<p>For example. UVA only asks for one. Should I only send one or more?</p>
<p>If the recs are each good, unique, and descriptive, submit as many as you’d like. Don’t submit half-a$$ed recs just to submit them, though.</p>
<p>Don’t bother. Colleges don’t want to sift through bulging application files. There is a good chance they will look at the first one received and no other. Some schools even state they will NOT consider additional info provided.</p>
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… which flies against what colleges specifically warn you not to do. Heck, Yale even says this:</p>
<p>“Supplementary materials can provide broader context to some parts of your application, but they can just as often be superfluous and distracting. For example, a letter from someone who supervised your extracurricular research project may answer important questions about the work you’ve done. But a third recommendation that raves about you, just as your other letters do, will not necessarily enhance your application. In fact, it may dilute the effect of the two required recommendations.”</p>
<p>@T26E4 Which is why I made the point that each should be unique. Obviously you don’t want multiple recs that state the same thing, but a variety of recs covering multiple facets of OP’s qualifications would be beneficial.</p>
<p>Sure – that might be OK for the 3rd. But would you advocate a 4th or a 5th or a 6th one? At what point do you tip over into annoyance territory?</p>
<p>Many schools don’t even look at any additional ones beyond the number of required ones. If they require two, then the first two that they receive will be the two that get used. </p>
<p>Sending 5-6-7 letters of recommendation makes you come across as a bit desperate in my opinion. </p>
<p>Yeah, so if OP’s college wants 1 letter, 2 or 3 isn’t inherently bad. Obviously I’m not advocating you have every teacher in your high school career write a rec.</p>