Asking for Multiple Letters of Recommendation?

[jlr5585]

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I'm applying to a bunch of OT schools and will be needing a lot of letters of recommendation...maybe up to 5 for one person. How would you go about asking someone to do this? Would you ask all at once or would you asked based on the application submission date of the program? I feel very awkward asking since many of the programs have their own policies for submitting these letters (formal letterhead, their own forms, sent online). I don't want to confuse the recommenders!!! What have you done to remedy something like this?

 

[MOT]

Ah! This was probably the most stressful part of the application process for me. Just remember, we all have to go through it and most therapists completely understand.

I tried to do as much of the work as possible for my "writers." I found that making a little notebook for each person was helpful (like the plastic covers you can buy when writing papers.) Then, I printed out everything for each school, addressed envelopes/filled out preliminary data, and paperclipped the specific directions I had into a packet for each school. (then combine the packets into the notebook for each individual letter writer)

In most cases, the writers can use their main LOR for all of the schools, and finish each supplementary page.
Try to give them as much time as you can, because it can be a time burden.

Good luck!!

 

[jlr5585]

Thank you so much for the information. That sounds like a great idea. Do people think its rude to ask for so many letters? I feel like they're not going to obviously say it, but they will feel annoyed by it. I don't want their annoyance to impact what they will write in the letter. Am I analyzing this too much? lol.

 

[MOT]

I don't think it will impact your recommendations at all. Just keep in mind that when you are an OT, you will be able to "pay it forward" to applicants asking you for LORs.

I felt really bad too, but it has to be done. Some people apply to over ten schools. I ended up doing 5 also. Don't worry about it too much!