<p>i got a recommendation from a teacher who is now on leave, and he gave me about 10 envelopes containing both the letter and common app form. however, he didnt sign the flaps, and i really have no way to see him before i mail these letters to my schools. does this matter? i’m applying to some ivies and stanford, and i definitely thought i read somewhere that the flaps must be signed. does any one know if this is required?</p>
<p>I didn’t hear that
anyone??</p>
<p>The signed flap is DEFINITELY required. I mean if it wasnt, you could always sneak a peak at the rec and replace the document with your manufactured one (of course you wouldnt do that though!!)</p>
<p>I dont have much advice other than talk to your guidance counselor…</p>
<p>couldn’t the guidance counselor sign the flap instead?</p>
<p>“couldn’t the guidance counselor sign the flap instead?”</p>
<p>nope i dont think so. Also, you could call the actual colleges…they would be a bit more knowledgeable than some random high schoolers :)</p>
<p>My d’s teacher, who left her school when she was a junior, also gave her the recommendation and she sent them out herself. No flaps signed. All the schools accepted that recommendation, and she had good admissions results.</p>
<p>Contrary to auxsoleil’s pronouncement, unless specifically stated on the college’s website, signed flaps are not required.</p>
<p>kay that’s what I thought</p>
<p>@ Chedva and others,</p>
<p>Please excuse my ignorance. I retract my previous statement.</p>
<p>thanks guys! i actually called stanford today, and they said that as long as the letter is sealed, they don’t care if it isn’t signed. i don’t know about other schools, but i’m not gonna worry about it.</p>
<p>Get a life.</p>
<p>Please excuse my ignorance, but I don’t know what you mean by “signing the flap”. Help. My son is now in the process of filling out apps and giving his teachers rec requests so it would really help if we knew what “signing the flap” is all about. THANK YOU SO MUCH!</p>
<p>When the teacher puts the recommendation in the envelope he or she then seals the flap over the back of the envelope (licking the envelope as we used to call it). “Signing the flap” simply means that the teacher signs his or her name over the sealed portion of the flap and onto the back of the envelope, so that it would become obvious if anyone opens the envelope. It’s kind of like putting sealing wax on the point of the flap.</p>
<p>But since it’s not required, your son doesn’t have to worry about it!</p>
<p>Thanks so much for your help! by the way, do all teachers know to do this? I have never heard of it before. Just curious…</p>
<p>Teachers generally don’t know to do this, because, once again, it is not necessary unless a school specifically requires it. And if the school does require it, it’s obvious from their website, which you should review in detail anyway.</p>
<p>Don’t worry about something you don’t have to worry about.</p>
<p>At our sch. the kids have to request their transcripts from the GC’s office and then mail them off themselves to their schools. The transcripts are given to the students in sealed envelopes with a school (ink) stamp over the flap. So if you feel you really need something on the flap, you could prob. take it to the GC office and get them to stamp it or sign it to verify that you never saw the contents.</p>