2 or 3 LORs?

[svent]

Most programs I'm applying to want 3, but a couple only ask for 2. Would most of you submit the 3rd anyway as an extra one, or just 2? Would it be awkward at all to tell the 3rd professor you don't need them for some of the apps?

For the record, my 3rd one is probably DWIC, but maybe also "works well in teams."

[fuzzylogician]

I wouldn't bother with a DWIC letter. I'd only submit an extra letter if it was strong. There shouldn't be awkwardness with the professor; they have enough other things to do that they shouldn't be offended by not having to do this, and I'm sure they can recognize that their letter is not the strongest so it makes sense that you might not always need it. (I'm also not entirely sure how they'd know you didn't ask them. You just give them the list of all the schools they do submit to, you are under no obligation to mention the ones you're not asking them to submit to.)

[svent]

Of course they might not find out. But if I ended up going to a school that only asked for 2, I'd still thank them for their time and tell them where I ended up.