<p>I'm submitting my common app schools online, but for the recs for some school (like harvard) i was planning on just using the printed copies they sent me in the mail...is this ok, or do they have a rule that the rec forms and stuff have to have your common app ID on them? (i know stanford has that rule)</p>
<p>I called stanford some time ago and they said it's okay actually.</p>
<p>They don't mind the paper form as long as there's a good reason for you using it. Otherwise, it's just more a hassle for them. It's easier for them to click print and make copies for everyone than to have to photocopy everything.</p>
<p>Well what if I'm making multiple versions of the common app...apparently some teachers just photocopy one version, but that would mean that the ID would be wrong for some of the schools</p>
<p>I hope I'm understanding the question... My teacher rec's were not sent in on-line. They were sent in by regular mail. I felt this was the most accomodating way for the teachers. they are doing this as a favor for us so I wanted to make it as easy for them as possible. Was this NOT correct? Should they have sent them in on-line. I don't think it really matters, does it?</p>
<p>p.s. I also included all the postage paid envelopes etc... so all they had to do was type it and send it away themselves to the college</p>
<p>Sorry, that's not what I meant. I'm saying, I've heard some teachers just photocopy your common app.
So, lets say I'm applying to Cornell and Penn on commonapp. I have two versions of the commonapp, one for each. I give my teacher two diff common app forms--one with my cornell ID at the bottom, one with my Penn ID. according to a lot of people on here, my teacher would take the cornell paper and photocopy it and send it in to penn as well. this would mean, of course, that penn would have my wrong applicant ID number (since I made a diff common app "version" for penn)</p>
<p>Seriously does anyone know about this? The only reason I'm nervous about the ID being copied is that on Stanford's website (for instance), they specifically state don't send in just paper copies since they don't include your ID number, which makes it difficult for the school to match things up when they come in the mail</p>
<p>your problem with the common app rec's is unique to you and others who created multiple common apps. you're only supposed to have one common app profile (which is why trying to create one with the exact same personal info is not allowed on the common app site.) </p>
<p>Apart from that , multiple common apps mean multiple ID numbers, which is another hassle for teachers to deal with (i think most just assume that you have one common app profile.)</p>
<p>I think you're thinking that we're creating new accounts for each school. We're just creating multiple versions, a feature they added this year</p>
<p>Oh i see. well i suppose you're going to have to talk to your teacher about that and give him/her very specific instructions then.</p>
<p>Zachsta: realize that I WAS answering to your question specifically. I called up Stanford a while ago about the CommonApp ID thing, I was worrying about it too some time ago. The guy said it's okay. He said they scan all paper forms and scan for the CommonApp ID (my guess is so that the scan could be matched electronically to your online app), but if there's no ID, the clerk will match the scan to your app manually.</p>
<p>He also said that the ID could be handwritten, and the scanner will see it.</p>
<p>It's no problem - schools don't match up your recs to your application by the Common App ID only; they use your name, address, school's name and (if given) your Social Security number. If the ID on the rec doesn't match a Common App ID, assuming they use it at all, they'll go to the "old" method of matching the rec to the application.</p>
<p>Hm, well, heres common apps official response</p>
<p>When you create a new version of your application you will also be given a new applicant ID, the number on the bottom of the forms. If you are applying to multiple schools under the same version you will use the school forms found in that version and the teachers can make copies of the form because the number will be the same. For each different version that is created you will need to use the school form that is found within each application version so the ID number on your application matches the number on the school form. For this instance, the teacher will not be able to make copies of the application because each application/school form will have different ID numbers.</p>
<p>the colleges have their own way of doing things and out of the 6 CA schools I called up and applied to, stanford's the only one that even seems to notice the commonapp ID at all. relax. just send the blank form that doesn't have the commonapp ID if you're so worried.</p>
<p>is it alright if I send the teachers recom with no id, while send my part of the common appl online? Will they then not 'find' the techers recom?</p>
<p>Yes, it's all right. You can send the recommendations with no ID, with a different ID than the Common App, with no form, whatever. Just make sure that there is sufficient information in the recommendation to differentiate you from anyone else with the same name - things like name, date of birth, address, high school. Doesn't need to be your SSN.</p>
<p>if my send in the forms with a different id, will they find out the information i put in for the other version of the common appl?</p>
<p>They'll find the information you sent to them, regardless of the ID number. The ID number is new this year; most colleges aren't going to rely on it.</p>
<p>thanks Chedva!</p>