integrity with the recommendation letter

[themach]

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I did research for my PI for over a year, most of the time on a volunteer basis. When I asked him to write a rec letter for me, he said that I should write it and that he would sign it. Is it ethical for me to write my own recommendation letter? I think i can get another science prof to write me a letter (which won't be spectacular but only average), but I also think that med schools will want a letter from the prof I have been working with for a year. What do you guys think? Has anyone else been in a similar situation?

 

[anomic]

I did research for my PI for over a year, most of the time on a volunteer basis. When I asked him to write a rec letter for me, he said that I should write it and that he would sign it. Is it ethical for me to write my own recommendation letter? I think i can get another science prof to write me a letter (which won't be spectacular but only average), but I also think that med schools will want a letter from the prof I have been working with for a year. What do you guys think? Has anyone else been in a similar situation?

Yes, this is totally legit. If he reads it and thinks that you are not truthful he'll probably tell you so. This happens all the time in the corporate world. Write yourself a great letter! This means he trusts you.

 

[GiantGiantsFan]

it is legit, but for me it was awkward. my science prof told me the same thing, so i asked someone else to do it. i wouldnt know how to write a good rec letter, even for myself!

 

[Psycho Doctor]

it is legit, but for me it was awkward. my science prof told me the same thing, so i asked someone else to do it. i wouldnt know how to write a good rec letter, even for myself!

I could never do it either. I'm sure I would not write as good a letter about myself as someone else would and i'd never want to do it.

 

[myodana]

i did that.
in fact, i wrote myself a GREAT letter 🙂 i left space for him to add stuff, and i tried to make it sound like he wrote it (got a friend to help proof it to make sure it didn't read too similar to my personal statement). then i got him to read it and put in/take out what he liked/hated and that was that! do it.

 

[Shredder]

(got a friend to help proof it to make sure it didn't read too similar to my personal statement)

great opportunity, and i too found it awkward at first but then began to have fun with it. its nice raving about yourself and covering everything you know you want them to cover. about the PS thing, i had to be careful with that and also about getting into too specific details that a real recommender would probably never mention. theres definitely an art to letter writing that has to be mastered

integrity? come oooon

 

[Law2Doc]

I did research for my PI for over a year, most of the time on a volunteer basis. When I asked him to write a rec letter for me, he said that I should write it and that he would sign it. Is it ethical for me to write my own recommendation letter? I think i can get another science prof to write me a letter (which won't be spectacular but only average), but I also think that med schools will want a letter from the prof I have been working with for a year. What do you guys think? Has anyone else been in a similar situation?

It's really not uncommon, especially if you work for a very busy person. But it's better if rather than write it for signature, you can prepare it as a "first draft", and give it to him on disk so that he can tweak it, put it on the appropriate letterhead, and make any changes he sees fit. The nice thing is that you have better control of the timing and can make sure this gets out in time. The hard part is that it is often difficult for people to write about themselves in this way --you neither want to be too over the top, but also not too modest.

 

[themach]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone! I feel much better about this now. 🙂