I think LORs can make a big difference at the grad school level. My kid has rec letters from 3 profs she did research with. She is hearing quotes back from the rec letters from her interviewers. Example - apparently she has very good “lab hands”. Not something she would put in her app, but a plus for someone in an experimental field.
I think LORs can provide valuable information about some students to admission officers. It is one more data point, and one given from a different perspective than the student. IMO there is value in that.
Many HS teachers I know take great care to write meaningful letters for their students.
Many grad programs do require LORs. I know my H wrote a couple for employees working for him who went back to grad school and my D and S both got professor LORs for their grad programs.
“recommend you based on what they have seen and observed of you while you were sitting in their classroom”
Exactly the point. And many extend this to comment about the student as they know him/her, outside class, the role in the school, activities and leadership, the respect awarded him or her. That’s more than grades and course names.
How much fo you object based on your own challenge?
As a university faculty member, and former department chair, I’ve read far more letters of recommendation than I’ve written. Letters in support of job applicants as well as graduate students are very important in the vast majority of cases. They speak to the applicant’s work habits, collegiality (how well do they work with others), initiative, and punctuality (do they get their work done in time). They may help us to interpret odd or unexplained things in the transcripts. They provide a judgment of the student’s creativity and commitment.
OP, did you need to give references for the job that you have? Do you feel those are useless and a waste of time as well? Do you think that jobs should only be awarded to people based on grades and stats?
Most jobs-and many colleges-want to see more about a person that hard facts. A person might be a brilliant individual but not very good with people, or have issues that would make them less than an ideal choice for a job or specific college. My son is looking for a job right now after seeing his own small business go under. He had an interview yesterday and the company mentioned that they’d called his reference and had heard good things about him. At my job we often get calls for references and I know that in one case, my boss’ glowing report got the person the job.
I wonder if @lookingforward is onto something-that you dislike the practice because of your own suspicion that you’re not liked at your company and would not get good references.
Many of the top MBA programs require a letter from an applicant’s It would be obnoxious in the extreme for a manager to object to writing one due to “I’m too busy”. I have (only a few times) refused because I wouldn’t have been able to come up with a positive endorsement (and then I usually say, “I think there are other people you’ve worked for who can write a more enthusiastic letter”). But to claim you are too busy when an employee wants to go back to school? That seems mean.
Blossom, do you write the letters on personal time or company time?
I don’t mind asking if someone can do it if they can do it on company time. It’s personal time that I feel bad about taking up.
Throughout my life I have always been hot and cold with people. Some enjoy my company. Others do not. It’s not something that I can change so I don’t worry about it, just try my best. When you spend a lot of waking hours with a team of people, you’re going to encounter differences in personality and style that may rub others the wrong way. Since I will be working with these people for years to come, it’s not necessary or helpful to have to ask if they like you or not…whether they do or not, we’ll be working together for many years.
Are you liked by everyone you work with?
It’s pretty easy to tell after a fairly short time whether someone “clicks” with you or not. I don’t understand your company’s rule that no supervisors can write recommendations-after all, they know their teams best, but that is what it is. You shouldn’t have to ask if your co-workers like you, though. Surely you can tell?
As for me-I have one co-worker-my boss, and while we don’t hang out outside of work, I just got a glowing review at work so I know I"m liked and appreciated. I work at a church with some members who DO consider themselves my friends, and I feel the same. I also know people from other settings such as my volunteer work, who could write a reference for me if needed. I know they like me based on how they act around me. There are cues.
Thanks all. I’m signing off this thread at this time.
But when you can’t pull academic recs for a grad school app, when you need coworker support, you build that relationship, cultivate it, over some time, in various ways. After that, you ask. Not decide on school, then not know who’d stand up for you.
I read scholarship applications for my alma mater. I have read letters of recommendation from teachers, college guidance counselors, coaches, Scout leaders, bosses, Mayors, Representative, Senators, and one former President (actually, a nice personal letter of recommendation…kind of made you sit up and take notice). The letters of recommendation are exceedingly helpful for me. Yes, there are form letters. You recognize them quickly. You discount them and don’t hold them against the applicant. But, a good letter of recommendation offers another window onto an applicant outside of grades and an essay. It lets me see what another person thinks is important about this person. Often, it points me to something that may or may not be highlighted in the application which I have to go back an look at. And yes, a well written letter of recommendation has certainly helped applicants in the past. I would tell anyone writing a letter of recommendation to know the person they are writing about and pass if they really don’t know the person. I don’t need application chaff. I need information. When we are talking about a life-changing scholarship, think about what you would want to know about the person you are writing about. Suffice to say, my experience on being on the other side of the application has changed my outlook on the process.