Completely Unprofessional LOR..Chances Ruined?

[ktm244]

So I asked my boss for a letter of rec for speech pathology programs. After she sent them all in, she really wanted me to read what she had written because she felt like it was stuff she had wanted to say to me and I guess never had the chance. Most of it was really nice, well written etc. But then...disaster.

I approach speech pathology from an interdisciplinary approach and as such I have an extensive background in neuroscience and really really enjoy it, and talk about the brain and its functions quite often. So she wrote something to the effect of..XXX talks about the brain with the enthusiasm that most college students talk about last weekend's keg party.

she actually used the words "keg party!"

am I totally screwed? It's way too late to do anything, but I thought I'd ask.

Edited March 1, 2010 by ktm244

[fuzzylogician]

Well. It's not spiteful or negative (which is what I imagined reading from the title of this post), so it is certainly not going to totally screw you. It might not get a reaction at all, or someone might respect your writer less because of her wording. So, at worst, this letter is going to be disregarded or not taken very seriously. At best, the readers are going to concentrate on all the good things in the rest of the letter and not even notice a bad choice of wording in one sentence. If your other two letters are solid, then you should be fine.

[JerryLandis]

Doesn't sound too bad to me. I wouldn't be too worried about a letter like that, and I wouldn't be surprised if one of my letters said something similarly "unprofessional."

Everyone knows college students like to party. Acknowledging that just makes the person's reference seem more sincere and less impersonal.

[SAISDC]

Agree with Jerry - I don't think this is a negative at all. I think it would be refreshing to read something that's more personal/sincere. Not sure what you're concerned about - put yourself in the admissions committee's shoes...

[dant.gwyrdd]

So... what exactly would be a professional way to say "keg party"? Point being you're over thinking the thing, I sincerely doubt anyone would dismiss the letter because it says you like your work more than partying (because that's what it says). If I were reading your letter that line would bring about a positive reaction and a smile--you would be remembered among the sea of other applicants.

[pea-jay]

This thread makes me giggle...it is funny. It certainly isnt poorly reflective of you, but that certainly isnt the image I have of a prof. All but one of my profs were professional, staid and sometimes outright boring individuals. The one that wasnt, well...he HOSTED the keggers. Go figure!

[oldlady]

I think the "keg party" sentence actually speaks very highly of you and will be memorable in the readers' minds (in a good way).

[Thanks4Downvoting]

I wouldn't worry about it, and it might actually benefit you by making you more memorable!

[Postbib Yeshuist]

If I was reading that LoR as a prof, I would "LOL" then say "awesome." I think it's a GREAT way of communicating your enthusiasm. Sure, it's not the most eloquent way, but think about what it conveys. Think about a college boy talking about the kegger last week, and now imagine that same enthusiasm when talking about an academic subject. Man, I think that sentence alone might get you in. Unprofessional, sure. Disastrous? By no means! Save that LoR and frame it!!!!!!

[jenninthebox]

I don't think it would be seen as a negative. If anything, it shows how comfortable your boss is with you and how she appreciates what you have to offer. Don't sweat it.

[nycrican2]

I agree with everyone else. The words she used will make your application stand out in the readers mind as you being a candidate who is very serious about the field of Neuroscience. In reality, that is exactly what most colleges are looking for so I think it will help you stand out from the crowd of other applicants.

I would not worry about it if I were you and I wish you the best of luck.

[coyabean]

Um, that's a great letter. It's clear, it's witty, it doesn't trot out an old, tired cliche. Keg parties exist, they are associated with college students, those college students with which they are associated are characterized as "un-serious" -- I'm not sure why it would be unprofessional or inappropriate in this context.

Sometimes I think the ivory tower syndrome is a bit too suffocating. That's why there are so many bad writers creating more bad writers. And then all that bad writing isolates the work of academics from the general public. It's witty and communicative -- two things that the academy could use. And you didn't say it so even if it is perceived poorly it won't be a perception of you, but the writer. A writer that apparently already has a job and, thus, I assume won't be harmed by an adcomm's opinion.

[Katzenmusik]

It's totally fine! It's an analogy that illustrates your passion for the subject. The phrase is different than the expected LOR verbiage, sure--but it's meaningful and it paints a very positive picture of you compared with the average student.

Professors are people too. I highly doubt they're thinking "So and So's professor used the term 'keg party' in her LOR. Automatic rejection!!" If anything it gave them a chuckle and another reason to put you in the "yes" pile.

EDIT: Whoops, I'm now seeing this thread was from early March, so of course my consolations are not timely! OP, did everything work out for you?

Edited May 10, 2010 by Katzenmusik

[Arcadian]

I see nothing wrong with this for two reasons.

1) The style of a LOR can't be held against the applicant. Your recommender's choice of words has nothing to do with you.

2) The statement is a compliment! It's not like she was saying you like keg parties - she was saying that the average college student likes keg parties, and you are not average. So actually, this is a very helpful statement.

[ecritdansleau]

I actually think candid phrases like that actually increase the authenticity of the entire letter, especially since, as was pointed out above, she didn't say you go to keg parties; she suggests how you stand apart from everyone else in your enthusiasm for research. The blunt, or even "unprofessional" aspect, is also softened by the fact that she is your employer, not necessarily an academic, and adcoms don't expect them to be the same.

Edited July 12, 2010 by ecritdansleau

[alexis]

I just realized how old this thread is, reply removed! Hopefully ktm244 received an acceptance

Edited July 14, 2010 by alexis