Worst Recommendation letter draft

[stwei]

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Heh,

If your prof told ya to draft your own recommendation letter what would you type in there? 😱
Any thoughts?

First draft

I would seriously not recommend this candidate because my coworkers have complained that he stays in lab until 3 in the morning and doesn't party during the weekends, doesn't participate in pranks.

I would seriously consider this candidate because he would be a valuable addition to the cadaver lab.

2nd draft

I have known the candidate for over two years now and have gained some insights in his abilities and his shortcomings. The candidate is a firm believer in strong work ethic that produces results. He seems to embody tremendous abilities to fight off setbacks, never losing hope in the sight of challenge and adversity. His soft-spoken ways and patience will be an asset to him, especially when dealing with patients who need a kind and compassionate soul listening to them. He likes to believe and to see the good in people around him, but is also demanding in terms of his expectations of his peers and professors. There is a need in the medical profession of someone who will reach out to the needy in order to provide them with comfort spiritually, emotionally, and physically. This candidate has these capabilities and will most certainly be of benefit to the medical community.

Should I be more specific? 🙄

 

[St. James]

yes, concrete examples of where you showed your amazingness would improve the letter.

 

[MoosePilot]

Heh,

If your prof told ya to draft your own recommendation letter what would you type in there? 😱
Any thoughts?

2nd draft

I have known the candidate for over two years now and have gained some insights in his abilities and his shortcomings. The candidate is a firm believer in strong work ethic that produces results. He seems to embody tremendous abilities to fight off setbacks, never losing hope in the sight of challenge and adversity. His soft-spoken ways and patience will be an asset to him, especially when dealing with patients who need a kind and compassionate soul listening to them. He likes to believe and to see the good in people around him, but is also demanding in terms of his expectations of his peers and professors. There is a need in the medical profession of someone who will reach out to the needy in order to provide them with comfort spiritually, emotionally, and physically. This candidate has these capabilities and will most certainly be of benefit to the medical community.

Should I be more specific? 🙄

A friend of a friend may have had to write one of his LOR drafts too. I... I mean he gave me some hints he picked up in his preparation.

Who is your professor? Why should the adcom care about that letter? List some of his qualifications and more detail on how he's known you. I'd go from there into specific things you've done for him. Be more specific, sure.

If your professor is giving you this opportunity, go big! Not, "He seems to embody tremendous ability...", but rather, "He embodies tremendous ability...". I'd go one step further and be specific, such as "When the janitor threw out six months of work, stwei overcame this setback by immediately starting to regain the lost ground, never losing hope...".

So I'd make it longer, go into more detail, and give the background. Make sense?

 

[missmod]

In addition to all the tips above, I would actually take out "soft spoken." I think a lot of times, professors will use that word to describe a student who does not participate much or does not have much to say. Though in your case, you might not mean it that way, I think adcoms might think thats what your professor really meant. Instead of "His soft-spoken ways," how about... "his unpretentious demeanor" or... "his inviting personality"...