Recommendations on Common App for Homeschoolers

<p>First, I am a homeschooled senior. Some of my college applications are due by Nov. 1 to be eligible for scholarships.
I'm not sure what to do. I checked my recommendations on the common app to see if they had been completed. My guidance counselor one shows "Submitted" which I know in fact it was since I'm homeschooled and my mom acts as the "Guidance Counselor." Now for my problems:</p>

<p>I have 2 teachers from online courses that agreed to write my "Teacher Recommendations" but theirs both state "Not Started." I'm a bit surprised and confused because one of them also completed my teacher recommendation for our state school which is not part of the common app and they definitely submitted that one. Should I contact them to verify that they sent them on the common app?</p>

<p>I also have 4 "Other Recommenders." Two of those state that they were started. Both of these people however contacted me because the common app would not allow them to upload their letters. When they did, in both cases, they came up blank. They were both showing that they were well below the maximum length. The one person tried to upload just a plain word document (not on letterhead) as a test and they were able to do that. They deleted that test copy and tried again to upload their letter of recommendation. Again, it showed up blank. I am planning on just mailing those 2 (my mom said she'll include them with her packet of transcripts, school profile,...) because both people sent me copies in sealed envelopes with their signatures across the envelope to show that I hadn't read them. Is this okay to do?</p>

<p>The 2 remaining "other recommenders" state "Not started" on the common app and yet one of those also completed another "Other Recommender" for me for my state school that does not use the common app. Is this a problem with common app or are my recommenders not writing them for the common app? It seems odd though, because when I asked them, they were very enthusiastic to do so. I had even told them exactly what would be needed so they wouldn't have any surprises or find out it would require more time than they thought. Any ideas on what to do?</p>

<p>I am also posting this on the "Common Application" thread.</p>

<p>Yes, it’s ok to send sealed letters. Go ahead and get on the phone with your recommenders and walk through the process with them on the phone. Email them first, saying something like, “Thanks again for being willing to write a rec. My first deadline is coming up on Nov. 1st. Let me know if you have any questions about uploading your letter. Feel free to call me if you do, and I can go through the upload process with you. The Common App can be a little touchy sometimes.” Something like that.</p>

<p>Thanks so much for your input, sbjdorlo!</p>