LORS - 2 questions

[koma]

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How do you get to see your LORS (for those of you who do). Our school has a system where the professors send their letters to the premed office. Do you ask your professor for a copy, or do they offer it to you? That's the only way I can think of seeing your LOR other then breaking in and stealing the file.

Also, I have volunteered for half a year in a foreign country. However, the person in charge there is too busy/sick/english not a native language, and has billions of other reasons that I am sure will prevent her from writing me a good rec. Do you think it's a good idea to write my own recommendation and send it to her to sign and then send back to my school? I am sure she would do it, but I hate hate hate the idea of writing my own recommendation, and not sure if this unique letter is worth all the mind tearing effort of trying to glorify myself (bleh).

 

[smgilles]

DO NOT write your own letter of recommendation. You are not supposed to be able to see your LORs, on each form there is a spot where you sign your name relinquishing your rights to see them. You can look at them if you don't waive your rights, but I would HIGHLY recommend against doing that. Just ask whoever is writing the LORs if they are going to write you a STRONG letter. If they will not then get someone else to write you one.

 

[lola]

i think most people who have seen their lor's have seen them b/c their letter writer has shown it to them. i have never seen any of mine. it's fine to see them if your letter writer shows you even if you've signed the waiver.

as for whether or not to write your own letter... well, i'd ask the person if she would write one. then maybe you could suggest she get someone to proofread it or suggest that you write it and she edit it. i definitely don't think you should write it before asking her.

 

[Adcadet]

I would strongly suggest asking that foreign letter writer for a strong LOR. If she is unable to write you one (time, language, etc), then I think it's fine for you to help her write it. This isn't all that uncommon and I don't think it's a huge deal.

 

[XCanadianRagwee]

Out of the six LORs written for me, I have seen just one. Our school policy is if you sign the waiver you are never allowed to see the LOR PERIOD!

The one I saw was from a prof who said I dont' care about this waiver business, if I was going to say somethign bad in the letter then I wouldn't have written it in the first place. Turns out it was a wonderful letter.