<p>so... I've done research under 2 professors. 1 for a summer and the other for 2 years. would it be helpful to get both recs, or just 1 will be fine? i really want to get 2... however, if they're both pretty good (not spectacular), will excessive PI recs detract from my app? sort of in a predicament here...</p>
<p>pick the better one – they both will essentially comment on the same aspects. every letter, in addition to the required 2, should add a new dimension.</p>
<p>I would send recommendations from both. Research is a big deal. Also, not sending a rec from one of them might imply that you have some sort of conflict, and that’s not something you want to imply.</p>
<p>so, who should i listen to… im afraid if i send in two additional recs and waste the officer’s time, it will actually be detrimental instead of beneficial…</p>
<p>If you legitimately think it would waste their time, then… there’s your answer.</p>
<p>Otherwise, probably couldn’t hurt.</p>
<p>Read both recommendations, then make your decision. Better yet, give them to your counselor and have him/her evaluate.</p>
<p>I think it’s expected that you won’t read recommendations written about you. It seems too much like eavesdropping.</p>
<p>You need to be a very intelligent, very determined, very hardworking person to become a professor. People who have gotten so far are pretty awesome. It’s rare for a high school student to have a professional relationship with a professor. It’s even more rare for a high school student to have done research under <em>two</em> professors. Having two professors know you and say nice things about you is wonderful, and worth the space on your application, even if they do turn out a bit redundant. Extra stuff is okay if it’s good stuff. I think I had two supplemental recommendation letters.</p>
<p>You’re instructed to send in an abstract and a recommendation for research you have done. I think it would be appropriate to send in one for both the labs you’ve worked in.</p>
<p>it’s generally expected that each additional letter s adds a new dimension. if not, they are not that useful. many schools are very strict about extra letters. stanford and yale have stated that they will only accept one additional letter. so, it’s expected that you don’t flood adcoms with too many letters that are saying similar things. so, while sending 2 research letters are not that bad, even if the institution allows, it may not serve much good, unless you feel the two profs will have a different and yet very positive take on you.</p>
<p>i will go with 2 + sending in abstract/paper. i recently learned i got into stanford (using an additional rec from one of the professors), so i don’t have too much to lose any more. i’m pretty sure they will both be positive, just not mindblowingly spectacular. thanks guys for your input.</p>