How Many Recommendation Letters Should You Request from One Professor?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the appropriate number of recommendation letters to request from a single professor, particularly in the context of a community college student seeking to transfer to a four-year institution. Participants explore the implications of requesting multiple letters and the dynamics of professor-student relationships in this context.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions how many letters are reasonable to request from a professor, expressing concern about being intrusive while seeking recommendations for six schools.
  • Another participant shares their experience of having multiple professors write the same recommendation letter for different schools, suggesting that the content may not vary significantly.
  • A different participant notes that professors may not have detailed knowledge about each school, which could limit the specificity of their recommendations.
  • One participant asserts that requesting six letters is not unreasonable.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the appropriateness of requesting multiple letters from one professor, with some suggesting it is acceptable while others highlight potential concerns about the professor's ability to provide tailored recommendations.

Contextual Notes

Some participants reference their own experiences with recommendation letters, which may not fully capture the nuances of individual relationships with professors or the specific requirements of different institutions.

MarsVolta
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Hey all, I have a quick question about asking for recommendations. I wanted to know what's an appropriate amount of recommendation letters from one professor?

I am currently at a community college and have a good relation with the lone physics professor, and am searching for where to finish my degree. I have about 6 schools in mind, except I don't want to seem intrusive and push him to write recommendations for all 6. So what, in your opinion, would be a reasonable amount to ask for?
 
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MarsVolta said:
Hey all, I have a quick question about asking for recommendations. I wanted to know what's an appropriate amount of recommendation letters from one professor?

I am currently at a community college and have a good relation with the lone physics professor, and am searching for where to finish my degree. I have about 6 schools in mind, except I don't want to seem intrusive and push him to write recommendations for all 6. So what, in your opinion, would be a reasonable amount to ask for?

All three of my professors recommended me for each of my schools. All the letters are the same, they basically just change the name of the school they are recommending you for.
 
Yup. It's unlikely that the professor will intimately know the school you are applying to, so he can't really say "He'll be good for your school because XYZ" and somehow list different reasons for a different school

All 3 of my professors are recommending me to each of the schools I'm applying to as well.
 
6 letters is not at all an unreasonable amount.
 

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