<p>I have asked two of my teachers for recommendations along with my guidance counselor. </p>
<p>However, I've also gotten letters from the president of an organization in which i've done over 250 hrs of comm serv. and a doctor i've shadowed because i'm applying to med programs. </p>
<p>That makes 5 in total.
Would it be bad to send all of them and let the Admissions officer read whichever they want or should i limit it to the typical 3 max letters?</p>
<p>Please let me know!
Thanks</p>
<p>You should stick to three. Even if the three you're going to get from school are really good, it would be better to only include ones that will add more depth to your overall application.</p>
<p>Colleges that require rec letters usually specify the number they want and generally that is the number they want. They may also specify the kind they want, e.g., from teachers rather than from others. Sending more is not usually held against you but it generally does not help either.</p>
<p>You should note the majority of colleges, particularly public universities, neither require nor want any recommendations and won't consider them even if sent.</p>
<p>so ur saying if im willing to pay the postage, it wouldnt hurt to send them even if they dont read them?</p>
<p>bump
sending recs tomorro i need to know!</p>
<p>pleasea anybody?!?!?!</p>
<p>Despite the saying "the thicker the file, the thicker the applicant," I think there are exceptions to this rule. While you definitely shouldn't send more than the required 2 teachers/1 guidance counselor letters from school, letters from individuals who know you outside of school and will speak to attributes only they would know about might be helpful (and, at the very least, are unlikely to be harmful).</p>