Asked to write your own LOR

[zjwah]

I've been asked by one of my recs to write my own LOR, however, it's for SOPHAS (public health school's common application online system), so I don't know exactly what will be asked. I'm planning on just a general rec typed up an emailed to him (this is what he specifically asked for), but I don't know exactly what to put in the LOR. I have a copy of an evaluation he did of my work for him (he's my former supervisor from an internship I did one summer), I was thinking I could use some of what he said there, and then add in some bits about my program choice. He plans on reviewing it once I'm done, I just don't know exactly what I need to put in the LOR besides info on my work with him. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

[newms]

I think you have a good idea. I think a detailed description of your work with him would be a good start. In particular, try to highlight things about yourself (honestly, of course) that adcomms would be looking out for -usually things such as 'takes initiative', your leadership abilities, you ability to do independent research, your dependability, your intelligence and whether you would be successful at grad school. Your LoR writer would probably edit the letter if he thinks some things need to be changed, but I'm thinking those are the kinds of things that a good LoR would possess.

[zjwah]

I think you have a good idea. I think a detailed description of your work with him would be a good start. In particular, try to highlight things about yourself (honestly, of course) that adcomms would be looking out for -usually things such as 'takes initiative', your leadership abilities, you ability to do independent research, your dependability, your intelligence and whether you would be successful at grad school. Your LoR writer would probably edit the letter if he thinks some things need to be changed, but I'm thinking those are the kinds of things that a good LoR would possess.

Thanks! This is exactly what I'm doing as much of my earlier eval covers exactly these topics. I'm taking each main point and rephrasing it. And then tying in how this will help me in grad school. I've been freaking out over this (I hate these kinds of requests), but your comment makes me feel that I'm on the right track!

[goomba25]

Here's my question: Would this be a confidential or non-confidential letter?

Confidential:

You didn't write the whole thing, you wrote the basic outline

Non-confidential:

You wrote the outline, which may be much like the final product.

You saw his evaluation.

The issue is whether to be completely honest (non-confidential) or fib (confidential). Since grad schools like confidential letters more, is it wise to write your own letter in the first place?

[zjwah]

I'm not sure how "wise" it would be, but I was asked to do it- not by choice. I provided him with an initial letter which I assume he made his own as per our discussions. And I did not see the final letter, thus, it was still confidential- I have no idea whether he used my letter (which I adapted from a previous LOR he had written for something else of mine) or if he completely scrapped it and wrote one of his own.

Here's my question: Would this be a confidential or non-confidential letter?

Confidential:

You didn't write the whole thing, you wrote the basic outline

Non-confidential:

You wrote the outline, which may be much like the final product.

You saw his evaluation.

The issue is whether to be completely honest (non-confidential) or fib (confidential). Since grad schools like confidential letters more, is it wise to write your own letter in the first place?