So I’ve already asked my 2 teachers to write rec letters, and have gotten confirmation that they’re done, but now I’m seriously confused. I’m using the common app for most of my schools and apply Texas for one, and apparently there are forms teachers fill out instead of writing just regular letters? My teachers just wrote standard letters of recommendation, no forms or anything. My question is will just mailing in the regular letters the teachers wrote suffice or do they have to fill out some forms, too? I seriously had no idea specific forms existed, I thought teachers just wrote a regular ol’ letter, slapped it in an envelope and sent it off. I’ll feel awful having to ask for them to do another recommendation. The schools I’m applying to are Harvard, Brown, Rice, Johns Hopkins, NYU, UT Austin, and TCU. Also, what is the process for submitting rec letters?
They may choose to submit physical letter, but it is better to do it through the computer so that you can track the progress and receiving by school. Your teachers just to log in and paste the letter on CommonApp to submit. However, you need to invite them on CommonApp first and then assign them to the schools you are applying.
Does your school use Naviance?
I uploaded my letters to Naviance, then they’re sent out.
Prior to that time, I used to hand in a letter to the College Placement Office, and they would Xerox a copy to send with each set of transcripts.
Here’s the thing: your school has a procedure in place. They’ve been dealing with the college admission process since long before you were born. It’s your first rodeo, but not theirs.
MAke an appointment with your guidance counselor, and ask about the process.
@billcsho Thanks! I noticed that there was some “teacher evaluation form” on the Common App which completely freaked me out since I didn’t know that was a thing, so that makes me feel better that it’s just sort of a copy/paste situation of the actual letter.
@bjkmom Unfortunately, my school does not use Naviance. I will definitely ask about the process.
Okay, update: I made an appointment with my counselor, but the earliest available was next month. I have an app due very soon, so I’m kind of freaking out. Okay, so I know I can invite teachers on common app and then they will receive an email with a link to upload their recommendation. Will they be able to just attach the document they have already written, or will they have to fill out some form? I need to know if they have to fill out a form so I can go by and apologize for them having to do more. Lol!
Is it possible to go to the counselor’s office, stick your head in the door and say. “I just have a quick general question about teacher’s letters?” The counselor doesn’t need to dig out your file to explain the procedure for teacher’s letters. Even a different counselor or the receptionist could probably answer your question. IMO all this should have been explained to all juniors last spring. Plenty of students fill out their applications in August before school starts.
@OspreyCV22 Tell me about it! We’re all so terribly unprepared for this. My school has done a pretty dreadful job of explaining this whole application thing. #:-S
My son has the same question! Two of his schools don’t accept the Common App. His two teachers already completed the recommendation letters during the summer and for some reason sent him copies. We aren’t sure what to do either and we don’t have Navience. His counselor also has a month long wait for an appointment. No wonder about 25% of our school’s graduates go to the same university. I have to think it’s easier on the counselors. Sheesh. I know it will all work out in the end.
@OspreyCV22 What I plan on doing (and it seems to be the norm for CC people, so it will probably work for your son, too) is going to my teachers and explaining that I’m going to invite them so they’ll be able to upload their rec letters on the Common App. In all honesty, it sounds simpler than mailing (having to get all those envelopes addressed sounds terrible) and I’d be able to track whether or not the letters have been submitted. Sure, it’ll create an awkward conversation, but at least it’ll be out of the way! These teacher recs are too dang confusing! If your son’s school is anything like mine, then the counselors/teachers probably don’t deal a lot with the Common App/applying to more selective schools so I guess it’s pretty understandable.