The Kiss of Death -

[beyondaboundary]

Read this, think it is quite helpful:

 

http://psychology.unl.edu/psichi/Graduate_School_Application_Kisses_of_Death.pdf

[heyo]

probably a good read before applications, but now that mine are submitted, there is no way I'm looking at that.

[glm]

This just revived paranoia about what my references are REALLY saying about me…

[Crucial BBQ]

Good reading, but I believe these mistakes should be ones that applicants already know to avoid with the possible exception of I want to save the World because...Or, perhaps, not fully researching the program.  I mean, who really writes their own LOR?  Or gets their boyfriend/girlfriend to write one on their behalf?  

 

As for LORs, my understanding is that if a professor agrees to write one, they only do so because they have positive things to say about you and believe you have the ability to perform well in graduate school and with research.  I have never heard of a professor agreeing to write an LOR with the sole purpose of discouraging the admissions committee. 

[ginagirl]

Crucial BBQ- I concur. One of my LOR writers has always said she will refuse to write a letter for someone she doesn't believe is well-suited for grad school, and I think that is the way it should be overall.

[alyoshakaramazov]

Yeah, don't read after your applications have already been submitted. I'm petrified now.

[Crucial BBQ]

Yeah, don't read after your applications have already been submitted. I'm petrified now.

I see you are a psychology major....

[Usmivka]

This is the same article that folks bring up every year. eg We ought to permalink this at some point.

Edited February 13, 2014 by Usmivka