number of reference letters for each refrence to write?

[ginger_sax]

i am planning to apply to 5-6 different school each requiring 2-3 reference letters. with needing so many reference letters i am not sure what do most people do, do they ask 3 people to write a reference letter for each school or doe they have people only write 2-3 letters and have many people writing letters for them?

 

i was thinking of having people only write 2 letters each. my idea for this is that it seems like a lot of work to ask of someone and it would be more likely to get them do do a few rather then 6 of them.

[osteon]

i am planning to apply to 5-6 different school each requiring 2-3 reference letters. with needing so many reference letters i am not sure what do most people do, do they ask 3 people to write a reference letter for each school or doe they have people only write 2-3 letters and have many people writing letters for them?

 

i was thinking of having people only write 2 letters each. my idea for this is that it seems like a lot of work to ask of someone and it would be more likely to get them do do a few rather then 6 of them.

 

It's actualy about the same amount of work to do 10 reference letters as it is to do 1. All the prof will do is sub out "I highly recommend ginger_sax for medical school at the University of Toronto" and replace it with "I highly recommend ginger_sax for medical school at McMaster University." The rest of their letter will likely stay the exact same.

 

If you are going to spend all that time applying, might as well do it properly using your top references for ALL applications. Profs are used to it - it's part of the job. Don't feel bad.