<p>Lake Jr. intends to again apply to several research programs for summer 2014. He’s gotten one commitment from a professor thus far for a Letter of Recommendation. He needs two letters, therefore I suggested that he reach out to the professor who wrote a great letter of support last year. Hopefully junior will establish other good relationships with additional professors as he progresses in his major in the coming years. How often should he “go to the well” as regards the professor whom wrote that very supportive letter last year (the professor retired and therefore Lake Jr. won’t have any more classes with the gentleman)?</p>
<p>Generally professors keep letters filed away in their computers so it’s not much trouble to dig them out. In the case of a retired professor, it might be a good idea to cultivate some other possibilities as well, but I’m sure you can use this one for a bit longer. How often is hard to say, if he sticks around and is easy to find and seems to be keeping a hand in the field, indefinitely. If he kicks up his heels and decides to go sailing around the Caribbean, not so long!</p>
<p>I was going to say the same thing as mathmom. I have letters going back four or five years just in case a kid needs them</p>
<p>^Agree with the above. It’s generally very easy for professors to modify old letters slightly and send them off to other programs. I know several of my professors offered to do this for me in the future if I ever needed another letter of rec from them. If he’s retired, the hardest part would probably be getting in contact with him, but I know several “retired” professors who are still actively involved in their previous work and are usually fairly easy to contact via email.</p>
<p>In my opinion, by the time he might be asking for a previous letter “too much” is around the time when he should have cultivated new relationships that can provide fresh incite into him and his work.</p>
<p>Thank for all the feedback, folks.</p>