<p>Title says it all. </p>
<p>Something went wrong with my commonapp account, and I can't seem to change ANYTHING online, so I'm switching to paper applications. What's "postmarking"? I'm worried that the applications I mail out won't reach the admissions office in time :/</p>
<p>Postmarked by Jan 1 means you have to mail it by Jan 1. But I’d do it the day before (if you’re dropping it in the mailbox) so you know* it gets stamped by the post office by the 1st.</p>
<p>Another archaic term … as the world goes digital and electronic.</p>
<p>Postmark means the snail mail store, i.e. the post office, puts their mark, their dated postmark over the stamps, also known as canceling the stamps. The postmark shows that a specfic item was mailed on a specific date from a specific post office.</p>
<p>You can also get a receipt from the post office called “proof of mailing”. If you send something overnight mail, you will also have a receipt. It’s a good idea to have a receipt for something that is time-sensitive such as an application.</p>
<p>in california nothing will be postmarked on Jan 1. So for schools that have a Jan. 1 deadline, will Jan 2 be acceptable, or only Dec 31?</p>
<p>If it has to be postmarked BY January 1, then January 2 typically will not be accepted. Some colleges are more lenient than others, however.</p>