Letter of Recommendation Question

[bsklaw83]

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Hey-
Here's my situation- I have 4 letters on file(1 major, 1 science, 1 clinical experience, and 1 other professor). I have a friend whose dad is high up at one of the schools I am applying to. I am attending a program at the school next week in which I will be leading high school students around the hospital, while also doing some observing of surgeries, procedures, etc. He wants to write me a letter of recommendation after the week is over. Do schools look down upon having an extra(fifth) letter? Would it be best to just have him write one for the school he is involved at?

Thanks-
BS 😕

 

[Dr.LeoSpaceman]

Answer: No. Schools will not care if you have a fifth letter. Most schools will tell you you can send any additional supporting materials you wish to be considered with your application. So even if they ask for only 4, you can put the names of the four profs down who you have letters from, and send the fifth as well. If they don't look at the fifth, then no harm done. But if they do, it will probably only help...especially at the school where he works. Now if you were trying to send something like 10 letters, that may look suspicious, like you were covering up for some other shortcoming.