Rec letter overload?

[lilmadge]

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thanks 🙂

 

[Glandzburg]

Nvm - inaccurate

 

[7331poas]

Schools aren't going to read them all.

 

[gyngyn]

Keep in mind that if you send more letters than the school allows, they may not read all of them.

Schools aren't going to read them all.

A committee letter is always acceptable no matter how many letter writers they include.
Committee members have to read all submitted letters (we can't afford to miss a weak one), hence the limits.
Sending more more than the maximum individual letters can reduce the chance of an interview (doesn't follow instructions).

 

[Sparkle dust]

Hi all! I'm applying for the upcoming cycle. My school does the letter packet with evaluations from five professors. I am wanting to also send letters from my PI from the REU I did last summer, and from my boss at the tutoring center I've been working at for four years.
The main reason I want to send those two individual letters is because I think it would look sketchy if I DIDN'T include letters from them since those are two big parts of my application. However, I don't want to annoy adcoms with too many letters (since I'm up to 7). The one from my PI would probably be pretty good but not anything spectacular, and the one from my boss would probably be really strong.

So which is the lesser evil: not having evaluators from important parts of my application or sending way too many letters??

Committee letters count as one letter. I would assume the same holds true for a letter packet which I am guessing is put together by your college's career center or something of the like. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[gyngyn]

Committee letters count as one letter. I would assume the same holds true for a letter packet which I am guessing is put together by your college's career center or something of the like. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong.

In general, one should only submit more than the committee letter if the school has no restrictions on the number of letters sent. In other words, a committee letter fulfills all requirements.

 

[Sparkle dust]

In general, one should only submit more than the committee letter if the school has no restrictions on the number of letters sent. In other words, a committee letter fulfills all requirements.

My undergrad differentiates between the committee letter and letter packet. Basically if you don't qualify for the committee letter you could still opt for the letter packet. I think schools that don't offer a committee letter offer the letter packet in lieu of it. So I assumed a letter packet which would contain multiple letters also counts as one letter?

 

[gyngyn]

So I assumed a letter packet which would contain multiple letters also counts as one letter?

It will be viewed in much the same way as a committee letter, it fulfills all requirements.

 

[Sparkle dust]

It will be viewed in much the same way as a committee letter, it fulfills all requirements.

I had one additional question! (sorry OP to hijack your thread)

My school offers the committee letter and that's what I was planning on getting. The committee letter contains my letters from my undergrad professors. I am doing a DIY post bacc starting fall 2016. Do you think it will be a problem if I don't have letters from my DIY post bacc classes? I could always send individual letters but it seems schools prefer the committee letter and even though I graduated my school is still willing to write me one.

Wondering if not having recent letters will pose a problem. I graduated spring 2015. I plan on applying summer 2017.

 

[lilmadge]

Thank you all for your advice!

I am leaning towards not sending the additional letters. Just as a clarification, it won't look suspicious to not have a letter from my REU PI?

It will be viewed in much the same way as a committee letter, it fulfills all requirements.

 

[gyngyn]

I had one additional question! (sorry OP to hijack your thread)

My school offers the committee letter and that's what I was planning on getting. The committee letter contains my letters from my undergrad professors. I am doing a DIY post bacc starting fall 2016. Do you think it will be a problem if I don't have letters from my DIY post bacc classes? I could always send individual letters but it seems schools prefer the committee letter and even though I graduated my school is still willing to write me one.

As long as there is no limit on the number of letters, adding a letter from the post bac is fine. The best bet is its inclusion in your committee letter if your school will allow that.

 

[gyngyn]

Thank you all for your advice!

I am leaning towards not sending the additional letters. Just as a clarification, it won't look suspicious to not have a letter from my REU PI?

If there is no limit, go ahead and include it. Be sure to check each school's requirements.

 

[Sparkle dust]

As long as there is no limit on the number of letters, adding a letter from the post bac is fine. The best bet is its inclusion in your committee letter if your school will allow that.

Thanks! I'm not sure if they would allow that. I would have to ask. I'm guessing the answer will be no since the professors were not from my undergrad. Do you think that will be a problem if my letters that are in my committee letter are relatively strong?

 

[7331poas]

A committee letter is always acceptable no matter how many letter writers they include.
Committee members have to read all submitted letters (we can't afford to miss a weak one), hence the limits.
Sending more more than the maximum individual letters can reduce the chance of an interview (doesn't follow instructions).

Is a committee letter ok even if you didnt have the right letters to meet the specific school? For instance if a school requires a letter from your adviser and you dont have one, but you do have a committee letter, how would that work?

 

[gyngyn]

Is a committee letter ok even if you didnt have the right letters to meet the specific school? For instance if a school requires a letter from your adviser and you dont have one, but you do have a committee letter, how would that work?

Recommendations for individual letters are trumped by a committee letter everywhere I know.
If you have any doubts, contact the individual school, though.

 

[7331poas]

Recommendations for individual letters are trumped by a committee letter everywhere I know.
If you have any doubts, contact the individual school, though.

Thanks for the response. Is a committee letter an easy way of getting out of a non-science letter in your eyes? I think alot of applicants have trouble finding letters outside of BCPM.

Would it be a plus for a student to get a non science letter in their committee letter despite not needing it? (but individual school may still want one)

 

[gyngyn]

Thanks for the response. Is a committee letter an easy way of getting out of a non-science letter in your eyes? I think alot of applicants have trouble finding letters outside of BCPM.

Would it be a plus for a student to get a non science letter in their committee letter despite not needing it? (but individual school may still want one)

Medical schools give guidance for those who are sending individual letters. I know of no school that will not accept a committee letter in lieu of any combination of individual letters.

 

[7331poas]

Medical schools give guidance for those who are sending individual letters. I know of no school that will not accept a committee letter in lieu of any combination of individual letters.

Interesting thanks for your help