tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post7767219507282830105..comments2024-03-25T02:33:41.590-05:00Comments on FemaleScienceProfessor: Going Postal : Reference LettersFemale Science Professorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288567883197987690noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-39206640553026474082010-03-03T21:23:33.579-06:002010-03-03T21:23:33.579-06:00What would you suggest to a student with Cumulativ...What would you suggest to a student with Cumulative grade B-Bplus and very interested in going to grad school but none of the professors are willing to act as reference.Student2bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-8134929141570899452008-01-27T07:53:00.000-06:002008-01-27T07:53:00.000-06:00Never mind the whole "please enter your computer g...Never mind the whole "please enter your computer generated password then change to an appropriately secure password before continuing" crap. Like I do not have enough on-line passwords I have to remember! The whole "on-line recommendation letter" bit is a load of crap. Our department secretary just prints all of those out. Giant waste of so many resources, mental, emotional, and physical.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-78027998084313663942008-01-26T23:51:00.000-06:002008-01-26T23:51:00.000-06:00As someone who has just applied to graduate school...As someone who has just applied to graduate school I have to say THANK YOU to all professors who care enough to write thoughtful letters of rec for students. Over the years I have needed a lot of letters for summer programs, scholarships, study abroad programs, and now graduate schools. I always give as much notice as possible (even if it is "hey, I'm thinking about applying for such-and-such program, the deadline is 6 months away, if I decide to apply would you be willing to write a letter?")<BR/><BR/>While we are on the topic of how non-standardized the grad school app process is, I finished my apps about a month ago and while all of them were submitted online (thank goodness!) some applications were incredibly convoluted. One school wanted to know the names, numbers, and textbooks of all my courses. This was annoying enough considering the course numbering system at my small liberal arts college doesn't translate to any regular system. Another school had it's own online form for me to fill out not only that information but also the names of my professors and the topics covered in the course. It took me two days. My research adviser told me that one recommendation form (from an admittedly snobbish school) wanted to know about her credentials too. Graduate schools need to work on some form of the common app, for the sake of students and professors.Anonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12997742500689588929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-83432918077547271042008-01-26T23:17:00.000-06:002008-01-26T23:17:00.000-06:00Filling the application is enough work (for the st...Filling the application is enough work (for the students), I can imagine a similar pain for letter-writing professors. <BR/><BR/>Small college science prof writes about not liking when students find out what the letter says about them. I have wondered about this for a long time. First, I would find it unprofessional for a professor to write a bad letter without telling the student ahead of time that he won't get a recommendation. In this case, a smart student would give thanks and immediately go find another recommender. Second, assuming that point 1 doesn't happen, would a letter really change that much (or at all) if a professor knew the student didn't waive his right to read it?<BR/><BR/>Anyways, what's the reasoning behind that waiver? Why does it matter?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-9909676844170091702008-01-26T21:49:00.000-06:002008-01-26T21:49:00.000-06:00This is not really related to this post, but there...This is not really related to this post, but there is a very interesting meme going around on "Why I teach literature" and "Why I teach history" started from the below fantastic post. I would be very curious to read what science professors have to say and if this could cross disciples. I'd be curious on your perspective.<BR/><BR/>http://reassignedtime.blogspot.com/2008/01/why-teach-literature.htmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-8750464381635509322008-01-26T21:27:00.000-06:002008-01-26T21:27:00.000-06:00First of all, why do people wait to get informatio...First of all, why do people wait to get information to the recommenders? I got my apps submitted and info to my recommenders (including resume, transcripts, summaries of where I was applying and why...and anything quirky about their requirements) over the summer. I was done with all that before school even started last fall.<BR/><BR/>Slight rant: Of course, it frustrated me to no end that one of my recommenders failed to send out anything (paper or online), despite repeated assurances that he would "get right on it". I really hope that isn't a bad reflection on me.<BR/><BR/>Back on topic, though, it think it's a lot less stressful if people don't wait until the last minute...especially because every school does seem to have their own special forms and submission criteria.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-83779062066826393562008-01-26T20:09:00.000-06:002008-01-26T20:09:00.000-06:00Last anonymous: What a bizarre response. I don't t...Last anonymous: What a bizarre response. I don't think tenure-track or tenured faculty lose the right to comment on a process that takes more time than it should just because there are others who wish they were in our position. Writing letters is 'part of doing the job' (there is nothing in the original post to suggest that it is otherwise), but wouldn't it be better if the reference-submitting process were more efficient, so we could spend all that 'extra' time on teaching, research, advising, service, and so on?