tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post5605392190014986637..comments2024-03-25T02:33:41.590-05:00Comments on FemaleScienceProfessor: Letters of Reference: The ContestFemale Science Professorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288567883197987690noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-68348268291587657772011-12-01T16:16:37.223-06:002011-12-01T16:16:37.223-06:00I'm a little late to the party, but here's...I'm a little late to the party, but here's a doozy that we received. It's real...<br /><br />http://marymountcollegeadmissonsblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/when-recommendations-attack-worst.htmlMarymount College Admissions Staffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09796256317703246588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-89187663211450465472009-12-20T03:50:23.688-06:002009-12-20T03:50:23.688-06:00My PhD advisor made me write my own letter of reco...My PhD advisor made me write my own letter of recommendation for postdoc fellowships I was applying to because he was too lazy to write one for me. <br /><br />So, I went ahead and sang my own praises to the moon. I wrote about how awesome and brilliant I was. I made my letter really over the top because I wanted to see if my PhD advisor would <i>at least</i> take the time to edit it, as evidenced by "taming it down", or if he really was too lazy to do even that. Turns out he didn't change a single damn thing. He simply signed it without even reading it.<br /><br />I still got a prestigious postdoc fellowship anyway. Now when I have been asked by my students to write letters of recommendation, I actually take the time to write it myself, I'm not as lazy as my PhD advisor was.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-26596735015947689912009-12-19T12:59:36.593-06:002009-12-19T12:59:36.593-06:00To Anonymous at 12/18/2009 09:15:00 PM, writing le...To Anonymous at 12/18/2009 09:15:00 PM, writing letters of recommendation is not so bad if you require that anyone who asks you to write a letter must provide you with a draft, describing how you know them, what they did in your class/lab, and so on.<br /><br />The draft is often awful, but editing it is still easier than starting with a blank screen. It also helps the student later on when they have to write letters of reference, as they have some idea what goes into such a letter.<br /><br />Requiring a draft also reduces the number of random requests from people you barely know---the students who are so clueless as to pick a recommender who doesn't know them usually can't get it together enough to write a draft.<br /><br />I have to read about 60 letters of recommendation this week. If I find any nuggets I send them here, but we generally get pretty good letters.Kevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14528751349030084532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-70780755075184619372009-12-19T04:15:42.838-06:002009-12-19T04:15:42.838-06:00Oh, I don’t think I can bring myself to joke about...Oh, I don’t think I can bring myself to joke about this – too soon! Perhaps when I’m on the other side….Hopenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-15505384376394362112009-12-19T00:23:14.462-06:002009-12-19T00:23:14.462-06:00please deliver the 16 pepperoni sausage mudhroom b...please deliver the 16 pepperoni sausage mudhroom bell pepper onion to cell 8 block g wing 3 hery co detention ceter charge to my debit careAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-18271821595061038742009-12-18T21:15:35.530-06:002009-12-18T21:15:35.530-06:00But, I have to write ACTUAL letters of recommendat...But, I have to write ACTUAL letters of recommendation for students next week... :-(Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-23132110114407382542009-12-18T17:03:02.746-06:002009-12-18T17:03:02.746-06:00Ah, if I only had time to compose an entry! I'...Ah, if I only had time to compose an entry! I've seen all kinds of "best" comments in my years on admissions committees. One of my favorites came from a student whose personal statement informed us of the student's "ultimate desire to achieve perfection in every aspect of my life". One of the letters informed us that this student had donated blood not once, but twice! If that doesn't qualify you for graduate school, what does?Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14245436038660163430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-47497879815606640912009-12-18T09:13:45.422-06:002009-12-18T09:13:45.422-06:00"Entries will be examined by the highly caffe..."Entries will be examined by the highly caffeinated FSP Editorial Board". <br /><br />I would like to formally apply for a position on the FSP Editorial Board. I could always use something more to put on my CV.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com