I just set up my common app account, and I’m a bit confused about how to submit letters of recommendation from my teachers. I would like to begin this process now, but it seems like I need to wait and assign my teachers to write letters for particular schools. Is this correct? Is there any way that I can have my teachers write letters now rather than wait until fall when I’ll know exactly where I’ll be applying?
My son is waiting until the 18 application goes live so he hasn’t yet submitted the reference links to his letter writers.
Your teachers are familiar with the process; this isn’t their first time doing this.
Basically the process is that we upload the letters once August 1st has past, and fill out a short survey about your grades and abilities. If you’ve signed the waiver you won’t have access to what we submit, although you’ll know yours are in.
So if I want to submit yours, I go to our school’s Common App link, look up your name in the class of 2018, and upload my letter.
But that cannot happen until August 1, when next year’s Common App goes live.
Forgot to mention: if your school is on Naviance, that’s a separate upload for your teachers. I’ve already done my letters for the rising seniors (Last year I had 45. This year, since I’ve switched the course I’m teaching, I had only 2 
)
So my letters are on Naviance, and will go on the Common App August 1-- to go to wherever those students choose to use the Common App.
Do you have to write a different letter (or address it different) for each school the applicant applies to?
So if a student applies to 10 school does that recommender have to write 10 separate letters ?
Under normal circumstances, no. The same letter typically goes to all the colleges.
Some schools…the Service Academies for example, do ask additional questions about the applicant. and the Common App has an additional survey they ask us to complete.