Know which colleges before asking for rec?

Applying to College
1

<p>Question guys: am I supposed to know my precise list of colleges before I ask my teachers for a letter of recommendation? Since they aren’t writing to any one school specifically, is it okay if I give them the envelopes with the addresses after I’ve made my final decision?</p>

<p>And for extra letters of recommendation, I don’t need to have the person fill out a certain form, correct? They just write the LOR and send it in to the colleges that I request (that is, after I give them the envelopes with the mailing addresses).</p>

<p>Thanks. I appreciate any advice.</p>

2

<p>1 more question: must extra LORs be kept confidential? If there aren’t any forms that need to be filled out, then it seems that I wouldn’t have to waive my rights (which isn’t to say that I’m not willing to, but I’m just gathering info). Can I have the letters be mailed to me (which would make it easier for the writer anyway) and then personally mail them off to whatever colleges I choose? Thanks again.</p>

3

<p>Ohhh I’d like to know too.</p>

4

<p>This seems like a strange question to me. What are you trying to get around/avoid?</p>

<p>Yes, you do need to give your list to your teachers. You should not give extra LOR, and then you do only one because it is super important.</p>

<p>You NEVER review it first, it is considered skeevy and dubious. It is unethecial to the MAX.</p>

5

<p>I was wondering whether we needed to have a finalized list of colleges ready before informing an extra recommendation writer that I’d like him/her to write a letter. Your answer seems to imply that I do need a list ready, but what if I were to add/drop a college after giving the list to the writer? Would it simply be better to give them the envelopes at a later time (after they’ve finished writing the LOR) so that there is no confusion?</p>

6

<p>I think at DS school you have the teacher give the LOR to the guidance counselor, and he puts it in the file and copies the schools to which you are applying (per your instruction?) when he sends your transcripts and other supplemental stuff. That way, if you add more schools he can just whip out another copy.</p>