When does the program contact the recommender?

[AjjA]

When does the program contact the recommender? Is it after I submit the whole application or once I list the name of the recommender and save it? 

[fuzzylogician]

Depends on the application software itself. Both options are possible. Usually the application will specify this somewhere; I would look on the page where you add your recommenders' contact info. There will usually be an option to "send prompt now" or similar, or else a note saying that prompts will be sent once the application is submitted. If there is no note, I would assume that prompts are only sent after you submit on your end but I can't guarantee that that is the case.