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-87272800844809946722008-01-26T17:45:00.000-06:002008-01-26T17:45:00.000-06:00Shouldn't someone with a Ph.D. be able to figure o...Shouldn't someone with a Ph.D. be able to figure out how to submit letters in different formats? I am grateful for the many letters written on my behalf that got me to my current position. Now I am paying back those mentors by paying it forward to my students. Resenting having to do that is ungrateful, in my opinion. Further, this is just another part of doing the job. Complaining about doing the job seems a bit "high maintenance" when there are so many out there who would give a great deal to have a tenure track position. While you're at it, don't you want to complain about the size of your desk or the fact that you have to do your own typing?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-69537870281252967182008-01-26T11:53:00.000-06:002008-01-26T11:53:00.000-06:00The letter writing process is insane, but do proff...The letter writing process is insane, but do proffs have anyone to blame but themselves? Can you proudly state that the admissions committee at your school only asks for a simple letter and it can be emailed, snail-mailed, or messenger pigeoned and it will be correctly filed with the student's application?IP Freeleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06763147379835845638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-29385841441477693182008-01-26T10:12:00.000-06:002008-01-26T10:12:00.000-06:00I prefer online letter, but only if the system all...I prefer online letter, but only if the system allows a simple 'upload your letter' option rather than 'cut and paste your text in this tiny box that will truncate anything more than 100 words so you have to print out and send the extra text separately' option, or the option in which you have to cut and paste text addressing 12 different questions into separate boxes.Female Science Professorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15288567883197987690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-9907857946468321542008-01-26T02:39:00.000-06:002008-01-26T02:39:00.000-06:00I'm surprised that you don't like online letters. ...I'm surprised that you don't like online letters. I have found them to be far easier than printing out multiple hard copies, trying to figure out which way to put the letterhead into the printer's manual feed tray, stuffing numerous envelopes, etc. I tell my students to set me up to submit online letters if at all possible.<BR/><BR/>Another rule I have: if at all possible, I send letters directly to the school/department, rather than giving signed sealed envelopes to the student. This ensures that if a student changes his or her mind about applying to that particular program, he or she cannot open the letter and read it. Anyone ever had this problem? (I guess you'd have no way to know if you did!)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-4792252430540593372008-01-26T02:05:00.000-06:002008-01-26T02:05:00.000-06:00I gave my reference writers baked goods after all ...I gave my reference writers baked goods after all was said and done.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-35823555740195648192008-01-25T23:56:00.000-06:002008-01-25T23:56:00.000-06:00@ Ms. PhD - The law school people have the central...@ Ms. PhD - <BR/><BR/>The law school people have the centralized database deal down pat with the LSAC system. The biggest problems are that it can be a financial burden on the students and all university have to basically want the same thing for it to work.Silk Stockinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05593420131692250143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-15634637828518172592008-01-25T21:40:00.000-06:002008-01-25T21:40:00.000-06:00I applied to grad school 4 years ago, and the whol...I applied to grad school 4 years ago, and the whole process still makes me cringe... I tried to put together as much info as I could for my letter writers (detailed resume and reminders of what I have done with them in terms of classes/research, links, directions, deadlines, addressed/stamped envelopes) 2 months in advance, and sent out reminders/pleas 1 month and 2 weeks before the deadlines. Not sure what else a student can do to ease the situation, but I do know that my profs appreciated me trying (and all the letters I asked for made it on time).ScienceGirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00071055167798044468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-21107310873105130992008-01-25T21:03:00.000-06:002008-01-25T21:03:00.000-06:00Hehe but we loove you guys for writing them for us...Hehe but we loove you guys for writing them for us :)Alyvia Plummerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06003531604605732353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-60178712977464878442008-01-25T20:48:00.000-06:002008-01-25T20:48:00.000-06:00Spot on! I'm so glad that when I applied to grad ...Spot on! I'm so glad that when I applied to grad schools, all that was required was a standard letter. I've had to be the go-between for my undergrads and The Boss, and I must say that The Boss has not been taking the little box forms well!Unbalanced Reactionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13407339711183651108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-84313368101108921892008-01-25T19:33:00.000-06:002008-01-25T19:33:00.000-06:00ecogeofemme -My department has opted out of the un...ecogeofemme -<BR/><BR/>My department has opted out of the university-wide online form system. We crunched the numbers and found that we would save time doing more work on our end with diverse applications if it means that we do less when writing letters.