<p>How bad is it to not have the number of letters of recommendation that the application accepts? For instance, if the application asks for three letters of recommendation, but you only submit two. I am having a hard time finding letter writers.</p>
<p>It’s fine. Kidding!</p>
<p>Your application will be considered incomplete and thrown in the trash. Nah it’s fine. </p>
<p>NO ITS NOT. YOU NEED 3 LETTERS.</p>
<p>Get the 3rd letter – SERIOUSLY. Your application will not be considered complete without it.</p>
<p>Even if you have to get a throwaway letter. “So and so was in my class, excelled, got this grade, [I have no idea who this is], etc” is not a helpful letter. But having your application not even available for the admissions committee to look at because it’s incomplete is much worse.</p>
<p>As long as you have one really solid letter, and another decent one, the third doesn’t have to be overly impressive if you don’t have many options. But the others are right. Your application will not be considered complete if they don’t receive all of the required components - including all letters. And therefore they will not look at and consider it.</p>