recommend letters

[easb]

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What is the average size for good recommendation letters? I have one that has 5 lines and another that almost takes one page! 5 lines looks too short and one page looks too long. Am I wrong?

 

[bythebay]

Five lines is way to short! I wouldn't submit that one, find someone else. Someone who knows you well enough to write a LOR should know you worth a page. One page is not to long, some LORs can be longer, but I think I page is about right.

 

[Ngozi Onyema]

I chose not to read the LOR on PTCAS, was that a mistake? I have no idea what is on my LOR.

 

[nicolej5]

Sorry but I lol'ed at the 5 lines part. That is almost offensive that someone would write so little. It's critical to find someone who will write a solid, descriptive letter. I personally think a half of a page is the minimum. I declined to see the letters that people wrote for me because I didn't want them to feel as if I was looking over their shoulder. But, I've been accepted to schools so it must have been ok. I also trusted in our relationship in the sense that they knew me well enough to write a great letter, so I wasn't worried.

 

[Ngozi Onyema]

I don't know if this is already possible but PTCAS should allow applicants who chose to decline to see the LOR to see the recommendation letters after the cycle is over just to see what kind of LOR were written. Of course we could have asked the people doing the LOR to email us a copy though. I didn't do that though.

 

[situational]

Interestingly enough, I know it's completely unrelated to the PT profession, but for several years I tried to apply to the JET program to teach English in Japan. The recruiting coordinator was telling us her story of finding her old LoR file from when she applied to become a teacher herself. She read one of the LoRs:

"This girl was in my class for X class during Y year."

THAT WAS IT.

She ended up getting accepted to the program anyway, but HOLY crap, I know there's integrity involved and I would personally not read the LoR that have been written for me, but I am always worried about what people actually write on their LoR.

 

[qtran]

interestingly enough 3 out of the 4 people who wrote me a LOR this year emailed me a copy. it's also interesting that the 1 that kept it confidential was the one that I had the most trouble with, having to constantly nag. I hope he wrote me a really good one for procrastinating....

 

[bythebay]

I don't know if this is already possible but PTCAS should allow applicants who chose to decline to see the LOR to see the recommendation letters after the cycle is over just to see what kind of LOR were written. Of course we could have asked the people doing the LOR to email us a copy though. I didn't do that though.

I'm pretty sure they can't show them to you even after the cycle is over, because they tell the folks who are writing the letter that you waived the right to see them while they're writing it. I had two people email me their letters, the PTs I know, but I never saw the one from my Bio teacher.

If you know them well you could ask them to email it to you but I think this is kind of awkward after the fact.

 

[alauruin]

I think it depends on the content, too. Yes, 5 lines seems extremely short... but what was said in those 5 lines? If the person was incredibly concise and basically said, "Here's what I know; strengths, character, experience, I recommend," that would be just as sufficient as a two-page letter that rambles about the writer's credentials and finally drops a few lines about the applicant.

I have never read any of my recs, but I fully trust the people who wrote them. Additionally, the two I needed the most specific info from--an observation site supervisor and my physical therapist--both asked me for specific details about what I thought my strengths were and what I wanted schools to know.

 

[Azimuthal]

I'd also worry about the rating criteria before the "optional" letter section.

 

[NewTestament]

I think it depends on the content, too. Yes, 5 lines seems extremely short... but what was said in those 5 lines? If the person was incredibly concise and basically said, "Here's what I know; strengths, character, experience, I recommend," that would be just as sufficient as a two-page letter that rambles about the writer's credentials and finally drops a few lines about the applicant.

I have never read any of my recs, but I fully trust the people who wrote them. Additionally, the two I needed the most specific info from--an observation site supervisor and my physical therapist--both asked me for specific details about what I thought my strengths were and what I wanted schools to know.

If you had great things to say about someone, wouldn't you write more than five lines? I think so. Listen I'm as concise and succinct as they come. I hate small talk and fluff. But I would definitely write more than five lines if I were enthusiastic about someone.

Don't ever read your LORs. If you earned a good LOR, then don't worry about what it says. Part of volunteering is getting to know the therapist, being inquisitive, showing enthusiasm, and being a good worker. If you do that, the quality of the LOR won't be a problem. I wouldn't write an LOR if I didn't think it would be confidential.

Kevin

 

[easb]

Thanks everyone! And what do you think about those who actually ask US to write letters for OURSELVES? I already have 2 people whom I asked for LORs, and they said that I could write them myself and they would "correct" them. ???

 

[alauruin]

Thanks everyone! And what do you think about those who actually ask US to write letters for OURSELVES? I already have 2 people whom I asked for LORs, and they said that I could write them myself and they would "correct" them. ???

This makes me uncomfortable. I'm interested in knowing what anyone else can say about the purpose behind it, because I don't see it. To my way of thinking, I'm writing my own essay, which is rather like my self recommendation. I would like my letters to reflect others' true opinions of my skills and abilities, not what I could tell the admissions committee myself.

 

[okramango]

Thanks everyone! And what do you think about those who actually ask US to write letters for OURSELVES? I already have 2 people whom I asked for LORs, and they said that I could write them myself and they would "correct" them. ???

I would not accept that. First of all, it's dishonest, and I wouldn't feel right about it. Second, you don't know what the recommender thinks of you, so how could you write it? Perhaps the recommender has noticed certain qualities about you that you are not aware of? It is important for the recommender to express their enthusiasm about you in their own way, which you won't be able to do for them. Your own voice will come out, rather then theirs.

If it were me, I would either find people willing to write a letter for me, or ask these two again to write the letter, stating that I would feel it was dishonest to write the letter myself. Make sure your recommenders are enthusiastic about you, though. If they are not even willing to write the letters, maybe they are not the right people to recommend you.

 

[Azimuthal]

I used to make prior subordinates write their own letter all the time. I change 90% of it. The sole reason is to gage where you believe you stand. It makes great input for justifying positive character and strengths.

But that's just me and I'm sure there are people who are just lazy.

 

[bythebay]

Being asked to write my own letter has always offended me. Similarly I have had people ask if they should write their own LOR's and have me sign them, and it bugs me to. I want LORs written by others, and by myself, to be honest and unbiased.