Sending more letters of recommendation than required? What do you think of this?

Graduate School
1

<p>I am a 5th year undergraduate student. I didn't apply to graduate school last year because I didn't think I was ready. In this 5th year I took a semester long internship in the US State Department, and now I'm completing a second major, an undergraduate certificate, and re-establishing a National Honors Society on campus, all while doing a local internship as a crime analyst in a mid-sized city. </p>

<p>The graduate program I am considering requires 3 letters of recommendation from professors or supervisors. </p>

<p>When I mentioned to people that I feel like I'm ready for graduate school now, I got people who asked me if I wanted a letter of recommendation, without me asking. One of them is my supervisor during the State Department internship so that one is in. </p>

<p>I really want to get into this particular program, I made it known in the initial application that I am willing to fly across the country to their campus for the interview instead of a phone interview, I'm proficient in the tools they use to analyze information, I've toyed with the projects that their graduate students have been working on, etc. </p>

<p>Is there harm in sending 5 letters of recommendation when 3 are required? </p>

<p>US State Department Team Lead
Well Known Professor Within my 1st Major, Winner of Distinguished Award, etc
Undergraduate Program Chair of my 1st Major
Graduate Program Chair of my 1st Major
Director of Certificate Program With Long Career in Government Abroad</p>

2

<p>I doubt it could hurt unless they specifically give you a limit. LOR can be quite important from what I hear.</p>

3

<p>5 is too many. Some students send 1 additional one if it really adds a lot to your application - for example, 3 academic recommendations from professors and 1 additional from an internship supervisor. I would select the three that you feel are the strongest, and then consider whether an additional one would really add THAT much more to your application to make it necessary that you send the fourth.</p>

<p>If you’re applying to a government-related pre-professional master’s program, assuming that all would write equally strong recommendations, I would select the well-known professor, the director of the certificate program and your state department team lead. If you were applying to a research-focused master’s degree, I would select Well-Known Professor, Graduate Chair of 1st Major, and Director of Certificate Program and consider sending in State Department Team Lead as a 4th.</p>