Application: Sending everything in 1 package...

[nismodrifter]

Is sending all documents, transcripts, and reference letters in one big envelope frowned upon?

Reason I ask is that I am from Canada and I can only imagine that if my "letter writers" send their letters via regular mail it will take WEEKS for them to reach the office in MA. I know that in between provinces the wait is 1 week at least. I can only imagine how long it would take for a letter from Calgary, Alberta to reach MA.

Same thing goes for transcripts, I can either get them couriered at $25.00 + the cost of the transcript ($10/copy) = a whopping $35 or I can get my University to send a signed/sealed copy of the transcript to me for $10 and I can pop it in a big package and send it to SABA along with everything else. Money isn't the issue here but I just want to ensure that everything get's done. I am one of those people who likes to make damn sure THEMSELVES that everything is 200% right.

What are your thoughts on this? I want to get my application going ASAP and I really don't want to be waiting on mail/other delays to screw it up.
If all envelopes are sealed I really don't think this should be a problem. I searched the forums and found one person who had sent it like this to MUA/SABA after talking to them, they understood and said "sure, send it".

What do you guys think?
I'm going to call them tomorrow morning regardless but just wanted to see what your thoughts are on this.

[McGillGrad]

Have your school send the transcripts by courrier so you can track it. Give your letter writers a self-addressed and prepaid Xpresspost envelope so it can be tracked.

You should NEVER send anything that does not have a tracking number. It will get lost otherwise.

[nismodrifter]

Yeah everything would be sent Xpresspost (which is like 6 days to USA I think?) but I'm just saying that I could get all the stuff together and send it together SO much easier than having to track various items/give envelopes/etc.
Nobody on here is going to have a final answer but I'm just curious if anyone else did it. Going to be up bright and early to phone them tomorrow morning.

[McGillGrad]

The issue I see with that is not the transcripts because you can get them sealed from the university but the LORs might not be valid if they are not sent by the writers. Do you really want to take the gamble.

I sent Xpresspost two times in the past month and it took less than 2 days each time to DC. It should be 2-3 days to any non-rural area.



Yeah everything would be sent Xpresspost (which is like 6 days to USA I think?) but I'm just saying that I could get all the stuff together and send it together SO much easier than having to track various items/give envelopes/etc.
Nobody on here is going to have a final answer but I'm just curious if anyone else did it. Going to be up bright and early to phone them tomorrow morning.

[TO*MD]

Hello nismodrifter,

I mailed everything in one envelope and had no issue. I contacted Garner regarding the LORs and they recommended submitting sealed envelopes and having the writter sign accross the seal.

I'm also from Canada...I found this really expedited the process and saved alot of money..same with transcripts.. I had them mailed to me and sent off the sealed envelopes. You should be just fine doing it that way.

[T.OMD2B]

Hey there,

I'm from Toronto and I sent everything in one envelope. The university will send you the transcripts sealed if you request it. Also, ask your LOR's to sign the seals. This presented me with no problems and my entire application was reviewed in under two weeks.

Good-luck!

[nismodrifter]

I just phoned them and she said it would be no problem if it comes in one package. Don't set this as a precedent or anything though. I explained my situation being from Canada and she understood and said no problemo.

[rdecastro]

Is sending all documents, transcripts, and reference letters in one big envelope frowned upon?

Reason I ask is that I am from Canada and I can only imagine that if my "letter writers" send their letters via regular mail it will take WEEKS for them to reach the office in MA. I know that in between provinces the wait is 1 week at least. I can only imagine how long it would take for a letter from Calgary, Alberta to reach MA.

Same thing goes for transcripts, I can either get them couriered at $25.00 + the cost of the transcript ($10/copy) = a whopping $35 or I can get my University to send a signed/sealed copy of the transcript to me for $10 and I can pop it in a big package and send it to SABA along with everything else. Money isn't the issue here but I just want to ensure that everything get's done. I am one of those people who likes to make damn sure THEMSELVES that everything is 200% right.

What are your thoughts on this? I want to get my application going ASAP and I really don't want to be waiting on mail/other delays to screw it up.
If all envelopes are sealed I really don't think this should be a problem. I searched the forums and found one person who had sent it like this to MUA/SABA after talking to them, they understood and said "sure, send it".

What do you guys think?
I'm going to call them tomorrow morning regardless but just wanted to see what your thoughts are on this.

Get the sealed transcripts yourself...get a couple of extra copies, as well.

Make copies of everything you are sending to Gardner

Put the originals in a FEDEX mailer, and send it. Don't trust the postal system (yours, or the US one) to get it there - express or not. You can go a little cheap on Fedex - two day, afternoon delivery.

When the tracking number (online) shows that it was received, call Gardner adn confirm it.

congrats, you've applied!

[anderson]

I'm from Windsor Ontario, and I sent all of my stuff pretty much in one big package. They took the letters of rec. but the transcript they did not. They will take the transcript initially and you may get the interview and get excepted, but once I got excepted they sent a letter asking me to have the university send one directly from the school.

[nismodrifter]

Yes, they mentioned that if your transcripts are marked ISSUED TO STUDENT then IF you get accepted they will require OFFICIAL ones to be mailed from the University.