Do you think a professor will write you 20plus letter of recommendation?

I will be graduating may 2011 and i'm trying to get a list of hospitals that i'm interested in! For the time being, i'm thinking about applying to the new grad programs that some hospitals offer.

I have narrowed the hospitals down to about 20 and everyone of them need two or more letters of recommendation. my concern is, how do you ask your instructor to write you that many recommendation? i'm afraid that they might say no?

Has anyone had the same issue of asking for that many recommendation and can you tell me how you went about it! I will really appreciate any insight into this because i'm starting to freak out!
They only need to write one and make 20 copies.That being said do you not have anyone else who can write you a recommendation? Have you never had an employer?

They don't need to write you 20 different letters, they can just write one and give you multiple copies with different headers (if you need the hospital's address and contact person's name on it).

They can do it, but understand it will be 20 copies of the same letter. For this many letters, you need to ask them far in advance. Like 8 weeks, with reminder emails every 3 weeks.

my husband is a professor who writes many many letters each year for students. many colleges, universities and employers now request or require emailed letters, which makes it easier for himto send out many many copies. it also makes it easier to change the letter slightly so everyone doesn't get the exact same letter.be sure to give your professors plenty of notice (realistically as much as you can) plus a friendly reminder or two, if you can.if it's a letter to be mailed, be sure you remember to include the address the letter is to be sent toand the postage to mail it. when a professor or instructor writes a great many letters per year, postage costs do add up and often (or usually) come out of his pocket.i just read this to my husband and he adds:if it has been awhile since he's had you as a student, refresh his memory a little plus tell him what you're doing now. job, married, kids, etc.if they want a special form or paper filled out, please send it too. sometimes, they will not downloadfrom a computer site no matter what you do.

Quote from FribbletThey only need to write one and make 20 copies.That being said do you not have anyone else who can write you a recommendation? Have you never had an employer?

The hospitals in my area usually have their own form. It has very little to write in. It is mostly a few check boxes that ask their opinion of you in a few areas (ex. Time management, clinical judgement, professionalism, etc.). It has a small section where they can write in stuff if they want, but not neccessary. Those had to be from 2-3 clinical instructors.I also had one instructor write an actual letter of recommendation, which she did an excellant job. She asked me several questions in an email about why I wanted the specialty I was applying for, and why I would be a good pick. Also, she asked me about my 5 year goal, and a few other things. She took all of that info and worked some of the details into her letter by quoteing me. If you're getting an actual letter written, try giving them some of that info. Good luck!

Make copies!

In my area all applications are online and very formated by the facility. There is no area to put a rec. letter. Nor is it wanted. If you are called in for an interview you are welcomed to bring your stuff and hand out.

They write you one. You scan it into your computer and make copies. Find out if the places you are applying to require "Wet Signatures".

Thanks everyone for your input. I always thought letters of recommendation were tailored specifically to the position or facility just like the cover letter. lol. so i really didn't think about the instructor writing just one generic letter and making copies.@Fribblet, i am employed as a nurse tech but like MJB2010 said, these new grad programs want letters specifically from clinical instructors.And i will definitely ask ahead of time. I thinking of asking them around Christmas break; not to write the letters yet just a head up that i will need some letters from them. most of these programs start accepting applications in and around March/April, so if i give them heads up in December, with reminders in January/February that should give them ample time right? or do i need to tell them earlier than that?

all the hospitals i applied to required sealed envelopes signed over the seal by the instructor. so i couldn't just make copies. If i were you i'd get about 5 or 6 from each instructor because that's all you might need. you bring them with you to the interview--so you have to get to the interview stage! all the hospitals I applied to required the sealed, signed envelopes.