General or Target LOR? Forum
- honeybadger12
- Posts: 273
- Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2012 10:40 pm
General or Target LOR?
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
- Posts: 1364
- Joined: Thu Jun 23, 2011 12:58 am
Re: General or Target LOR?
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
- Posts: 273
- Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2012 10:40 pm
Re: General or Target LOR?
What was different about the letters sent to your top 1-2 choices?
- thelawschoolproject
- Posts: 1364
- Joined: Thu Jun 23, 2011 12:58 am
Re: General or Target LOR?
They were addressed directly to those schools and each of the letters mentioned very detailed information about the programs I was interested in.giuseppes12 wrote:What was different about the letters sent to your top 1-2 choices?
Conversely, my general letters made a general reference to my interest in a particular type of law, etc.
- honeybadger12
- Posts: 273
- Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2012 10:40 pm
Re: General or Target LOR?
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?
Want to continue reading?
Register now to search topics and post comments!
Absolutely FREE!
Already a member? Login
- thelawschoolproject
- Posts: 1364
- Joined: Thu Jun 23, 2011 12:58 am
Re: General or Target LOR?
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.giuseppes12 wrote: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?
- honeybadger12
- Posts: 273
- Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2012 10:40 pm
Re: General or Target LOR?
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?
-
- Posts: 1115
- Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2011 9:44 pm
Re: General or Target LOR?
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.giuseppes12 wrote: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?
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
- Posts: 1364
- Joined: Thu Jun 23, 2011 12:58 am
Re: General or Target LOR?
thederangedwang wrote:
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
- Posts: 273
- Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2012 10:40 pm
Re: General or Target LOR?
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..
-
- Posts: 1115
- Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2011 9:44 pm
Re: General or Target LOR?
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 reallygiuseppes12 wrote: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..
- thelawschoolproject
- Posts: 1364
- Joined: Thu Jun 23, 2011 12:58 am
Re: General or Target LOR?
thederangedwang wrote: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 reallygiuseppes12 wrote: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..
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
- Posts: 273
- Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2012 10:40 pm
Re: General or Target LOR?
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?
Register now!
Resources to assist law school applicants, students & graduates.
It's still FREE!
Already a member? Login
- thelawschoolproject
- Posts: 1364
- Joined: Thu Jun 23, 2011 12:58 am
Re: General or Target LOR?
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.giuseppes12 wrote: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?
- twenty
- Posts: 3189
- Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2012 1:17 pm
Re: General or Target LOR?
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.
Get unlimited access to all forums and topics
Register now!
I'm pretty sure I told you it's FREE...
Already a member? Login