When you add someone as a recommender on Common App, you initiate a streamlined process for securing and submitting crucial letters of recommendation to the colleges you're applying to. It's more than just listing a name; it involves an invitation, submission by the recommender, and specific assignment by you.
The Initial Steps: Inviting a Recommender
The process begins within your Common App account, typically in the "Recommenders and FERPA" section.
1. Completing the FERPA Waiver
Before you can invite any recommenders, you must complete the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) waiver. This legally binding step allows you to choose whether or not to waive your right to access the recommendations after they have been submitted. Most applicants choose to waive this right, as it assures colleges that the recommendations are confidential and provided without the applicant's prior review, often strengthening the perception of the recommendation's authenticity and candor.
2. Entering Recommender Details
Once the FERPA waiver is handled, you will:
- Select the recommender type: Common App categorizes recommenders as School Officials (e.g., counselors, deans), Teachers, or Other Recommenders (e.g., coaches, employers, mentors).
- Input their information: You'll provide their full name, email address, and their relationship to you. It's crucial to ensure their email address is accurate to prevent delivery issues.
3. Sending the Invitation
Upon entering their details and saving, the Common App system automatically sends an email invitation to your designated recommender. This email contains a unique link that directs them to their specific Common App recommender account or prompts them to create one if they don't already have one.
Understanding the Recommender's Role
Once invited, the ball is in your recommender's court. Their steps are straightforward:
- Accessing the Portal: They click on the link in the invitation email to access the Common App Recommender Portal.
- Uploading Documents: Within this secure portal, they will typically be asked to:
- Upload their letter of recommendation: This is usually a PDF document they have prepared.
- Complete evaluation forms: Depending on the recommender type and the colleges you've selected, they may need to fill out various forms, such as ratings on your academic performance, personal qualities, and contributions to the school community.
- Submitting to Common App: After completing all necessary components, they submit their recommendation directly through the portal, making it available to your Common App account.
Crucial Next Step: Assigning Recommendations to Colleges
It's important to understand that simply adding someone as a recommender does not automatically send their recommendation to every college you apply to. This is a vital distinction that gives you control over your application.
Once a teacher or other recommender is added to your "Invite and Manage Recommenders" list, you must then assign them to specific colleges within your application. This step tells the Common App which colleges should receive that particular recommender's submission.
This intentional assignment process allows you to:
- Tailor your applications: You can send a recommendation from a science teacher only to universities where you are applying for a science major, while a humanities teacher's recommendation goes to a different set of schools.
- Meet specific requirements: Some colleges might have a cap on the number of recommendations they accept, or they might prefer specific types (e.g., one from a core academic teacher). Assigning lets you meet these criteria precisely.
This ensures that only the relevant and desired recommendations are sent to each institution, optimizing your application package for every school.
Monitoring Recommendation Status
Throughout this process, you can easily monitor the status of each recommendation within your Common App account. The status will typically change from "Invited" to "Started" (when the recommender begins working on it) and finally to "Submitted" once they have completed and sent their materials. This transparency allows you to politely follow up with recommenders if needed, ensuring all your application components are submitted on time.
In summary, adding a recommender on Common App initiates an invitation process for them to submit materials, and critically, places the control in your hands to assign specific recommendations to the colleges of your choice.
