<p>So, I was cleaning up my room when I noticed a stack of envelopes addressed to Andover. I had forgot to give them to my teachers with all the other envelopes for schools. I don't know what to do. Should I ask one of the other schools I'm applying to if the could fax the recommendations over to Andover (this seems rather horrible, but I can't really think of another way)? Slight panic attack right now (and by slight, I mean major).</p>
<p>I would not ask another school to do so - I think that would be a misstep. Hopefully, your teachers made a photocopy of the recommendations they sent out. At my kids’ middle school, the guidance office coordinates the whole process and would have copies. Is it the same for your school?</p>
<p>I individually handed my teachers each recommendation form and I didn’t specify to keep a copy just in case. I guess I will have to call the school ASAP and arrange something soon.</p>
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<p>Yes, but they’ve been doing this longer than you have . . . so they may have kept one anyway. :)</p>
<p>I’m having rec problems too! I got a envelope returned back to me today addressed to one of the schools that I was applying to, due to not enough postage money since the envelope’s too heavy!! I am guessing it is the guidance counselor’s because the envelope’s pretty heavy, but since the deadline is today, I’m really scared! I am re-sending it out tomorrow using express mail so it’ll get there ASAP. </p>
<p>Ahhh, so scared. Any ideas/advice, guys? Do you think I’ll be penalized?</p>
<p>Myshkaful - Skip the express mail unless you’re overseas. If you’re in the US, just send it priority mail it when the post offices open again on Tuesday and don’t worry about it. If you want to splurge, you can pay an extra 80 cents and get delivery confirmation, but overnight delivery just isn’t necessary.</p>
<p>The admissions offices are inundated with mail right now - nobody’s looking to see when a package was postmarked. And as long as it arrives within the next week or so, you’re fine.</p>
<p>I see where you are coming from, Myshkaful. I believe dodgersmom is right. As long as you get all the info to the school before they start reading applications, you should be fine. I was worried that anything that was turned in after 11:59 PM tonight would go straight to the reject pile.</p>
<p>Wow, haha, thank you so much azpandaman and dodgersmom! :)</p>
<p>I went to my teachers last Friday, and they said they didn’t keep a copy of the recommendations… What should I do?</p>
<p>My teachers’ recommendations + transcripts are not showing on Exeter’s lionlinks either. There is definitely a delay as the office is probably swamped, just ask your teachers to write them again and send them in!</p>
<p>I think I will just ask a school that I thought I was applying to but ended up not applying to if they can fax them over.</p>
<p>If the teacher didn’t get the envelope, didn’t they send it on their own? If not, they can fax it. </p>
<p>To the other poster - if it came back postage due - add the postage to the existing package. The school will see the error and you won’t be penalized. They’ll go by the existing postmark from the first attempt.</p>
<p>No, Exie, the teachers only did as many rec’s as they got envelopes for. No envelopes for Andover → no recommendations for Andover.</p>
<p>It’s struck me now that the schools are very lenient on nearly all parts of the app. Before I thought that the deadlines and such would be uptight- but no… rec late? Teacher’s fault! PFS not submitted? SSS by NAIS was down! etc., etc., etc.</p>
<p><em>torn between glee and criticism</em></p>
<p>CherryRose - Would you rather that it be different? The alternative (I’m guessing) would be for the schools to hire extra staff just to check the postmark dates on all incoming mail. And the reality is that things go wrong - from teachers forgetting to put something in the mail to power outages to snowstorms to nationwide strikes. Stuff happens. And yes, there are deadlines and, yes, as a matter of personal integrity, you should try to honor them, but it’s just not practical for the schools to be down-to-the-tiniest-detail, with no exceptions, strict about them. And kids put a huge amount of effort into these applications (as you well know!) . . . so to say, “sorry, you’re out of luck!” because they misplaced an envelope or forgot to get that piece of paper they needed from a teacher . . . well, that would just be mean.</p>
<p>Look at it this way, you’ve proved (to yourself) that you can do amazing things in a short span of time. Knowing that will serve you well in the future . . . and will help you to accomplish even more amazing things!</p>
<p>I just now found out that my English teacher had not sent in the recommendations. I told him today to send them in today, but I am worried that he won’t. He doesn’t usually get things in on time, not even in class assignments. I’m really worried that my application may not be considered if he doesn’t turn them in. I have repeatedly and politely asked him to send it in, and he forgets each time. Should I call schools?</p>
<p>It might be time to get your parents involved. Can they stop by the school, and <em>very politely</em> ask the teacher to complete the recs? (Since the teacher has a history of not being prompt, and you have asked nicely multiple times, I think I would do an “in person” versus telephone intervention if you were my child!) Perhaps that might be the added push your teacher needs to finish the job. </p>
<p>And the <em>very politely</em> part is key - you don’t want the teacher to be mad, and write a lousy rec in response. Perhaps they can explain to the teacher the “pull” of the school: the amazing opportunities that you would have there, and why they support your desire to apply! Also, they can explain how much work you have put in - filling out apps, writing essays, visiting, interviewing - and how your application will not be considered complete without this rec.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Also - I believe all the schools will accept a “common” English recommendation. Your teacher could just fill out ONE form, make photo copies, and the send them to all the schools. (Maybe your teacher is feeling overwhelmed, that he/she has to fill out a bunch of different forms. If they know they just have to do it once, and make copies, that might help, too!)</p>
<p>I only gave him one form to fill out, and then envelopes. I think he has finished it, he just hasn’t sent it in for some reason. Do you think it is too late?</p>
<p>No, it’s not too late! Many schools don’t start “reading” the applications until the end of the month. </p>
<p>Not sure why he would finish the recs, but not send them - that doesn’t seem to make sense. Is there any possibility he “misplaced” the form and envelopes, and just doesn’t know how to tell you?</p>
<p>How does this teacher usually communicate with parents - email, phone, in person? If you want to know <em>for sure</em> that it’s been sent, have your parents contact him and ask - once again, very politely. They can try and figure out if there is something else going on here.</p>