Recommendations...Can you ask for more than one?

[mrmirv]

Simple Question (Maybe),

No where to ask this so I figured I would give it a shot.

I had to stop and start my education for financial reasons.

So many of my professors from 10 years ago can't give me recs becuase they don't remember my work.

I have some amazing professors I know would write glowing recs. Can I ask them for multiple recs? Is there a protocol for this?

[Mr. Wonton]

Simple Question (Maybe),

No where to ask this so I figured I would give it a shot.

I had to stop and start my education for financial reasons.

So many of my professors from 10 years ago can't give me recs becuase they don't remember my work.

I have some amazing professors I know would write glowing recs. Can I ask them for multiple recs? Is there a protocol for this?

I don't see why not - more recent evaluations of you would probably describe your potential more accurately, and if they're glowing, even better! By "multiple recs," do you mean you're applying to more than one school and want the same professors to send a letter to each one? For each candidate applying to multiple schools, recommenders routinely write one letter and tweak it to fit each school. All you have to give them is your list of schools and the deadlines/requirements for each letter.

[mrmirv]

I don't see why not - more recent evaluations of you would probably describe your potential more accurately, and if they're glowing, even better! By "multiple recs," do you mean you're applying to more than one school and want the same professors to send a letter to each one? For each candidate applying to multiple schools, recommenders routinely write one letter and tweak it to fit each school. All you have to give them is your list of schools and the deadlines/requirements for each letter.

Sorry about not being specific.

Here is the deal... I am a 31 year old who is finishing his degree in Poli Sci.

I have some professors I am close with I can ask for recommendations. I have 3 really outstanding professors I can ask. The problem is that I have about 7 schools I want to apply to. Would it be too much to ask these professors to write 7 recommendations and just change the name? Is there a limit without being rude? I guess i am worried I am limited to the amount of schools I can apply to by the amount of recs I have. Is there a protocol?

[Mr. Wonton]

 Would it be too much to ask these professors to write 7 recommendations and just change the name?

Not at all - professors do this all the time. Besides, it's unrealistic for anyone to apply to only one school and expect to get in. 

The number of recs you're limited to probably depends on the professor (or, in some cases, his/her secretary who's doing the actual submission), so it's always best to ask when you get together with them in person and discuss grad school and rec letters with them. Most people I know applied to no more than 10, however. To make their jobs easier, I would give them a list of your schools along with their respective deadlines and instructions for submission (for example, give them the URL where they should submit the letter).

[socialpsych]

Sorry about not being specific.

Here is the deal... I am a 31 year old who is finishing his degree in Poli Sci.

I have some professors I am close with I can ask for recommendations. I have 3 really outstanding professors I can ask. The problem is that I have about 7 schools I want to apply to. Would it be too much to ask these professors to write 7 recommendations and just change the name? Is there a limit without being rude? I guess i am worried I am limited to the amount of schools I can apply to by the amount of recs I have. Is there a protocol?

Nope, this is what everyone does. You have each professor write you one letter for each school. Not a problem.

And it is thoughtful of you to wonder about whether there is a limit, but I have never heard of anything like that, and 7 is definitely a reasomable number.

Edited July 18, 2010 by socialpsych

[mrmirv]

Nope, this is what everyone does. You have each professor write you one letter for each school. Not a problem.

And it is thoughtful of you to wonder about whether there is a limit, but I have never heard of anything like that, and 7 is definitely a reasomable number.

Thank You All...wow I thought this would be asking a lot. Thanks again!

[expatbayern]

Thank You All...wow I thought this would be asking a lot. Thanks again!

Another option is simply to sign up on interfolio and have your recommenders send a single generic letter there. I know there are a couple of programs that don't accept letters from file services (Princeton and Harvard are in this boat if I recall correctly), but then the professor only has to write a couple extra personalized letters instead of one for each application (helpful for them with many/most applicants applying to 10-15 programs). The programs you're applying to understand the utility of these services and won't downgrade your letters because they aren't personalized.

[mrmirv]

Another option is simply to sign up on interfolio and have your recommenders send a single generic letter there. I know there are a couple of programs that don't accept letters from file services (Princeton and Harvard are in this boat if I recall correctly), but then the professor only has to write a couple extra personalized letters instead of one for each application (helpful for them with many/most applicants applying to 10-15 programs). The programs you're applying to understand the utility of these services and won't downgrade your letters because they aren't personalized.

Any idea what school take interfolio?