relief, @josh007. Thank you for the head’s up!