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For those of you who host undergrads in your labs for summer research programs, I am begging you—BEGGING YOU—not to require letters of recommendation as part of your application.
/1
/1
I’ve served on (and currently chair) multiple award/fellowship review panels and you know what?
The best applicants generally tend to stand out even without their letters. In my experience, letters don’t add value often enough relative to how often they’re required. /2
The best applicants generally tend to stand out even without their letters. In my experience, letters don’t add value often enough relative to how often they’re required. /2
Also, letters are gatekeepy as hell.
If you’re filtering out students who may not have made a personal connection with a professor yet or who may not feel comfortable asking, you are MISSING OUT because I guarantee there are fantastic future scientists hidden in those groups. /3
If you’re filtering out students who may not have made a personal connection with a professor yet or who may not feel comfortable asking, you are MISSING OUT because I guarantee there are fantastic future scientists hidden in those groups. /3
And in the absence of closer connections, students WILL ask their nicest professor who taught their favorite class to write for them, even if they’ve never met them before.
When you’re that person and you also teach close to 1000 students a year (
), that is unsustainable. /4
When you’re that person and you also teach close to 1000 students a year (
), that is unsustainable. /4
“CaN’t YoU jUsT sAy No?”
I mean, I guess I could, but then I also must wonder:
1. If I don’t write for someone, who else will?
2. What if my “no” possibly keeps someone from what could be a life-changing professional experience?
That’s an AWFUL place to be, folks. /5
I mean, I guess I could, but then I also must wonder:
1. If I don’t write for someone, who else will?
2. What if my “no” possibly keeps someone from what could be a life-changing professional experience?
That’s an AWFUL place to be, folks. /5
