Writing Your Own LOR

[VelcroSky]

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One of my letter writers has told me to write my own letter of recommendation and then they're going to look it over and make any adjustments to it. Have any of you had to write your own letters? Do you have any suggestions on what to write? It's kind of a tough thing to have to do.

Thanks.

 

[kate_g]

Ugh. I didn't get stuck with this myself, but have talked with a few people who have. Here's one strategy that seemed to work well:

They're trying to help you, and they're also trying to get out of the work of actually sitting down and thinking about what to say. You have some reason for wanting a letter from this person - you believe they're impressed with your clinical skills, you showed particularly strong academic excellence in their class, they've known you for years and can attest to your ongoing passion for veterinary medicine... whatever. So you presumably have some ideas in mind of what you'd like that letter to say, specific anecdotes that highlight your skill/smarts/dedication, qualities you want them to mention. So ask for a compromise - write up a detailed outline of things you'd like them to say, and then the person can write from your outline, in their own words. This reduces the danger that the letter of recommendation and your personal statement will share enough stylistic quirks to make it obvious that they came from the same person.

Or maybe it's a test, and they're waiting for you to say "oh no, that would be immoral, I can't possibly do that," and if instead you just go along with it and write your own letter and give it to them, they'll actually submit a letter saying what a liar and a cheat you are.

 

[4theanimals]

Not that I know anything about this 😉, but I suggest a good place to start is to go back to this person. Ask them to provide a list of qualities they see in you that make you prepared for vet school. I think this is important because they will most likely think of things you haven't or wouldn't. And also ask for any specific instances that exemplify those skills. In other words, force them to give you the meat of the letter. You can then just help them to polish it.😎