事情是这样:一个外教答应给我写推荐信,现在所有的学校都register他的信息后,他给我来信说只帮我write三封。
然后我回复说,我需要投8个学校,而且不一定每篇letter都写的不同。
然后外教刚才回复问: Are you sure, that some of these universities not communicate for applications and that an applicant applying for many not lowers his chance?
我不相信是那樣的。好学校的申請人數必定是數以千計,它們那有時間去查詢申請人還申請了那些学校,然後再核對 recommendation letters。雖然在申請表上它們的確有問你還申請了那些学校 (it's optional to answer),但我認為它們想知道究竟你想做的 research or focus 是否 match their programs 或你所選的其他学校是否和它們的相近。換句話說,它們想知道你是否選對学校而不是在交流推荐信的内容。再者,MArch applicant 最重要嘅係 portfolio。My friend in US applied for 8 schools last year and got into most of them. I don't think applying more would lessen your chances of admission.
Sorry, my writing pad is down and I have to type in English. I went to several school open house last year, they stressed that portfolio is a major part for admission decision. All admissions want to know who you are.
Besides, I heard from professors before, recommendation letters they wrote for students are pretty much all the same. They will change the letter a little and cut and paste school names if needed. I guess they will only write a tailor-made letter if you are extraordinary outstanding or doing exceptionally well in class.