General or Target LOR? Forum

[honeybadger12]

I'm applying to the T14 - should I have recommenders write a general letter or is there some reason that target letters would be better?

[thelawschoolproject]

Most people do not send targeted letters to every school that they apply to. I sent targeted letters only to those schools that were my top one or two choices. The general letters are 100% acceptable as that's what most students use.

[honeybadger12]

What was different about the letters sent to your top 1-2 choices?

[thelawschoolproject]

What was different about the letters sent to your top 1-2 choices?

They were addressed directly to those schools and each of the letters mentioned very detailed information about the programs I was interested in.

Conversely, my general letters made a general reference to my interest in a particular type of law, etc.

[honeybadger12]

Thanks - very helpful. When you say detailed information, you mean the letters spoke to which field of study you are pursuing and what you want to do with it?

[thelawschoolproject]

Thanks - very helpful. When you say detailed information, you mean the letters spoke to which field of study you are pursuing and what you want to do with it?

They referenced specific professors I wanted to work with, specific clinics I thought my work experience would lend itself to, and specific courses I was interested in.

[honeybadger12]

Awesome - and did you get all that through internet research or was there some other means? And if that info was included in your rec letters, did you leave it out of the PS?

[thederangedwang]

Awesome - and did you get all that through internet research or was there some other means? And if that info was included in your rec letters, did you leave it out of the PS?

I did almost the same as LSP. One of my profs generously offered to write targeted LOR's to every school I applied too. The other profs werent so generous.

First, check to see if your profs are even going to write seperate letters. Chances are, theyll say "a general letter is fine".

Second, my targeted LOR were all done through internet research

[thelawschoolproject]

First, check to see if your profs are even going to write seperate letters. Chances are, theyll say "a general letter is fine".

This is important. Not every professor wants to write targeted letters for you.

[honeybadger12]

Got it - thanks! Could one of you tell me a little more about how you researched? I.e. how many/what sites you used, what kinds of details you were looking for, etc? Sorry for all the questions; just feel like this is a big deal..

[thederangedwang]

Got it - thanks! Could one of you tell me a little more about how you researched? I.e. how many/what sites you used, what kinds of details you were looking for, etc? Sorry for all the questions; just feel like this is a big deal..

the only sites i used, and really you need to use, are the schools website. Just click on the tab/heading that says academics or whatever and read through the courses they offer, clinicals, programs, professors, etc...its that simple really

[thelawschoolproject]

Got it - thanks! Could one of you tell me a little more about how you researched? I.e. how many/what sites you used, what kinds of details you were looking for, etc? Sorry for all the questions; just feel like this is a big deal..

the only sites i used, and really you need to use, are the schools website. Just click on the tab/heading that says academics or whatever and read through the courses they offer, clinicals, programs, professors, etc...its that simple really

This is what I did.

Although, I also used the school's viewbook etc. because I'm more of a hands-on kind of person. But, all of that information is on their website anyway.

[honeybadger12]

TLSP, you had multiple recommenders write a target LOR for Top Choice? Did you provide each recommender with the same information about why that school was your top choice, or was it different? If different, what was different about it?

[thelawschoolproject]

TLSP, you had multiple recommenders write a target LOR for Top Choice? Did you provide each recommender with the same information about why that school was your top choice, or was it different? If different, what was different about it?

I had them mention different information, but asked them to stick with the same general theme. For example, I asked my history professor who was also the chair of my thesis committee to discuss how I incorporated my heritage with my studies and how that would help me in a specific clinic at X school. Meanwhile, I had one of my former employers write about how I helped different constituents with issues that would appear in the clinic. Basically, I had my recommenders all focus on the same thing, but approach it from different angles.

[twenty]

I don't get "targeted LOR". I mean, I understand saying "Hey, prof, recommend me to go to Berkeley plz?", but anything beyond that seems uber detailed.