Did I receive a less than glowing letter?

[Anonymous8_8]

Just received all rejection from safeties(not even shortlisted, no interview, no wl)-

I think this is the end of my application season and I grew more and more puzzled when I hear other people’s admission results. Many of my graduate cohort got into decent programs with lower grad GPA and lower GRE score. I know I have a pretty decent writing sample and I have at least two very strong letters from this institution (one was really surprised that I didn’t get any ad and recommended all the top programs for me to apply; the other is my thesis supervisor who consistently gives me support and advice) the third one was nice when I asked for the letter, comply with the deadline promptly but never follows up, wasn’t even surprised when I told him I need to apply for more schools. Really suspecting that he didn’t write me a good one. 

[Boolakanaka]

On 2/10/2023 at 5:03 PM, Anonymous8_8 said:

Just received all rejection from safeties(not even shortlisted, no interview, no wl)-

I think this is the end of my application season and I grew more and more puzzled when I hear other people’s admission results. Many of my graduate cohort got into decent programs with lower grad GPA and lower GRE score. I know I have a pretty decent writing sample and I have at least two very strong letters from this institution (one was really surprised that I didn’t get any ad and recommended all the top programs for me to apply; the other is my thesis supervisor who consistently gives me support and advice) the third one was nice when I asked for the letter, comply with the deadline promptly but never follows up, wasn’t even surprised when I told him I need to apply for more schools. Really suspecting that he didn’t write me a good one. 

Easy answer don't use he/she. As a prof, I am fairly straight-forward in providing to the student as to the expectation of such a letter. Further, did you ask the prof whether they could merely write a letter or did you ask if they would be comfortable writing a very strong letter--huge difference.

[Anonymous8_8]

On 3/11/2023 at 10:59 AM, Boolakanaka said:

Easy answer don't use he/she. As a prof, I am fairly straight-forward in providing to the student as to the expectation of such a letter. Further, did you ask the prof whether they could merely write a letter or did you ask if they would be comfortable writing a very strong letter--huge difference.

Honestly I felt that was implied when I was communicating with my school list, will ask for explicitly a strong letter if I decide to stay in the academia