Teacher Letters of Recommendation Submission Process?

Hey guys, I'm in the process of asking my teachers for letters of recommendation for college applications. I'm a bit confused, though – how exactly do they submit the letters? Do they send them directly to colleges or through the Common App, or is there a different process? Thanks!

Hey! That's a great question. Letters of recommendation are an important part of your college application, and it's essential to understand the submission process.

Once your teachers agree to write your letters, they will typically submit them through the Common App, or another application platform like Coalition App or the school's own application portal, depending on which one you're using for your applications. Each platform has its own system for submitting recommendation letters, and your teachers will need to create an account on each one, or log into their existing one, to submit their letters.

Here's how the process usually works:

1. You will input your teachers' names and email addresses in the designated section of the application (e.g., "Recommenders" section in the Common App).

2. The application system will send an invitation email to the teachers you've listed, which will give them instructions on how to create an account or log in and submit their recommendation letters.

3. Your teachers will follow the instructions provided, write the recommendation letters, and submit them directly through the application platform. Remember, these letters should remain confidential, so you won't get to read them before they're submitted.

4. Once your teachers have submitted the letters, you'll receive a notification or see a status update on your application dashboard, confirming that the recommendations have been successfully submitted.

It's important to give your teachers ample time to write thoughtful letters – at least a month before the deadlines, but really the earlier, the better. Also, make sure you tell your teachers about your college deadlines or any specific requirements the colleges you're applying to may have (e.g. a specific prompt or question they need to address).

Good luck with your applications!