<BR/><BR/>However, we are lucky that many departments are very keen to get our students and so have are starting to begrudgingly accept that we won't play their games. Not all departments can do this.<BR/><BR/>Typically, the university saves administrative resources by using these online monstrosities. The fact that this then collectively costs faculty time sending applications out is irrelevant to them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-12715096824030200472008-01-25T18:07:00.000-06:002008-01-25T18:07:00.000-06:00There are services for rec letters. However, they ...There are services for rec letters. However, they are usually run by a school's career services center, and not all schools have them. (and obviously not all students even know about them). <BR/><BR/>I have blogged before that I like the idea of having things go through one big center, all at the same time (as they do in some fields for faculty positions). <BR/><BR/>I'm not entirely sure why nobody wants to implement this. It works well enough for things like SAT scores, so why not this?<BR/><BR/>The current system is annoying at best, and at worst it's a waste of everyone's time. <BR/><BR/>For postdocs we either have to wait until all the ads come out (thereby missing some of the deadlines) or request letters in batches... it's impossible to be organized enough to keep track of all of it AND do a really good job on all of them (let alone keep doing experiments). It's a full time job to look for a job (or school).Ms.PhDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06542602867472447035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-40286050112838276772008-01-25T17:35:00.000-06:002008-01-25T17:35:00.000-06:00Have any of you on the recommending end investigat...Have any of you on the recommending end investigated or tried to simplify the process at your own school?EcoGeoFemmehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11236907917990309659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-7613146114077990752008-01-25T16:24:00.000-06:002008-01-25T16:24:00.000-06:00Very funny, thanks. Will my vote be subject to Ele...Very funny, thanks. Will my vote be subject to Electoral College lumping? (off topic: thought Intuition, while terrific at lab life, was just a tarted up rewrite of the Baltimore story, best described by Kevles).<BR/><BR/>Back to topic, it's odd that while the Common App has become...Common for college-bound students, there is no equivalent for the grad process. Of course all programs want different things, but the basics of personal info, awards, personal statement, letters, etc. is always the same and could easily be bundled.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-44320039800337552462008-01-25T14:42:00.000-06:002008-01-25T14:42:00.000-06:00I applied to 8 grad schools, and I had 4 reference...I applied to 8 grad schools, and I had 4 reference writers. I gave each a folder with forms instructions for each school. I felt bad for making them do so much work, but my husband and I needed to ensure some overlap of where we were accepted. Of course he and I both did thank-you notes! It's just polite.<BR/>Also, the applications themselves are pretty bad--it was like having a half time job for several weeks!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11949932116223136144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-52024470545050060332008-01-25T13:47:00.000-06:002008-01-25T13:47:00.000-06:00polite girl, it's not too late to vote! See:Academ...polite girl, it's not too late to vote! See:<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://science-professor.blogspot.com/2006/10/academics-r-us.html" REL="nofollow">Academic Novel Poll</A>Female Science Professorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15288567883197987690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-18777858844015311872008-01-25T13:31:00.000-06:002008-01-25T13:31:00.000-06:00I wrote (handwritten) thank you notes to profs who...I wrote (handwritten) thank you notes to profs who had written me a bunch of rec letters (e.g. for grad school or for fellowship apps). My husband said that that was a "girl" thing to do, but your post reassures me that it was a "polite" thing to do.<BR/><BR/>Slightly off topic, two comedic academe novels that I have enjoyed are Russo's _Straight Man_ and Smiley's _Moo_. Neither will become Beowulfian staples of Western Lit, but they're both quite funny.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-91934403264750225832008-01-25T12:32:00.000-06:002008-01-25T12:32:00.000-06:00Two for one--in the same letter!“As an adolescent ...Two for one--in the same letter!<BR/><BR/>“As an adolescent I aspired to lasting fame, I craved factual<BR/>certainty, and I thirsted for a meaningful vision of human life - so I<BR/>became a scientist. This is like becoming an archbishop so you can<BR/>meet girls.” M. Cartmill<BR/><BR/>“I am among those who think that science has great beauty.<BR/>A scientist in his laboratory is not only a technician: he is<BR/>also a child placed before natural phenomena which<BR/>impress him like a fairy tale.” Marie CurieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-15303416215055541052008-01-25T10:52:00.000-06:002008-01-25T10:52:00.000-06:00I have been refusing forms for years, writing 'see...I have been refusing forms for years, writing 'see letter' across them. But the internet thing has changed all of this - in that i have not been able to do so on the internet forms and have now had to fill out boxes to be permitted to upload the letters. GRRR...<BR/><BR/>and one school just wrote me a personal email and demanded that i complete the form. i had to resist ranting to them, by breathing deeply and reminding myself that such behavior probably would only harm the student, who is completely innocent in this process.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com