Are Letters of Recommendation Obsolete?

I am beginning to see more and more programs reverting to the "LORs are optional or will not be accepted" model of admissions. It seems that universities are noticing almost all applicants are going to ensure strong LORs and therefore, it is not a great gauge for ones ability to be successful in the programs.

I am curious what others thoughts are on LORs in the application process?

 

As a distance learner, I really loathe the LOR process. I know that LORs can help illuminate important things that don't appear on a transcript but also it's frustrating trying to keep a relationship with people so that I can ask them for that letter in a year or 5 when I'm ready for the next level of education. I think personal statements can also help screen for the same sort of things that letters of reference do.

 

I agree, Dustin. As a Distance Learner, I know I have personally opted for programs that either require no LORs or, in the case of Duke, (1) LOR. The least, the better for me. Lol

 

When I became a financial planner (life and disability insurance, Series 6 and 63), during the interview process I was asked to provide a list of 10 names of people who would be able to say something about me. When I returned with the list, my agency manager (Chet, awesome guy), then directed me to get 5 of them to write letters of recommendation. I could pick the 5. When I asked, "But, Chet, obviously I'm going to pick 5 people who will write glowing letters," he said, "Yeah, but if you can't get 5 people to say something nice about you, we really don't want you at Prudential."

The point wasn't what they had to say, but that they were willing to say it.

 

The challenge in this model, however, is that you presumably had this conversation with Chet before Google Voice made it possible to have a full textable number with a voice mailbox and an email address.

I suppose some managers and admissions committees might find it clever when a person invents a former coworker or manager to give themselves a glowing recommendation. I just find it a drag.

I always wanted to call some of those references while with the candidate and see if any of them ring through to their cell phone right there...

 

Distance learners and remote workers have the same problem, that people move through our lives and only know us by our work, not as us.

Add COVID, which took at least two of my standard reference writers, and this process gets very, very tedious. Even more so for introverts.

 

I'm not too fond of letters of recommendation for admissions or employment. It can be challenging to get recommendation letters from professors if you learn online. Most you will only encounter once or twice for 8 weeks or so. However, my Lamar professors were very helpful. I had two of them write recommendation letters when applying for doctoral programs. I had two others who completed those references forms for a doctoral program. One of them served as a reference for my immediate past full-time job. Unfortunately, I had one who declined, citing that he does not provide references for students in 8-week courses. All my Lamar professors were TT or tenured professors, except one who was also an adjunct on-ground.

When I was initially applying for 2022-23 positions, I avoided any job that required letters of recommendation. However, when I came across some that I would want, I got three people to write letters for me, including my dissertation reader. One of the positions I was offered required three recommendation letters. So, as much as I hate the idea of recommendation letters, they can be worth it.

I plan to apply for admission to a master's in clinical mental health counseling or MSW (depending on what my next employer offers). I am yet to see any of those programs that do not require recommendation letters.

 

Most of my higher education were/are studying at distance learning. Getting an academic recommendation letter is a pain in the arse; because I don't have a good relationship with professors. I don't mind getting professional letters of recommendation letters from my current and former managers. Sometimes, I feel that the letter of recommendation is biased.

 

I definitely stayed away from any school that required a letter from someone else. I really don’t want to bug people. I do have a file of general business recommendations. Any time that I left a job…. Or a company I worked for closed, I would get at least one letter from a supervisor. There are a few that I am connected to on LinkedIn or Facebook if we became friends. But I have at least 5 letters from people I worked for and lost touch with. I do attach those when it seems required for a job. But they are going to be dated in 2004… 2009…2018…. But for school…. Employers have no clue if I would be a good student.

 

Quite.

 

I hate the LOR process too. On the contrary, I still keep seeing programs requiring three letters, and some will 'considerately' remind you one should be from your former teacher and another one from your employer. I dislike this idea, although I can get the letters to satisfy them anyway.
Previously, when I asked for such a recommendation letter from somebody, most likely I will get responses like, 'Oh, you can draft one (or help me download a sample from the Internet), and I would sign it for you. ' Meaningless!

 

They hate doing it as much as we hate asking for it.

 

When I was a crisis line program manager I would write LORs for people who wanted them, but I would often ask for them to either give me a bullet point list of their accomplishments or to draft the first version of the letter. Their letter would always look significantly different than the final version (because I would write it in my voice), but the goal in both cases was for me to understand what they felt was important to mention. I don't know the program they're applying to, or the faculty they hope to work with, or even the experiences they're most proud of and interested in talking about.

I might think that an intervention where they literally talked someone down from a ledge is important to put into the letter, but they may be far more interested in detailed coverage of an advocacy campaign that led to an amendment in a statehouse bill on mental health funding. Both exciting things but to different audiences.

 

I've written many more recommendations than I've ever used myself. I never use a standard form nor will I give a letter until I have some idea about what the requester is hoping to accomplish. Then I draft very specific recommendations addressing the requirements of the position or whatever. This means that there are times when I refuse altogether though it's exceedingly rare.

 

I don't get asked anymore now that I'm in private practice. When I would get asked in the past, I always wrote my own letters with zero input from the candidate (except for the purpose of the recommendation). If I couldn't do that, why would I be writing a recommendation?

Always 4 paragraphs. Paragraph 1 had the attention step, thesis statement (why I was writing the letter) and the sign posts (major points) to come in paragraphs 2 and 3.

Paragraph 2 typically discussed the person's accomplishments--work and education ("Can Do" and "Will Do"). Paragraph 3 would focus on their attributes ("Will Fit").

Paragraph 4 would sum up the signposts and have a call to action (what I wanted to happen--my thesis statement from Paragraph 1).

Breezy, direct language, devoid of "glittering generalities" and filler, but not casual or flippant.