I've having a problem figuring out how to manage my situation. I did a college application last year and got 3 letters of recommendation from my professors. this year i've done more research found more colleges and things I want to apply for that require the same letters. what i'm trying to figure out how to do is to ask a person to send a letter to 3 different applications?
Additionally if these applications don't work out, if there a proven method of managing letters of recommendation so that you can ask a person for a letter at a later time when filling out yet another application process so that you don't become a bother to them?
Are there and proven techniquies that might help encourage writers to write faster? (i've set aside a year in advance to get my applications in order so I have time, but if I were in a pinch having a means to encourage faster response could be a assest)
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1- Ask your professor either via e-mail if you're not familiar with them (but if you're not familiar with them, why are you asking them?!?) or in person. Obviously if you're not longer at campus an e-mail is acceptable. If you're still there though, it is almost ways best to go ask in person.
2- Once you get the ok, get them an envelope(s) with all the required materials. You should ideally place the mailing address on the envelope and such yourself so that your professor simply needs to fill out the form/insert the recommendation. Less work=the better, basically. This should pretty much answer your "what i'm trying to figure out how to do is to ask a person to send a letter to 3 different applications?" question.
The point is that you do as much legwork as possible.
3- Regarding your 2nd question- no, not really. The issue is that a lot of schools have a policy wherein you can't see your recommendation, and so holding onto multiple copies may not be allowed. Imo, the best thing to do is just ask them to keep a recommendation on file because you may ask them for more recommendations in the future. Just keep it friendly and "personal" and they won't mind doing things for you.
Besides, IT'S THEIR JOB! You're not bothering them when you ask them to do something that they're supposed to do.
4- You don't want to rush professors. Just give them notice a couple months in advance and alert them once it actually becomes relevant. Say, a month or two before the application is due. Then just needle them every week.
It's not uncommon for a professor to ask the student to supply a draft of the letter of recommendation - which can assist with getting them completed faster.
They already wrote you a letter last year. That means they won't have to rewrite a new one, perhaps they can add new things. If they saved it, which they should have, then all they will need to do is print out a copy. That being said, if you provide everything else they will need, addressed envelopes, a list of deadlines (fudged so that they send them a week early), and anything else like proof of past work or whatever then it should be no problem for them to provide letters as often as you need. If you do it right, they should be able to pawn it off an assistant.
In terms of encouraging them to write faster, it won't happen. But they're going to write you the same letter for every place so telling them you need letters sent in by December 1st when the deadline is the 7th at one school, the 16th at another school, etc. guarantees that the admissions committee will see your application earlier and will keep them honest in terms of getting everything in on time. And ultimately, admissions boards aren't going to hold you responsible for whether or not faculty get letters in on time. In academia, we all recognize how bad at mundane tasks most faculty are. On your side, you want all of your stuff sent out before the winter holidays because most professors take whatever applications are in with them when they do their winter break. The deadline might not be till January 15th, but getting your application in on the first week of December guarantees that if anyone is getting to apps early that yours will be in the pile and given a proper once through.
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I've having a problem figuring out how to manage my situation. I did a college application last year and got 3 letters of recommendation from my professors. this year i've done more research found more colleges and things I want to apply for that require the same letters. what i'm trying to figure out how to do is to ask a person to send a letter to 3 different applications?
Additionally if these applications don't work out, if there a proven method of managing letters of recommendation so that you can ask a person for a letter at a later time when filling out yet another application process so that you don't become a bother to them?
Are there and proven techniquies that might help encourage writers to write faster? (i've set aside a year in advance to get my applications in order so I have time, but if I were in a pinch having a means to encourage faster response could be a assest)
Twitter- RogueSource.
Decks: "Name one! I probably got it built In one of these boxes."
---------------------------------------------------
Vintage will rise again! Buy a Mox today!
---------------------------------------------------
[I]Some call it dig through time, when really your digging through CRAP!
Merfolk! showing magic players what a shower is since Lorwyn!
2- Once you get the ok, get them an envelope(s) with all the required materials. You should ideally place the mailing address on the envelope and such yourself so that your professor simply needs to fill out the form/insert the recommendation. Less work=the better, basically. This should pretty much answer your "what i'm trying to figure out how to do is to ask a person to send a letter to 3 different applications?" question.
The point is that you do as much legwork as possible.
3- Regarding your 2nd question- no, not really. The issue is that a lot of schools have a policy wherein you can't see your recommendation, and so holding onto multiple copies may not be allowed. Imo, the best thing to do is just ask them to keep a recommendation on file because you may ask them for more recommendations in the future. Just keep it friendly and "personal" and they won't mind doing things for you.
Besides, IT'S THEIR JOB! You're not bothering them when you ask them to do something that they're supposed to do.
4- You don't want to rush professors. Just give them notice a couple months in advance and alert them once it actually becomes relevant. Say, a month or two before the application is due. Then just needle them every week.
In terms of encouraging them to write faster, it won't happen. But they're going to write you the same letter for every place so telling them you need letters sent in by December 1st when the deadline is the 7th at one school, the 16th at another school, etc. guarantees that the admissions committee will see your application earlier and will keep them honest in terms of getting everything in on time. And ultimately, admissions boards aren't going to hold you responsible for whether or not faculty get letters in on time. In academia, we all recognize how bad at mundane tasks most faculty are. On your side, you want all of your stuff sent out before the winter holidays because most professors take whatever applications are in with them when they do their winter break. The deadline might not be till January 15th, but getting your application in on the first week of December guarantees that if anyone is getting to apps early that yours will be in the pile and given a proper once through.