<p>Hi, I have had 2 teachers and my guidance counselor write college recommendations for me for Duke, my ED school. I have also had two alumni write letters for me that should be fairly strong. But, now everyone that I talk to that has a connection to Duke wants to write a letter on my behalf. I am flattered but is enough enough? Is there a point when the admissions will get sick of it or will they just begin to disregard them? I feel bad saying no don't write a letter but yet some may not be terribly meaningful or original. Insight would be appreciated!</p>
<p>Only send in extra alumni recs of they know you in a meaningful way and can <em>add</em> something else to your application. Otherwise, I doubt the admins will care and will probably be annoyed if you send in five extra recs telling them what a nice and hard-working boy you are.</p>
<p>Yikes, yet another one I just learned about. Too much of a good thing?</p>
<p>You see I'm not the one sending them. People are mentioning it to me and going ahead and doing it. I'm not expecting it to help me I just am asking whether or not it will hurt me?</p>
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<p>Imagine if you're in their shoes. Some random guy with no college education just got hired to read your recs. He wants to read them as fast as possible, and you just made him read more than he's supposed to. Do you think he's going to think "OH WOW, someone really likes him" or "God dammit, I gotta read more of them CRAPPY RECS".</p>
<p>I'm not quite getting that one tomtomtom. And people, you are failing to realize that I am not asking these people to write the letters. They are offering and going ahead and doing it. I like my first two and I don't think that's overkill but I'm concerned with the ones beyond that.</p>
<p>What you seem to not realize is that the adcom won't magically be able to realize that you didn't solicit the recs.</p>
<p>I don't really have any knowledge on whether or not they will hurt you...though college reps tend to say not to submit more than one extra rec, so honestly I think it might irritate them.</p>
<p>I realize it isn't your fault...but you may need to start saying no.</p>
<p>Thank the person offering to write on your behalf. Then say something like, my admissions packet for ED at Duke is already complete and is currently being reviewed. The admissions staff at Duke has indicated that they do not want any more supplemental material such as recommendations at this time. However, if I get deferred to regular decision, I would like to keep your kind offer in mind and will contact you at that time if it will help with that process. </p>
<p>If you get deferred, just don't ask them then. This way, you hurt no ones feelings and you always have them if you feel you need them.</p>