<p>Don’t wait until the last minute to submit your ED application. This week we learned the following from ACT: " Colleges receive ACT score reports according to the reporting method and schedule they select—at least every two weeks. For that reason, score reports requested at the same time may be sent to different colleges at different times. Most colleges receive scores only electronically and might not review priority reports. Other colleges may receive paper reports sent by first-class mail and delivered within a few days. It is not unusual, however, for there to be some time between when a college receives your report and when the scores are added to your admissions file." </p>
<p>This my 3rd time around the block with college admissions. Our current ED choice prefers 1st class mail. In addition they have an IDOC-type requirement but they don’t call it an IDOC. The clerks and the VP for admissions are only capable of yes/no answers. Wish I could find the easy button. </p>
<p>small nit: your title is somewhat misleading. The USPS moves all mail at the same rate. A school’s processing/handling is up to them. For example, the reference below has nothing to do with mail, but Admissions’ handling of it, or lack thereof.</p>
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<p>Yup, and this is ain’t “mail”. </p>
<p>Of course, the short answer is to check all websites for test score submission deadlines. Many/(most?) colleges will clearly state which is the last test date that they will accept for Early/Regular Admissions. </p>
<p>Ignore the “mail”; adhere to their deadlines. Win-win.</p>
<p>To clarify, you may not get the scores sent when you hit send. Some schools require a CD ROM from ACT, “about half of them do” according to an ACT representative. She also explained that it is cheaper for schools to receive a CD than electronic report - for which they need some kind of app. Then - and here’s the catch - ACT only compiles CDs twice per month on their own schedule. This varies. After that, whatever that point is, they will mail the CD snail mail … and then they ask for ten working days to arrive. So, depending on when you order your scores, it could take four weeks to arrive to your college. By the way, the ACT rep said you could only have found “this information” via a phone conversation. I am not sure which information - the fact about the school requirements, or how ACT processes them. </p>