tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post174475299012641560..comments2023-10-15T04:23:50.187-04:00Comments on College Misery: Tuesday Open Forum.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-71087510354356188342016-11-29T14:38:13.793-05:002016-11-29T14:38:13.793-05:00I only get these requests from graduate students l...I only get these requests from graduate students looking for jobs, which I find weird as I don't recall ever needing a letter of recommendation to send to a potential employer. I have some boilerplate that I re-use as needed, but if I feel the student was simply too terrible to inflict on even the worst employer, I just say that I'm too busy to do it now but could write them one in about Programming Pattyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03838328277067778125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-49285689846477832802016-11-29T11:45:30.524-05:002016-11-29T11:45:30.524-05:00I also always let the student read the letter, eve...I also always let the student read the letter, even if ultimately it has to be in a sealed envelope. I just feel better about it.Bellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15686242633678466958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-86544092294129208302016-11-29T11:17:45.986-05:002016-11-29T11:17:45.986-05:00I am exhausted. This semester has done me in and I...I am exhausted. This semester has done me in and I cannot wait until it's over. I usually do not like to rush time, but I'm all about fast-forwarding to the third week in December. The teaching has been mostly good (for a change), but the sheer number of students I've had at LD3C whose schedules have constantly changed have made it difficult to keep on top of everything. (For thoseGreat Lakes Gretahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08101613060478193833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-80658560709880075622016-11-29T11:06:45.989-05:002016-11-29T11:06:45.989-05:00I'm exactly the same way. I warn the student,...I'm exactly the same way. I warn the student, as gently as I can, that I cannot write a good letter of recommendation and try to urge him or her to seek one from another professor. I have become very good at refusing students, but if they insist -- and if they do, there are threats to go to my chair -- I tell them that they have a choice: either a very truthful and probably not helpful Great Lakes Gretahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08101613060478193833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-56074185537471081242016-11-29T10:46:20.792-05:002016-11-29T10:46:20.792-05:00I try to employ as much consistency and objectivit...I try to employ as much consistency and objectivity as I can. If they approach me, I write the letter, often that day because I know these things can be time sensitive and it's not like it takes me ages.<br /><br />I always include:<br /><br />1: Who I am, a very very brief summary of my credentials and the course in question.<br /><br />2: Their grade in my class as well as any metrics on Annie From Abelardhttp://www.webuyanycar.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-82203623184946327702016-11-29T07:10:35.577-05:002016-11-29T07:10:35.577-05:00One of my former students, who was in the middle o...One of my former students, who was in the middle of my distribution, asked me for a recommendation to Harvard Law School. I told her I didn't want to do that because if I wrote the letter, she probably wouldn't get in (I doubt she'd have gotten in anyway). I told her that once I noted she was an average student in my class, it would really hurt her since Harvard doesn't look forFulton Frednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-26031147377413488772016-11-29T04:30:56.828-05:002016-11-29T04:30:56.828-05:00Well thanks, RGM! But then, stapling the student&#...Well thanks, RGM! But then, stapling the student's dick to the floor isn't always advisable, believe it or not.Froderick Frankenstien from Fresnohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11653942918068535424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-78367744454075062142016-11-29T03:12:32.023-05:002016-11-29T03:12:32.023-05:00This is excellent advice, and would save many well...This is excellent advice, and would save many well-intentioned faculty hours and hours of time over the years.College Miseryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01371354682300032653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-13970719983188410692016-11-29T03:05:36.005-05:002016-11-29T03:05:36.005-05:00What do you do when a student asks you for a lette...What do you do when a student asks you for a letter of recommendation, and so help you, you can't think of ANYTHING helpful to say? <br /><br />I tell the student, "I'm sorry, but I can't write a letter of recommendation that can help you." <br /><br />If they want to know why, I tell them. An example of this would be: "Because you were the only person who's ever Froderick Frankenstien from Fresnohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11653942918068535424noreply@blogger.com