recommendations: a timing issue

[seasontoseason]

So, I was originally planning to ask two professors if they would be willing to write letters of recommendation for me. And this request would really mean "will you write a letter of recommendation for me x4?" (That is, I am applying to 4 schools and each school requires 2 referees) So I thought that I would make it as streamlined as possible for

Comments

[gehgoigoddess13]

They will each write one letter and can keep it on file for next time. Just give what you can to them now, send them reminder emails, and give the rest when you can.

Alternately, see if your school has a credential service or use Interfolio. The profs can just give the letters to the service once, and you can choose when they get sent.

People wrote them recommendations so they could do what they're doing. They know they'll have to do the same.

[tomboy_typist]

^This. My profs pretty much told me exactly that when I started my application process. So nodding along to what gehgoigoddess13 is saying.

Also. Icon love, Goddess.

[gehgoigoddess13]

I return the icon love :)

[homericlaughter]

Seconded. The beauty of word processors is that - barring some horrible hard drive melt down - they can still go back to the letter again months from now just as easily as they could next week.

Four isn't a ridiculou number by the way. I'm applying to nine schools, and I have three recommenders. That's 27 letters I'm forcing people to write over the course of a couple months just for PhD apps. That doesn't count the number of recommendation letters I make them write for job applications, grants, permits, and scholarships.

[seasontoseason]

thank you everyone. I feel a lot better about this now.

[roseofjuly]

What makes you think they won't be writing it once and just altering it slightly for each program? They'll write it, save the template on their computer and just find it in however many months it is until the next deadline to alter it for the next school!

Yes, it's still ok. Do it.