<p>I'm applying to Stanford SCEA, and it's most definitely my first choice. I worked in a lab there this summer, and I want to ask my mentor (an assistant professor) to write a letter of recommendation for Stanford. Would it be appropriate, though, to ask him to write a letter for my applications to Harvard, Yale, Rice and/or Columbia? I think he'd be willing to do it, but would those schools look at it as, "Oh, this applicant is so involved in her work at Stanford, and she'll definitely go there if she's accepted, so we won't let her in."? Yes, I would go to Stanford if accepted, but I'd like to have options at HY, Columbia, and Rice if Stanford doesn't pan out. Clearly, the letter would be most effective at Stanford ("this is the student that I want to stay in my lab, so accept her!"), but could it also be effective at the others? Thanks!</p>
<p>if your mentor really knows about you well then it would be great..
good luck~~</p>
<p>The colleges you're apply to won't think along the lines you describe. Your letter should help at any competitive school if your internship at stanford corresponds to your areas of interest.
Don't go too crazy on the rec's though. No more than one extra (one more than they require) is recommended at these schools.</p>
<p>Go for it. If you weren't doing EA at Stanford I could see why the mentor might be offended, but no one can realistically expect you to stay true to Stanford if it defers or rejects you. Keep in mind that especially past the undergraduate level, colleges tend to confine their rivalries to the football stadium (and perhaps also to the hiring of star professors) and respect each other the rest of the time. A professor at a top school is hopefully secure enough in his or her own intellectual prowess to avoid begrudging the talents of those at peer institutions.</p>