LOR for 2nd time applicants

[fj20]

My situation, which I imagine is not uncommon, is this: I applied to PhD programs last year, was accepted only to MA programs, and am in the course of completing my MA now. When I apply to PhD programs again this year, should I simply ask my last year's recommenders to send in the same letter they wrote last year, since they of course have not gotten to know me any better in the past year? Or should I send them my new SOP and writing sample? (I do have one new recommender from the MA program.)

Of course, the obvious answer is that I should simply ask them if they'd like to see my recent work, and I will. But I was hoping someone could tell me what they think is usually done in this situation.

[Sparky]

Only one recommender from your MA? Really? Is it a one-year program? Unless the profs from your undergrad are literature rock stars in your field, I think the adcom might like to hear more from your master's-level profs.

[fj20]

Well, it is a one-year program, so I've only been taking classes with these professors for 2 months, and only one of them will have seen a significant amount of my writing. A lot of schools' websites specify that they want letters of recommendation from professors who know you well, so I don't think they would want all of my recommendations to come from people I've just met.

[Sparky]

Gotcha. That's why I asked if it was a one-year program; it would be awkward if you made it through three semesters' worth of classes and only dredged one new LOR!

Absolutely send your undergrad profs your new SOP. You might want to ask before sending them your new writing sample, but it's probably a good idea. After all, if your current work is heels and heads above your old, maybe those profs will do a little, um, 'hindsight is 20/10' action ("Wow, I didn't remember that fj20 used alliteration so beautifully! And dang, look how well ze is able to tie disparate arguments together! I'd forgotten that!" Well, one can hope).

[fj20]

ok, thanks for the advice.