Letter of Recommendation Forum

[Guthrie32]

This is a two part question. First is it generally acceptable to go over the requested number of letters of recommendation? Second, is it is a good idea to have a current law student from a school I am applying to write a letter of recommendation? We have known each other for 18 years and he knows my work ethic and academic potential very well. Thanks.

[txadv11]

Most applications (or the website) list the minimum, recommended, and maximum number. I wouldn't go over the recommended/max. If not, call the school and ask.

I would NOT have a current law student write a letter for me. I have heard only use a boss, professor, advisor (careful), or occasionally a TA .

"each other for 18 years and he knows my work ethic and academic potential very well."

I just don't think this can be expressed without a professor-student or boss-employee relationship. Some may disagree with me.

[NJPharmD2011]

How many over are you planning? The one school I am applying to asks for 1 and I am sending 2. If they only request 1 or 2, I wouldn't go over 3 or 4 respectively.

As for having your friend write a letter, I would say as long as you have 2 solid letters from a former employer and professor than it's not a horrible idea. However, it would be better if he were in some sort of supervisory position and I honestly don't think the letter will help much. Sorry!

[MrPapagiorgio]

Most applications (or the website) list the minimum, recommended, and maximum number. I wouldn't go over the recommended/max. If not, call the school and ask.

I would NOT have a current law student write a letter for me. I have heard only use a boss, professor, advisor (careful), or occasionally a TA .

"each other for 18 years and he knows my work ethic and academic potential very well."

I just don't think this can be expressed without a professor-student or boss-employee relationship. Some may disagree with me.

1. Totally agree with this. I don't care how much age difference, LORs are about the higher-lower relationship (i.e. the person of higher stature recognizing your abilities).

2. Do not go over what law schools want. If they say two, give them two. If the PS is meant to be 500 words, don't even give them 501. If you can't respect their application guidelines, why would they expect you to follow the law?

[Guthrie32]

Thanks for the input. The school asks for 2-4 and this would be the fourth. Not necessarily over the limit, but at the high end of it. I feel like the 3 I have are very solid and didn't know if there may be a little inside advantage to having a current student of that school write about me. It would only be for that school, but I do see the point you make about the position of power.

[MPeterson]

Most applications (or the website) list the minimum, recommended, and maximum number. I wouldn't go over the recommended/max. If not, call the school and ask.

I would NOT have a current law student write a letter for me. I have heard only use a boss, professor, advisor (careful), or occasionally a TA .

"each other for 18 years and he knows my work ethic and academic potential very well."

I just don't think this can be expressed without a professor-student or boss-employee relationship. Some may disagree with me.

1. Totally agree with this. I don't care how much age difference, LORs are about the higher-lower relationship (i.e. the person of higher stature recognizing your abilities).

2. Do not go over what law schools want. If they say two, give them two. If the PS is meant to be 500 words, don't even give them 501. If you can't respect their application guidelines, why would they expect you to follow the law?

In response to 2., I don't know whether you meant the "recommended" or "max" amount you don't want to go over, but I heard from an adcomm that it's sometimes acceptable to send over the "required" or "recommended" amount if you have something that would add to your application.

If you have two good LORs from professors, I don't think it would be bad to add another from your friend who's a student. I don't see how it could hurt.

[MrPapagiorgio]

Most applications (or the website) list the minimum, recommended, and maximum number. I wouldn't go over the recommended/max. If not, call the school and ask.

I would NOT have a current law student write a letter for me. I have heard only use a boss, professor, advisor (careful), or occasionally a TA .

"each other for 18 years and he knows my work ethic and academic potential very well."

I just don't think this can be expressed without a professor-student or boss-employee relationship. Some may disagree with me.

1. Totally agree with this. I don't care how much age difference, LORs are about the higher-lower relationship (i.e. the person of higher stature recognizing your abilities).

2. Do not go over what law schools want. If they say two, give them two. If the PS is meant to be 500 words, don't even give them 501. If you can't respect their application guidelines, why would they expect you to follow the law?

If you have two good LORs from professors, I don't think it would be bad to add another from your friend who's a student. I don't see how it could hurt.

At the same time, do you think it would help?

[4102011]

Well, there's a difference between required & recommended, though they're the same for a lot of schools.

Most schools require 2 academic letters and recommend 2, but for those I sent a third to talk about extracurricular stuff. Since I'm coming out of undergrad I can't substitute one for an academic one.

Basically, make sure you follow all the directions for what is explicitly required and then use your good judgment for how many more to send. It's unlikely that you need more than one more beyond that, and you can always save another one for waitlists.

[lzyovrachievr]

Well, there's a difference between required & recommended, though they're the same for a lot of schools.

Most schools require 2 academic letters and recommend 2, but for those I sent a third to talk about extracurricular stuff. Since I'm coming out of undergrad I can't substitute one for an academic one.

Basically, make sure you follow all the directions for what is explicitly required and then use your good judgment for how many more to send. It's unlikely that you need more than one more beyond that, and you can always save another one for waitlists.

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