Recommendation letter and taking a year off Forum

[jychun412]

Can I ask my recommender to submit his letter to LSAC if I plan to apply next year?
Can he update the letter next year if he wants to?

[Moomoo2u]

yes and yes. I'm using letters from a year ago as they're still relevant to my academic experience. Unless you go into grad school/other professional school where you could get a more recent recommendation I wouldn't worry about it. You might also want to include a LOR from someone who's connected with what you're doing now/will be doing.

[kaveman]

When I told my recommender that I'd be waiting another year, she simply saved my letter to her hard drive and is pulling it up for this cycle, updating some of the wording, etc. So if you think you'll be able to get in touch with the professor when you're ready to apply, they can simply save it.

[Samara]

When I told my recommender that I'd be waiting another year, she simply saved my letter to her hard drive and is pulling it up for this cycle, updating some of the wording, etc. So if you think you'll be able to get in touch with the professor when you're ready to apply, they can simply save it.

I would be worried that the professor would lose it, go on sabbatical, move or something else unforseen and I wouldn't be able to get it. I think it's prudent to get the letter while you can. There's no advantage to having a more recently dated letter unless you've done more work with the recommender in the ensuing year.

[jychun412]

I see. Thank you so much for your responses everyone.