Issue with too many schools & LORs?

[SundayMatinee]

So this is my second time applying, and I'm having some issues/confusion/concerns with my LORS.

Last year, I had many people willing to write LORs on my behalf. At last 4-5. 4 were used. 4 were all professors, however, none were SLPs or even audiologists.

This year, I have the ability to ask people for LORs in the field. One said yes so far, however she also said six school was a lot. I felt bad because it's a privilege enough to even get her to say yes for a letter. I offered to knock it down to four schools, but she didn't respond to that email.

My questions are the following: For applicants that applied to 10+ schools, how were you able to get your LORS to do that for you? Did you just have different professors for some schools? Also, for applicants re-applying, did you ask the same people who wrote you a letter from the last year? I feel a little embarrassed, and I'd hate to be nuisance, but, I do need the letters! 

Thanks in advance & good luck! May this year be the year!

[fuzzylogician]

Just chiming in to say that generally, 6 is not a large number at all. You shouldn't feel bad about asking your professors to write you LORs, it's part of their jobs. As for who to ask, you should really choose whoever can write you the strongest letters, regardless of whether you asked them before already or not. What's more, if they've already written a letter for you last year, it should be much easier for them to write you one this year. I assume that not all that much has changed, so they can use the letter from the previous cycle as a draft and build on it. That should make writing a new letter fairly painless. 

[.letmeinplz//]

6 is not a lot, most applications use the same method of getting recommendations and mine all did it in less than an hour for 8 schools (you get an email when they are sent). I guess the person "in the field" doesn't quite understand this gauntlet as well as professors do.

If you said 16 schools, yeah that is probably a little too much. 6? I would say maybe you need to add a couple more if there are other universities that are a good fit for you.

Anyway if she can't handle 6 schools just include professors who can handle it.

Edited September 23, 2015 by <ian>

[slporbust2016]

Are any of your schools CSDCAS? If they are, then all of those are one letter since they just accept one general letter. 

[SundayMatinee]

Thank you all for your replies. I didn't think 6 was a lot at all either, in fact I was planning to add more. I'm still researching some schools, and I'm even looking into applying for 1-2 schools in audiology. 

I am using CSDCAS for one school, which is St. Rose. But hopefully with a few more schools added it should make it easier. I am applying to 2 SUNYS (New Paltz & Plattsburgh) which require the entire application mailed in, so that I can see as annoying. 

Also yeah, my LORs from last year are from 2 professors out of the field, but I can say they got a well rounded knowledge of my potential for graduate study. So I will try again.

 

[CBG321]

I agree 6 is not a lot at all it's on the lower side of the spectrum.  And yes they usually have to fill out forms but I think it is pretty standard for the Professor to write ONE letter of recommendation and basically copy paste it into the electronic form.  The forms themselves don't seem so time consuming that 6 would be a significant amount.  Weird some professors have their quirks!

[Yancey]

This is not that weird. It may be only 6, but they may be writing LORs for 20-30+ students. I agree, it's part of their job and it's not like we want to have to ask them (technically the professors themselves make up some/all of the committee who selects applicants and in essence reads the LOR). So it can get a little uncomfortable. Some professors will have really strict limits such as only writing 3 LOR maximum per student. Others will only write a few letters if you've had them 2+ times and earned at least ___# of A's in their classes. In order to remedy this I asked professors I had a strong rapports with about 6 months in advance if they would be willing to write me a LOR, and if so either what was their limit or would they be willing to write me X amount. That way they had plentiful notice. And if they can't that leaves time to either shorten your list of schools or find another LOR writer. Good luck!