Can you submit extra LOR's?

[fran]

Most of the programs I'm applying to require 3 LOR's but I have to contact 4 profs since a few schools want extras. Can I just get all 4 to send a LOR off to all of my apps-including the ones that say 3? I feel like an extra one won't hurt, but I don't want to appear as though I can't follow directions when they say 3. I know I'm probably thinking too much but I don't want to make a stupid mistake!

[JerryLandis]

I think most places allow you to submit 3-5, so 4 wouldn't be excessive. I was considering doing the same, and someone told me (I believe on this message board) that 4 letters would be fine. The dilemma was settled for me though, because my fourth potential recommender told me he'd rather not write for me despite having a very high opinion of me (so, either he was lying and has no idea who I am, or is just too lazy to help me out - he's retired so not that busy). So, I am back to just 3 letters, but I'm sure 4 would have been okay.

[fuzzylogician]

All of my programs required three letters. I ended up submitting four because at one point close to the deadline one of the original three writers started to seriously flake and I was afraid of being stuck with only two letters. I don't think it damaged my application in any way. I was, however, prepared for the eventuality that only the first three letters would be read. I made sure that this fourth letter arrived at least third (=that the first two letters, which I was sure were very strong, arrived first) so that either this new LOR or the one from the flaky prof would be the ones not read. I also listed the letters in the order I wanted them read in my online app.

So, bottom line, four should be fine. If you have the time, contact the schools to make sure. And, be aware that schools might choose to only read three letters, so if there is one that is substantially weaker than the others, it might not be worth it.

[mudlark]

So, bottom line, four should be fine. If you have the time, contact the schools to make sure. And, be aware that schools might choose to only read three letters, so if there is one that is substantially weaker than the others, it might not be worth it.

This is so right.

I only asked my 'extra' recommender to send letters where they were required, since my other writers were specialists in my area who had supervised me on major projects and my 'extra' prof had only had me in one class.

[fran]

Thanks all for the replies. I think I'll contact a few schools about submitting an extra one and just be careful about who the fourth would be. I'm really going back and forth between 2 of them because I'm not sure which one will be better.