<p>If I submit all my essays and information through Common App online but choose to have my teachers and counselor mail their recs and other stuff to the colleges, will the colleges treat this negatively?</p>
<p>If you are doing the common app online, you should certainly invite your teachers through the online process on the common app site. If they elect to submit a paper rec rather than online, that’s up to each individual teacher. If your teachers have already told you they will be mailing the recs, you can help by printing out the form from the common app site, filling in the information that identifies you, and providing them with a stamped addressed envelope for each school.</p>
<p>Colleges definitely prefer online recs. Most of them scan paper submissions and review them electronically.</p>
<p>I mentioned earlier in a previous post that I did NOT waive my FERPA rights. Therefore, I have to do on paper in order to waive those rights and reduce pressure on my teachers, who refuse to write one anyways without that right waived.</p>
<p>It’s fine if your school/teachers do it one way and you do it another. Every hard copy they receive will be uploaded into a digital file and will find itself into the adcoms’ hands.</p>
<p>You’re worrying too much. It’s a non issue.</p>
<p>^^
FYI there are some schools who have a “paper only” procedure for all teacher recs, so don’t feel your personal handling choice will be so different as to make your half/half app stand out.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>