Hi! I’m applying to a few schools with a Nov. 1st deadline, and I have not sent any scores yet. I am planning on sending them tomorrow, but am worried they won’t arrive by Nov. 1st. I have checked all of my college deadlines, but they just say to submit the application by November 1st- are the scores supposed to arrive by then, or is it considered okay if I have sent them by November 1st and they arrive late?
They may or may not get there by Nov 1 although decent chance they will. Majority of colleges with EA or ED Nov 1 deadlines accept scores that arrive after Nov 1, many of those even accept scores from the Nov SAT test for EA or ED. A minority require the scores to be in their hands by Nov 1, and if they do not arrive by then you are put into regular admission. Those colleges tell you on their websites that all materials includng scores are required to be submitted by the application deadline and thus if you are not finding anything that says scores need to be provided by the app deadline, the college is likely one that accepts scores after Nov 1, but I cannot say for sure without knowing the colleges.
Note that scores are not the only issue. If the college requires high school transcripts and recommendations,you have the same issue, majority accept those after the app deadline but a minority require everything to be in their hands by Nov 1; those that require test scores by Nov 1 are the typically the same ones that require all other materials such as transcripts by Nov 1.
@drusba thank you so much for your help! I sent them all now :). I have another question: I am retaking the ACT in October, but I have not selected my early action schools to automatically receive the score because I fear it will decrease. However, if I see it and it is increased, do you think if I sent it manually after seeing the scores, it would arrive to colleges in time to be reviewed rather than if it was automatically sent? All of my early action colleges accept the October ACT, but they do not specify how quickly it needs to be sent- and I would like to wait a little in order to verify my score increased.
Thanks!
I called the ACT hotline yesterday. I was told that they usually process within one to two days of receiving the request, and that most schools get scores sent electronically. ACT processes scores 3 times a week (M-W-F). I looked at every school my kid was applying to with an 11/1 deadline, and they all said there is a grace period of when they’ll take scores and LORs etc. It ranged from a few days up to two weeks of the 11/1 cutoff. You also have the option of having them sent priority, which is slightly more. However, you cannot tack this upgrade to your already placed order. You must place a new order. I’m sure you’ll be fine, but you should read the language for each school’s policy on this.
@PepperJo Thank you so much for your help! 
So, basically, I should be okay if I wait to send my scores and then send them as soon as I see them (if they have improved)?
I think you should be okay, but look at each school’s policy. Some will state which is the final testing date they’ll accept.
@PepperJo great, thank you!
@PepperJo how does one find out when LOR’s are due (specifically for EA which is deadline tomorrow). Is it available on the web site? One of my son’s teachers had not uploaded it to Common App as of last night. And I’m trying not to be an anxious last minute parent who has to call the Admissions Office on the day before the deadline!
Most college websites have a freshman applicant section that tells you what to submit and by when. If you read through it, you’ll generally find that while most schools would like a complete EA application by 11/1, they will allow for a small grace period for documents that do not come directly from you (eg LORs, school reports, transcripts, test scores). Some schools will not begin to review your application unless all documents have been received. I would email your child’s teacher (and cc the counselor) asap and kindly remind them that your application is due 11/1. Some schools will even email you with a list of missing documents. However, I’ve heard Michigan requires a complete application by the deadline with no exceptions.
@TS0104 my school’s college counselor has told me that it is okay for LORs to be late AS LONG AS the student completes their part of the application by the deadline. Colleges understand it’s not the student’s fault, and they usually allow quite a bit of leniency for this.
Thanks! I called the school I was worried about (Georgetown), and they said they want it ASAP but realize that it might not be in before the deadline. Son checked with the teacher and he had never read the LOR-request email sent weeks ago (!) but said he would get to it right after school. (In the teacher’s defense, son says he thinks he might not get many LOR requests because he is a Gov/Soc/Psych teacher and not one of the usual go-tos, but he was a good pick for my son).