I like what doschichos is saying, #29 above, but as I think the OP insinuates, it’s a bit of a surprise, and you’re taken aback, and I’m not sure many people have the where with all to pull it together and address it on the spot. Although best done in the moment, it’s still worth following up on later.
I apologize if it seemed I was trying to brag. That wasn’t my intention. Nor do I need to “feel better” about my student. We feel pretty good about things, actually.
But I will say when student #1 got rejected from a different BS, when it seemed they really liked her at the interview. (We now know they send Christmas cards to everyone with “warm notes” and not to read anything into it, but at the time we were novices, akin to getting college solicitation in the USPS mail), she did call and asked for feedback from the AO that interviewed her, and was told her rec letters weren’t strong enough.
Our student was able to use that information to think more carefully about rec letters going forward and we think it did help her college apps.