@sarah38 I know what I’m talking about and I answered you politely. If my answer was incorrect please clarify so others can learn too.
Not referring to your answer, but to others. My son told me it was impossible to submit before the recs were in. I trusted his information.
@sarah38 My daughter applied to MIT. She was accepted, attended, and graduated less than two years ago. Most of my info is from experience.
It’s possible that your son meant that he needs to invite the persons who he wants to ask to write his LORs before he can submit his part of the application. He may be right about that. Once he invites, it’s pretty much not in his hands any longer. And admissions offices are more lenient about late material that are beyond the control of the applicant.
One of my own daughter’s teacher’s sent her LOR in late after the teacher’s dad unexpectedly passed away. It was fine.
With the thousands of applications coming in, somethings come late and somethings get lost. MIT will go through every applicant’s folder, note any part that might be missing, send any applicant an email requesting missing info, and will give a reasonable amount of time to make sure the student can have things submitted in time for a decision.
Unfortunately holiday time means all school admission offices are closed, so it’s not easy to get answers, and they don’t reopen until after the deadline. It makes things more stressful. But good luck to your son!
@UglyMom Thank you. That makes a lot of sense. The letters all went in. Hopefully we didn’t stress the teachers and counselors out too much. Congratulations on your daughter’s success!