Should the Common App be submitted prior to receiving all teacher recs?

Okay, so I'm a bit stressed here. My English teacher, who's writing one of my recommendations, is super swamped and I'm worried she won't get her letter done by the time I'm ready to submit my application. Can I go ahead and submit my Common App to the colleges I'm applying to before all the teacher recs are in, or do I need to wait it out?

Take a deep breath; it's quite common for recommendation letters to trail behind the student's part of the application. You can indeed submit your Common App before your teacher has submitted her recommendation. Admissions offices are used to this and will typically create a file for your application where they'll add components like test scores, transcripts, and recommendation letters as they arrive.

That said, it's essential to ensure that all parts of your application, including the recommendations, are submitted before the specific college's deadline. Keep in line with your recommenders to confirm that they understand the deadline as well. It might be helpful to gently remind your teacher of the timeline in a courteous manner.

Remember, teachers are juggling many letters at once, so a little patience and a polite nudge can go a long way. Also, consider using your school's electronic system to track the recommendation's progress, if available. Most importantly, focus on finalizing the components that are within your control so that you're ready to hit submit as soon as you can.