Recommendations for multiple schools?

[Cierra]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I plan on applying for multiple schools when the time comes, because it seems so competitive to get in.

How have you dealt with this situation as far as asking for recommendations? Did you ask for recommendations for each school from the same professors? What about from the occupational therapists where you did your observation or volunteering?

 

[jlr5585]

I plan on applying for multiple schools when the time comes, because it seems so competitive to get in.

How have you dealt with this situation as far as asking for recommendations? Did you ask for recommendations for each school from the same professors? What about from the occupational therapists where you did your observation or volunteering?

I dealt with this exact same issue, so I know how stressful it can be. I asked professors and OT's I volunteered with but it completely depended because each school has it's own requirements for what they want (some want 2 of 3 letters to be from an OT, some just want 1 of the 3 to be from an OT, some want it done online, some want paper, etc, etc). I made a spreadsheet of all the deadlines and requirements for each school so I knew when I had to ask each professor/OT for each program. I also didn't want to overload them all at once since I was applying to 5 schools. Anyway, what you can do is map out exactly what you need on paper and how it needs to be done so you're organized and you have it done right the first time you ask...then I would ask based on deadlines...if school A has the earliest deadline, I'd ask for that one first to be done first. Then go to the next school, etc...make sure they submit also, because if they have so many letters to sometimes they forget. Don't worry, you will get it all done! I stressed plenty about it and with enough prodding you'll get em all 🙂 lol...GOOD LUCK!! 🙂

 

[OTfromSD]

I dealt with this exact same issue, so I know how stressful it can be. I asked professors and OT's I volunteered with but it completely depended because each school has it's own requirements for what they want (some want 2 of 3 letters to be from an OT, some just want 1 of the 3 to be from an OT, some want it done online, some want paper, etc, etc). I made a spreadsheet of all the deadlines and requirements for each school so I knew when I had to ask each professor/OT for each program. I also didn't want to overload them all at once since I was applying to 5 schools. Anyway, what you can do is map out exactly what you need on paper and how it needs to be done so you're organized and you have it done right the first time you ask...then I would ask based on deadlines...if school A has the earliest deadline, I'd ask for that one first to be done first. Then go to the next school, etc...make sure they submit also, because if they have so many letters to sometimes they forget. Don't worry, you will get it all done! I stressed plenty about it and with enough prodding you'll get em all 🙂 lol...GOOD LUCK!! 🙂

this is exactly what i did, the spread sheet is very very helpful and it will keep you super organized. In addition so i didnt have to ask professors or whomever over and over i provided them with pre addressed envelopes and stamps for all the schools i was applying to so they could print off multiple copies of the letters sign seal and then just mail ! Everyone has a little different of a system , find what works for you.

 

[lizzo76]

You might want to look into whether your undergrad, or wherever you did your prereqs, has any kind of central service for letters of recommendation. I just found out that the Career and Academic Resource Center at Harvard Extension School, where I am just finishing up my prereqs, has a service through which you can submit LORs. You can ask the profs and anyone else to submit their letters to this central service, and then have the service submit the letters to the schools. That way, it doesn't rest on you to keep asking the same people, and it doesn't rest on them to do a lot of work. Also, you can ask well in advance and keep these on file. This is not, as I understand it, the usual "placement file" schools have always compiled for students, but rather, you can pick and choose which letter goes to which school.

My problem was that I'm going to ask two of my profs this semester to write me letters. I want them to do it now, when I am fresh in their memories. But I'm not applying till this fall, and the applications for this year are not even available yet. Some of the schools want recommenders to submit the letters online - they actually get a login and have to submit them that way. There is no possibility of mailing the letters. But, it's way too early for them to get the needed login and do this, and I also hate them to submit this way for some schools, and via mail for others. Instead, I can ask them to submit once to this central service and then ask the service to submit them online, or mail them, or whatever is needed, this fall.

Most, maybe all schools say that it's okay for recommenders to write their own letter (as opposed to HAVING to fill out a school-specific form) and they don't need to specifically name the school in their letter (like, I think X would be great for the program at Y University because....) so they can really just write one letter, to be submitted multiple times.

 

[lizzo76]

Actually, look at the website for "Interfolio." That is the service they use. (I haven't used it yet so I didn't realize it wasn't this school's own service.) It looks like anyone can create an account. This is definitely the way I am going to go.