Letters of Rec Inquiry

[ljordanf]

I plan to apply to 5-6 programs. Is it acceptable to ask my current and past supervisor to write 5 or 6 letters of recommendation each? That seems cruel. Any advice on how to approach this?

Thank you in advance for your help!

[Lisa Anderson]

Dear ljordanf,

It is not unusual to have the same recommenders for 5,6 or even 8 programs. I agree though, that it is asking for much support and effort on their part and thus you must choose your recommenders wisely. You could split the load a bit if you feel it is too much by asking 1-2 others to recommend you as well. Then you can select which 2 of your 4 you want for each school. Keep in mind, you always want a current or former supervisor for each application.

Good luck,
Lisa