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[casino]

until today, i was banking on two recommendations, with the thought that three doesn't make much of a difference, and that in the event of being waitlisted, i would ask for one more.

i now think that that line of reasoning is flawed because a) i might as well give myself the best chance i can in the beginning, and three great recs would do that and b) if i am waitlisted at more than one school, the recommender would have to send out various copies to various schools, although i am not sure about this.

so, what should i do?  ask for a third now, or just wait and see?

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[dr_draino]

If you can get 3 great ones, go ahead and get all 3.

[dr_draino]

I'm getting 3 too.  My approach has been to sit down with each one and explain what I think they can specifically comment about me.  I tried to set it up so that each one will have some similar things to say, but each one will also have a specific skill of mine that they have that the others don't, each of which is emphasized in either my personal statement or elsewhere in my application.  This will help justify having 3 and maximize their impact...at least that's what I keep telling myself.  Hopefully it'll all be cool beans come next spring.

[casino]

that's cool beans draino.

yeah, one of mine is from work, and is very different from my other academic recommendation.  i figure another academic rec would passify ad comms' desires for academic recommendations.  i haven't looked that closely, i guess, but am i correct that most schools ask for two but do not harbor any resentment against three?

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[lexylit]

that's cool beans draino.

yeah, one of mine is from work, and is very different from my other academic recommendation.  i figure another academic rec would passify ad comms' desires for academic recommendations.  i haven't looked that closely, i guess, but am i correct that most schools ask for two but do not harbor any resentment against three?

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it seriously depends on whether you think all 3 will be outstanding. do NOT ask for 3 just because it seems like lots of other kids are. 2 very strong ones will have more impact than 2 strong ones and a pretty good one. i also think if theyre all good to mediocre, as in wont hurt you but wont help you, three will make you look stupid. 2 is better in that case.

i bet yours from work will be awesome, and maybe both academic ones will be similarly great. if you're not confident they will be, though, i would say don't bother.

[casino]

thanks lexy.  you make me feel all good inside.

i am pretty sure both of the academic recs would be very solid.  but, they would also be from the two professors that i have most worked with, and both know each other very well.  in fact, they would be very similar: they co-taught a class i had with them!

i guess because they would both be so similar is why i thought of holding off until a future possible waitlist.  because, after these two professors, any recommendation i would receive from a prof would be relatively limited.

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that's cool beans draino.

yeah, one of mine is from work, and is very different from my other academic recommendation.  i figure another academic rec would passify ad comms' desires for academic recommendations.  i haven't looked that closely, i guess, but am i correct that most schools ask for two but do not harbor any resentment against three?

casino

it seriously depends on whether you think all 3 will be outstanding. do NOT ask for 3 just because it seems like lots of other kids are. 2 very strong ones will have more impact than 2 strong ones and a pretty good one. i also think if theyre all good to mediocre, as in wont hurt you but wont help you, three will make you look stupid. 2 is better in that case.

i bet yours from work will be awesome, and maybe both academic ones will be similarly great. if you're not confident they will be, though, i would say don't bother.

[lexylit]

you're right, they could be very similar-- both commenting on work you did for the same class. you might keep them in the loop by telling the 2nd prof that you didnt ask for a rec b/c you didnt need 3 and didnt want overlap, but in the even of waitlisting you were thinking s/he might be able to augment what's in your file by adding an additional note. that way s/he starts thinking about it, and can ask the other prof before writing anything to avoid redundancy

[dgatl]

if you can't arrange for a 3rd one, then don't sweat it.  2 is usually enough.  i doubt they even look at them.

[newy]

I'm not trying to pry or anything, but can someone give me an example of a "very strong" recommendation letter?

[foxnewssucks]

I'm not trying to pry or anything, but can someone give me an example of a "very strong" recommendation letter?

"Half way through the semester, I realized that Franz Ferdinand should have been teaching the class, so I stepped aside and sat with the kids"