| norms39 -- Most teachers will write one letter for a student and then just tweak it as necessary for the various applications, so the only thing they'll have to do repeatedly is fill out rec cover sheets. In this sense, it's probably easiest to ask the minimum number of teachers (unless you have certain reasons for wanting other people to write recs for certain schools. I think I sent 2 teacher recs to almost all of my schools, but I got recs from 3 teachers, so the combinations varied).
serena -- Obviously you can send thank you notes whenever you want, but I think that most students generally send them after the recs have been submitted (and possibly even after they know where they'll be attending, or maybe one note right away and then an update when they know their plans). I think the issue of "what I want you to put in the letter" is kind of a touchy one and is important, but could be easily brought up awkwardly. If possible, it might be best to discuss face to face. Just my two cents. |