BDav

I always wonder if they even take the time to calculate Major GPA, since it isn't anywhere on most transcripts, and they get so many applicants. It is best to send a note in, but I doubt it's even noticed most of the time. Of course, you don't want to be that unlucky person who does get noticed for it.

At the very least, look for programs that are fully funded. There's usually a list somewhere online.

I have a feeling that with applications to those schools, your experience, LoR, and SoP have more to do than anything else. This is because you are applying with a thousand other people who also hover around a 4.0, and near perfect GRE's, so using those to choose is useless.

Do people realize that when they ask you what other schools you are applying to, it is optional? You don't have to say. They have no way of knowing where or how many applications you are sending out unless you tell them.

If you let him know you won't be applying to next year, he can probably just keep it on file for you.

It's better than nothing. I know I am applying for an MFA, but basically everything writing oriented I've done on my own the last few years. The only relevant LoR I have is from my creative writing professor my senior year. The other two are just from jobs I've had since then because there is a three letter requirement. The best LoR advice seems to be useless unless you get it maybe even a year before applying. Take some kind of class or volunteer or anything with people who will be good recommenders. Otherwise you will end up having to you use co-workers because you can't find anyone else.

At the school I work at, they do receive revised documents, but they don't replace what you sent in. They just give both versions to the admission council.

I've come across two-to-three out of thousands. It's rare, but it does happen.

If there is tech support contact info on your application, send them an email or give them a call. They can probably fix it, or at the least, erase them and let you resubmit their names. If that doesn't work, let your recommenders know that you did it by accident.

You only see your letters if you get accepted, and you probably will only get accepted with good recommendations (or not having bad ones), it's probably not worth worrying about. if you don't get accepted, you still don't get to see the letters, so it doesn't help you there. [Note: I don't know how it works at every university, this is just what I read in the disclaimer of one.] I've been told that the reason for this is that they don't want lawsuits against recommenders because people who are denied think it is their fault they didn't get accepted. From the WashU Application:

I don't know if she would find out, but it's a really bad idea. They want to see your transcript so they can see where you excelled and what kind of classes you took. They aren't going to mention the bad grades. If I were you, I'd give them to her with a clipped page explaining what you told us.

Your application won't get tossed. Everything you have sent in will be given to the department to look at. It is up to them what to do from there. Because of the vast number of applicants, many will probably toss anyone who hasn't followed directions as the first cut. Is it possible to get in with only two? Yes. But more likely it will be an excuse to deny you without turning the first page of your application. And yes, some schools won't let you apply unless you have all three recommenders entered. I think these are the nice schools. Other schools are cruel, and let you apply without having them, and then give you no way to add them in afterwards. Don't submit until you've put in the three recommenders or it could be a big hassle.

I don't know your chance of acceptance, but most Universities say that they judge your last 60 credit hours more than the earlier ones to see what kind of student you were when you graduated. If, as you say, you've retaken the classes you did poorly in, explained it, and done everything else, I don't think you'll be worse off.

Some things do depend on the school. I personally applied to five schools recently and each one required original transcripts with the application. When I talked about transcripts, I really meant any hard-copy item the school requires, which often includes transcripts. It is a good idea to double check requirements for each school though, because so many have minute differences.