Those reading the letters should get the sense that the recommender was excited to write about you and inspired to help you on your path to college. Your recommender can rave about you while having the stories and examples to back up their praise.
On a similar note, a short letter, like less than a page, could suggest that the recommender doesn't know a student too well or doesn't have much to say in her favor. Some students ask a principal, department head, or even someone famous or in goverment to provide them with a letter of recommendation.
Applying to college is a complex process that requires a lot of thought, energy, and planning. Now that you have a strong sense of who to ask for letters of recommendation, you can approach the rest of your application with the same awareness.
The reason that they're bad is usually that they're mediocre, generic, and don't add anything special to your story. One major pitfall for letters of rec is that they simply repeat a student's resume. If a letter states your grades, activities, and honors, then it's basically a reiteration of the rest of your application.
It's pretty well known that last cycle (for 2021-22 admission) the number of applications to graduate programs rose significantly from previous years at most institutions. This was probably due to pandemic-related unemployment among other things.
TL;DR: Advisor wants to make his new first-year grad student lead on my honors student's thesis that is being submitted to a top-tier journal in our field. He has added first-years to papers nonchalantly in the past but always as later authors.
Hi. I am currently in a stats master's program that requires passing a comprehensive exam. I am scheduled to take the exam this fall for the first time (the exam is offered once a semester.)
Looking for ballpark estimates. Does it depend on the field? School? Etc. Thank you.
So I'm considering going back to get my PhD and teach but I'm hoping to get some perspective from people who've already gone down this path.
Schools typically want to see letters of recommendation from teachers of core subjects, like English, math, science, and history. If you're applying for a certain major, then it's a good idea to get a recommendation from a relevant teacher.
Another quality of poor recommendations is that they don't provide specific anecdotes or examples.
Admissions officers want to get a holistic sense of what kind of person would arrive at their campus and how she would contribute in and out of the classroom. The best recommendations highlight your key characteristics and demonstrate those traits through specific anecdotes and observations.
A phrase like, "one of the top three students I've ever taught in my career" can be a powerful statement, especially if it comes from a teacher who has taught for twenty years at your school.
One major pitfall for letters of rec is that they simply repeat a student's resume. If a letter states your grades, activities, and honors, then it's basically a reiteration of the rest of your application. As discussed above, a letter should shed light on your character and personality.
Generally speaking, no recommendation letter is going to be outrightly critical or accusatory. If a teacher, counselor, or other person doesn't feel qualified or able to provide you with a letter, then she should respectfully decline and/or suggest someone who might be in a better position to help you.
For the most part, admissions officers should have a sense of your school profile. If this is the case, you might consider adding a supplemental recommendation. It's also a good idea to share information with your recommenders so they can more thoroughly personalize your recommendation.