How crucial that LORs state specific university and department?

[kdavid]

How crucial is it that LORs state the specific university and department to which you're applying?

 

I ask because this clearly creates more work for the writer; especially in my case as I'm applying to 10 - 15 different programs.

 

To make matters more complicated, two of my letter writers are Chinese professors with limited English, and asking them to navigate that many (English-language) websites to upload files will cause issues.

 

It would be less work if I could have them upload once to Interfolio, after which I handle all deliveries.

 

Ideas?

Edited September 16, 2013 by kdavid

[fuzzylogician]

That probably will work fine, especially since the letters will come from Interfolio and it's clear why they don't mention the department/university by name. As you understand yourself, the letter probably won't be as strong as letters that can address the question of why each school is a good fit for you, but I don't think that will kill your chances by any means. Lots of people use Interfolio and I've never heard of any particular problems associated with that.

 

Generally, though, customizing the letters is not labor-free but it's also not all that labor-intensive, compared to actually writing the letter. Just like you do with your SOP, the letters will basically all be the same and might just change a little bit to mention specific professors who work at each department or other important resources. If you want to help with that, one thing you can do is simply provide your writers with a list of where you're applying and what you think is attractive about each school (that is, what makes each one a good fit for you). That could help a lot with the customization of the letters, if you end up going down that route and then just helping your professors navigate the websites. 

[kdavid]

 

If you want to help with that, one thing you can do is simply provide your writers with a list of where you're applying and what you think is attractive about each school (that is, what makes each one a good fit for you). That could help a lot with the customization of the letters, if you end up going down that route and then just helping your professors navigate the websites.

 

That's a great idea.

 

Thank you very much!

[Loric]

I gotta say..

 

If you're applying to 10-15 schools, have you really put the time in to consider which one is the best fit and which ones most closely match your academic interests?

 

My understanding is that being vague and expecting to get a mass-produced degree - having the mentality that they're interchangeable - is essentially a one way ticket out of getting accept into grad schools.

[fuzzylogician]

I don't think that applying to that 10-15 schools is necessarily a lot, at least in some fields. It depends more on the kinds of choices you make about what schools you apply to. There could be interesting people to work with at several places, but you want to have a clear vision of the kind of institution you want to study at and the education you'll get there. Not every place is the same, but it's not unimaginable that there are 15 places where you could do similar kinds of work and get an education with a similar content. 

[kdavid]

To follow-up on the last two posts:

 

I'm applying to 10 - 15 programs because I have an inferiority complex. The idea is to cast a wide net in hopes that *someone* will take me.

 

It's imperative that I begin a program in the fall of 2014. Sitting around for a year waiting to apply to different schools and/or reapply would be detrimental to my savings.

 

This is by no means affecting my ability to due my due diligence on each program, department, and POIs. I've been working on this for two years now.

 

A follow-up question:

 

In following fuzzylogician's advice, I'm preparing some details on each institution for my letter writers. Aside from NRC designations, libraries, etc., what should be included in institution-specific references?

[fuzzylogician]

In following fuzzylogician's advice, I'm preparing some details on each institution for my letter writers. Aside from NRC designations, libraries, etc., what should be included in institution-specific references?

 

Things that come to mind: 

- potential advisors, and why they would be a good fit: how does their work relate to yours? do they use methodologies you specialize in or that you would like to specialize in? do they work on related questions to the ones you are interested in? have they proposed some theory that you would like to apply to a new question? 

- resources: labs, libraries, special language classes, access to archives, funding opportunities, ...

- collaborations: are there other departments with people or resources of relevance? (though make sure those people / departments actually collaborate with each other before you say a major attraction is a collaboration that actually has small chances of happening!)

- courses: are there particular exciting classes offered there that are extraordinary and worth mention? are there certificate programs that you are interested in (e.g. something related to programming or teaching -- I'm not sure if there is such a thing in your field).