How long should I make my LOR?

[Guest Gnome Chomsky]

My professor is having me write my own LOR. How long should I make it? Just a range from too short to too long would be good.

[Loric]

A page, or less, with a few paragraphs.

 

Imagine if it was printed out and sent what a one page professional letter should roughly look like.

[TakeMyCoffeeBlack]

I would worry less about length and more about content. Does the letter achieve/explain/elaborate on the things the rest of your application doesn't? When it does, it's long enough. If that can be done in one page, great.

[Loric]

I would worry less about length and more about content. Does the letter achieve/explain/elaborate on the things the rest of your application doesn't? When it does, it's long enough. If that can be done in one page, great.

 

If you write it yourself, you run the risk of using your own voice. The longer it gets, the more likely that becomes. You, me, the adcomm, everyone knows that profs sometimes ask people to write their own letters. But still, one can't be caught blatantly doing so.

[Sarah Bee]

All four of my professors wrote long ones. They go on two pages. However, anyone who read  it says that they are very strong and based on pertinent points, so I guess it's the quality that matters, not the length.