Number of recommendation letters?

[narg99z]

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Was wondering if anyone can give some input as to the number of letters of recommendations that should be sent. I know that there is a minimum of 3 (including one from a Vet.), but should more be sent? I have at least 6 letters ready from Vets and Professors, should I send them all?

Any input would be appreciated.

 

[philomycus]

I'd send 3. 6 is overkill. Some schools won't look at more than 3.

 

[narg99z]

Should I send letters from a veterinarian, professor, and employer?

Or is it better to concentrate mostly on Vet. recommendations?

 

[Emio]

no no, most schools require an academic letter as well as the vet letter. like philo said, some schools simply won't look at any additional letters, so pick the three 'best' letters to do electronically. however, i had two additional vet letters that i had sent directly to vmcas, who then forwarded them to any of my schools that would take them. that may have been overkill also... if the additional letters are really good, say something that the other letters won't, or come from an entirely different prespective/experience, they may be worth sending in.

 

[pressmom]

Most schools require a prof/advisor and at least one vet. There are several schools that require prof/advisor, vet and employer. I'd make sure those three bases were covered in my e-sends.

 

[ri23]

I know OSU requires 2 vet emails and no prof email. Check with your school. I did 2 vets, one prof, one employer in order to cover my bases to the schools I was applying to. Usually they only look at 3 and will look at those they require.

 

[philomycus]

I am a non-trad student, so I had 2 vets and the 3rd letter came from my principal who has known me for 7 years.

I thought about adding a 4th from the Dean in my dept at the college I teach at and decided it would be overkill. When I went for my post-analysis at UF of why I didn't get in, he commended my wise use of recco letters and I asked if I could use those same people and he said yes.

If you have made a relationship as an undergrad with a upper-level professor, go with that for sure!

Almost all my undergrad profs have retired and it's been 10 years since I had them for a course. My grad profs have mostly gone to other schools, or are out doing research and are on sabbatical, and it's been 7 years since I had them so I didn't think that was feasibale anyway.

 

[kate_g]

It's funny that anyone ever asks questions on this board anymore since the advice almost always comes down to the same thing: "Call your schools and ask..." 😉

Anyway, the first thing to do is check the requirements for each school you're applying to. As mentioned, some have very clear requirements ("one vet, one prof, one employer" and "two vets, one prof" seem to be the most common) whereas others require "at least one vet" or something more flexible. And, some schools throw out any letters beyond three. Ideally, then, your combination of schools has overlapping requirements and you could satisfy them all with three letters. If you happen to be applying to both a vet/prof/boss and a vet/vet/prof school, and especially if either promises to trash extra letters, call each of them and tell them that you're applying to another school with different but equally strict requirements, say you're sending letters from two vets, a prof, and a boss, and ask if they'll make sure to use the three that are relevant to their requirements even if one of them is on a paper form.

You're paying a lot of money for each school you apply to, so it makes no sense to just send in a combination of letters and hope everything works out.