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So I applied to law schools this year and obviously collected/submitted LORs to do that. Now, after evaluating my offers I have decided to retake.

What happens to the LORs that my professors submitted last year? Will LSAC hold on to them so that I can use them again next cycle?

It would be a gigantic hassle to have to get 3 new recommenders to submit letters. I don't think that my old recommenders would be happy with me asking them to do this whole thing over again.

Yes, they'll still be in the system and they're still good. I think 1-year-old LORs are considered pretty ok by schools, although you might consider getting ONE newer one from a current prof just to show you haven't been dicking off for the past year. But probably not neccessary.

They become a part of your file and can be used again and again. Although I think Penn requires new LORs when you reapply.

Perfect. I've already got four LORs in, and could probably get another two good ones this semester, so that would give me some options next time.

I didn't apply to Penn this time around but I will next time... will I need to submit only "new" ones even though I haven't applied there before? They might be a year old but they'll be "new" to Penn, anyway.

And it's not as if a more recent letter will be a better one, the professors will just have a less clear memory of my academic performance.

BTW unfortunately on the old letters I didn't waive my right to read the letter. How big of a deal will that be? Will it hurt my chances of getting a scholarship if my numbers are there? Seems like a dumb question, but the scholarship process has seemed so arbitrary to me this cycle that I'm paranoid about what might be small mistakes for next cycle.

Dude I understand the anxiety but your being a little paranoid. You should be fine if you have the numbers, no in your case you don't need new letters for Penn, enjoy your acceptances next year.

t14fanboy wrote:Dude I understand the anxiety but your being a little paranoid. You should be fine if you have the numbers, no in your case you don't need new letters for Penn, enjoy your acceptances next year.

Thanks brah.

BTW unfortunately on the old letters I didn't waive my right to read the letter. How big of a deal will that be? Will it hurt my chances of getting a scholarship if my numbers are there? Seems like a dumb question, but the scholarship process has seemed so arbitrary to me this cycle that I'm paranoid about what might be small mistakes for next cycle.

Waiving would be better.

stargazin wrote:

BTW unfortunately on the old letters I didn't waive my right to read the letter. How big of a deal will that be? Will it hurt my chances of getting a scholarship if my numbers are there? Seems like a dumb question, but the scholarship process has seemed so arbitrary to me this cycle that I'm paranoid about what might be small mistakes for next cycle.

Waiving would be better.

Agree. Will do in the future. I'm just wondering about the impact of using unwaived letters. And also, how wierd it would look if some letters were waived and others were not... but that is just being OCD.

I don't think it would hurt your scholarship chances. At best they won't care and at worst they might put only slightly less emphasis on your LORs. Schools generally are pretty arbitrary with scholarships, you definitely are not alone in that experience.