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QtrLifeCrisis · 2009 October 9th, 08:49 PM

I'm feeling very crazed about the admissions process so any help you guys can give would be greatly appreciated. I have several professors I can ask for recommendations. I thought I would just simply have to ask for a letter of reference and have it photocopied. The problem is, when I look at the websites for applying to these Phd programs, many have a standard form to fill out and ask that the recommender mail it in! I don't want to have to ask each recommender to fill out 10 different forms for 10 different schools and then mail them. What if he/she forgets to mail it!? How did you guys go about getting your recommendations?

possible_phd · 2009 October 9th, 09:16 PM

The professors will generally write one letter and copy/paste it 10 times, so it's not a huge inconvenience for them. Managing your recommenders, though, is a job all in itself. You need to make sure you monitor who's submitted what and that you send them polite reminders ahead of time.

acup313 · 2009 October 9th, 10:43 PM

Yeah the professors should expect to have to do this when you ask them to do it. It should not be a suprise to them. Many of the schools let them do this online now, which makes things much easier.

QtrLifeCrisis · 2009 October 9th, 11:24 PM

The reason I asked this was that I read an archived post here where the person said they just ignored the recommendation forms and submitted their letters of recommendation with all the rest of their application materials. Has anyone else just ignored the forms and instructions and instead just copied the letter of reference's and sent them out?

longshot · 2009 October 10th, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QtrLifeCrisis

The reason I asked this was that I read an archived post here where the person said they just ignored the recommendation forms and submitted their letters of recommendation with all the rest of their application materials. Has anyone else just ignored the forms and instructions and instead just copied the letter of reference's and sent them out?

That was me, it worked well enough (I'm gearing up for midterms right now)

It allowed me to send a ton of applications, you just need to decide if it's worth the trade-off

QtrLifeCrisis · 2009 October 10th, 12:36 AM

I knew that it was you Longshot. I've been lurking here for a while. I'll probably be applying to approx. 10 programs, none super prestigious so maybe I can get away with just sending letter of reference's and ignoring the forms. It would make things much easier. I just dread asking the professors to fill out 10 completely different forms and then mailing them off. Not that it should really be that big of a deal....

longshot · 2009 October 10th, 01:37 AM

If that's the case, why stop at 10? The marginal cost of applying to an additional program is just the application fee and a photocopy. Send 25 or 30 applications and have options, it'll be worth it.

phdhope · 2009 October 10th, 01:57 AM

I would argue against disregarding the instructions of the school as far as letters of recommendation are concerned. It could appear to the admissions committee that you simply disregard rules. I also think that ten schools will give you plenty of options. I mean to really impress the admissions committees your statements of purpose/letters of recommendation/interviews should be personalized to each school application. On top of that, each school has different specialities, methodologies, benefits, course requirements, and admission criteria.

QtrLifeCrisis · 2009 October 11th, 04:02 AM

I guess I'm just wondering for the people out there applying to 15-20 schools, how do you get these busy professors to fill out 20 different application forms? I guess they are used to it...

dusklife · 2009 October 11th, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QtrLifeCrisis

I guess I'm just wondering for the people out there applying to 15-20 schools, how do you get these busy professors to fill out 20 different application forms? I guess they are used to it...

Just do what longshot suggests, I'm in the same position. There may be a slight benefit to using the individual forms, but unless you're on a very personal basis with your professor it is too much to ask (to me at least) for three different professors to fill out 20 different forms each for you. Although you could always try it and then get them some sort of thank-you gift, ha.

I don't think it will be what makes or breaks the application, assuming the letters themselves are decent.

2009 October 9th, 08:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
QtrLifeCrisis I JUST got here. Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 10	Letters of Recommendation I'm feeling very crazed about the admissions process so any help you guys can give would be greatly appreciated. I have several professors I can ask for recommendations. I thought I would just simply have to ask for a letter of reference and have it photocopied. The problem is, when I look at the websites for applying to these Phd programs, many have a standard form to fill out and ask that the recommender mail it in! I don't want to have to ask each recommender to fill out 10 different forms for 10 different schools and then mail them. What if he/she forgets to mail it!? How did you guys go about getting your recommendations?

2009 October 9th, 09:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
possible_phd Can't believe it Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 739	The professors will generally write one letter and copy/paste it 10 times, so it's not a huge inconvenience for them. Managing your recommenders, though, is a job all in itself. You need to make sure you monitor who's submitted what and that you send them polite reminders ahead of time. _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _

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2009 October 9th, 10:43 PM	#3 (permalink)
acup313 Just Getting Started Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Houston Posts: 30	Yeah the professors should expect to have to do this when you ask them to do it. It should not be a suprise to them. Many of the schools let them do this online now, which makes things much easier.

2009 October 9th, 11:24 PM	#4 (permalink)
QtrLifeCrisis I JUST got here. Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 10	The reason I asked this was that I read an archived post here where the person said they just ignored the recommendation forms and submitted their letters of recommendation with all the rest of their application materials. Has anyone else just ignored the forms and instructions and instead just copied the letter of reference's and sent them out?

2009 October 10th, 12:36 AM	#6 (permalink)
QtrLifeCrisis I JUST got here. Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 10	I knew that it was you Longshot. I've been lurking here for a while. I'll probably be applying to approx. 10 programs, none super prestigious so maybe I can get away with just sending letter of reference's and ignoring the forms. It would make things much easier. I just dread asking the professors to fill out 10 completely different forms and then mailing them off. Not that it should really be that big of a deal....

2009 October 10th, 01:37 AM	#7 (permalink)
longshot Within my grasp! Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 248	If that's the case, why stop at 10? The marginal cost of applying to an additional program is just the application fee and a photocopy. Send 25 or 30 applications and have options, it'll be worth it.

2009 October 10th, 01:57 AM	#8 (permalink)
phdhope Eager! Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 97	I would argue against disregarding the instructions of the school as far as letters of recommendation are concerned. It could appear to the admissions committee that you simply disregard rules. I also think that ten schools will give you plenty of options. I mean to really impress the admissions committees your statements of purpose/letters of recommendation/interviews should be personalized to each school application. On top of that, each school has different specialities, methodologies, benefits, course requirements, and admission criteria.

2009 October 11th, 04:02 AM	#9 (permalink)
QtrLifeCrisis I JUST got here. Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 10	I guess I'm just wondering for the people out there applying to 15-20 schools, how do you get these busy professors to fill out 20 different application forms? I guess they are used to it...

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