Is there such a thing as asking for a letter of rec to early

[alkaline262]

Hi,

I asked one of my professors the other week if he would write me a letter of recommendation, but I wont be applying until the application round for 2013 fall semester. I did research with him for a year, and would have waited to ask him, but I think he is retiring very soon. He agreed to write it, but I don't know what to do about when he is going to mail them. Thanks in advance for any help.

[BDav]

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

[Loimographia]

does your school have a letter service, where the professor can send his letter to your school and they keep it on file and later upload/mail it out on his behalf? This is what I did for one of my professors, who had been a visiting professor to my school and left after my junior year. It has the negative side that the letter cannot be customized to each school (as I know some professors do), but the benefit of having the power to choose when to submit their letter (after having dealt with a professor who seemed incapable of submitting letters by the deadline, and the panic that entails, let me tell you, I loved being absolutely certain that I could have at least ONE letter on time).

[alkaline262]

does your school have a letter service, where the professor can send his letter to your school and they keep it on file and later upload/mail it out on his behalf? This is what I did for one of my professors, who had been a visiting professor to my school and left after my junior year. It has the negative side that the letter cannot be customized to each school (as I know some professors do), but the benefit of having the power to choose when to submit their letter (after having dealt with a professor who seemed incapable of submitting letters by the deadline, and the panic that entails, let me tell you, I loved being absolutely certain that I could have at least ONE letter on time).

My school does not offer this, and at least one of the schools I am applying to will mail a request to him for the letter after I apply. I paid for an interfolio account, but that doesn't seem to be much help.

Edited January 4, 2012 by alkaline262

[Loimographia]

In that case, as BDav suggests, you can ask him to keep it on file on your behalf, it probably won't be an alternative. Still, he may, like one of my professors, simply ask you to ask him again later at a date closer to your application. Assuming he likes you, it's not as if he'll be irritated that you asked him too soon; professors only usually get grumpy if you ask too late.

[Yarrachel]

Better to ask too early than too late. He can either write the letter now and hang on to it until you need it or keep it in mind for later. I asked my professors for letters on the first day of class last semester just to be sure that they could do it.