Prof. Sam LawlerI hate writing reference letters. They're simultaneously extremely important and incredibly not fun to write.
Carrie Shanafelt@sundogplanets I don't know if this is helpful, but I use this with my students to try to get enough information to write a good letter. Feel free to adapt the list as appropriate for your discipline! Writing rec letters is awful, but I find it slightly less so if you're getting good input. https://www.carrieshanafelt.com/asking-for-a-letter-of-recommendation
@carrideen Oh, this is great! I will share this with students in the future
Schamschula@carrideen I have saved the link!
This certainly beats telling the student to draft a letter, and then doing heavy editing to it.
This certainly beats telling the student to draft a letter, and then doing heavy editing to it.
Michael Emerman@carrideen @sundogplanets
This is very good advice. As a former director of a grad school program who has read many 1000's of recommendation letters, I'd like to add one addition: if the letter is for grad school applications, ask one professor writing you a letter to comment on your transcript in general. This is especially important for students who attended a smaller school where the admissions committee will not be familiar with the courses and the grading tendency of the faculty.
This is very good advice. As a former director of a grad school program who has read many 1000's of recommendation letters, I'd like to add one addition: if the letter is for grad school applications, ask one professor writing you a letter to comment on your transcript in general. This is especially important for students who attended a smaller school where the admissions committee will not be familiar with the courses and the grading tendency of the faculty.
...a pleasant rascal@carrideen Bookmarked.