Too many recommendation letters?

NicuGal, MSN, RN · Jul 25, 2015

Some colleges won't accept the letters unless they are sealed and mailed or emailed from the person writing them. I would only have the number they ask for.

BiotoBSNtoFNP · Jul 25, 2015

If they ask for 2, i would send 2, maybe 3. They will not read 7 unless they specifically request 7 (and i did have a job ask for 9 once!!).

elkpark · Jul 25, 2015

Part of what the school is evaluating in the application process is your ability to read directions and follow them. If they asked for two letters, submitting more than two will hurt you more than it helps you. Also, in order to be fair, schools typically do not even read extra material submitted beyond what they had asked for (if you submitted the two letters they requested, would you consider it fair for someone else to rank higher than you because that person submitted extra letters of recommendation?)

And I agree with NicuGal that schools often want letters of recommendation, like transcripts, to come directly from the persons writing them. I would check with the school about that before submitting any letters from your own stash.

Best wishes!

lovesbunnies · Jul 25, 2015

I was allowed to submit more than two and my school would consider the best two for my application, but seven might be a bit excessive. I wasn't even allowed to look at mine--my school had a form to be filled out by the person giving the reference, and they had to mail it directly to admissions. Check your school's policy on this.

fery · Jul 26, 2015

Part of what the school is evaluating in the application process is your ability to read directions and follow them. If they asked for two letters, submitting more than two will hurt you more than it helps you. Also, in order to be fair, schools typically do not even read extra material submitted beyond what they had asked for (if you submitted the two letters they requested, would you consider it fair for someone else to rank higher than you because that person submitted extra letters of recommendation?)
And I agree with NicuGal that schools often want letters of recommendation, like transcripts, to come directly from the persons writing them. I would check with the school about that before submitting any letters from your own stash.
Best wishes!

Oh! Thank you for your response. I"m really not familiar with how the admission offices work in the USA because I'm from another country and moved here a few years ago. I always thought The more the merrier lol. It's hard to choose only 2 because they're all very good. Does it matter from what professor they're coming from? I was thinking maybe I should submit one from my A&P Prof. and one from Micro because they're science courses and mostly related to nursing. But I have really good LORs from my Philosophy/Critical thinking and Math too. I'm not sure which to send. any tips or suggestions?

fery · Jul 26, 2015

When I asked my Professors at a local community college they all just asked for the form and told me to come pick it up a week later. They were all in an envelope with the name of the college on it and I could just take them out and read them. they did, however, have the instructor's full information and signature. I thought that I can seal the envelope myself and just put a stamp on it and just drop it in an outgoing mailbox! I never really thought about this! I will call the admissions office just to make sure!

babilidose · Jul 26, 2015

Submit hard sciences. The schools I went to didn't mind if I sent the lor's. But they were SEALED with the professors signature across the back. Most professors know that so I'm a but confused why they wouldn't have done that for you. At this point, it's assumed unless there is an online form. Best of luck.

johsonmichelle · Jul 26, 2015

My sibling will be attending UMSON this fall. For the letter of recommendation letter to be official , make sure its signed by the professor, It would have been best if the professor wrote the letter on your school letter head and sealed it with a school envelope. Pick the 2 best letters and send it. But I would verify with the school on how they want tor receive the letter of recommendation.

windsurfer8, BSN, RN · Jul 27, 2015

If you have a doctors order for 2mg Ativan you don't give 7mg. First step in school..learning to follow directions. This will also help you on the NCLEX. You don't "assume" things and "add" things on your own. They want to see you can understand directions and follow them. If they say do 10 pushups then you do ten pushups. If they say "do as many as you can" then do as many as you can.