Do they usually let you read the letter?

[waitingchan]

Hi everyone, 

 

I'm wondering if your references let you read their letters?

From a couple of my friends, it's the norm that they let you read them, especially professional references. One of my reference gave me a copy, the other didn't, and I heard he let another person read it before when he did hers.

Does that mean what he wrote for me was bad/weak? I'm kinda worried....

(although there is nothing I can really do at the point fingers crossed)

 

 

Any thoughts?

 

thanks!!

[TakeruK]

When I asked for professional references in the past (for other non-academic applications), my old boss usually would give me like 5 or 6 sealed letters along with an unsealed version and basically said "let me know if you need more letters". When I asked for academic references, the norm was that I do not see the sealed letter. 

[Eigen]

The norm is that you don't see the letter. 

 

There are exceptions for that, but I wouldn't read too much into it. 

[grad_wannabe]

I've asked for (and received) two rounds of rec letters for grad school. I got 5 letters the first round, 4 letters this round. Only 1 person showed me the letter. 

 

It's the norm not to see it. 

[gliaful]

Usually you don't want to see the letter, or even ask to see the letter. The recommender can be more candid and tactful about negative things and they don't feel like it's going to hurt your feelings. Always waive your right to see your letters!

[waitingchan]

Usually you don't want to see the letter, or even ask to see the letter. The recommender can be more candid and tactful about negative things and they don't feel like it's going to hurt your feelings. Always waive your right to see your letters!

Hi ! Good point. But the thing is...we don't want them to be candid or even talk about negative things right? I mean...it's a recommendation, we want it to be strong... Please let me know if I am wrong here...

[waitingchan]

I've asked for (and received) two rounds of rec letters for grad school. I got 5 letters the first round, 4 letters this round. Only 1 person showed me the letter. 

 

It's the norm not to see it. 

 

The norm is that you don't see the letter. 

 

There are exceptions for that, but I wouldn't read too much into it. 

 

Thanks!! I would never ask for it if they didn't offer to give it to me. Just a little worried...nothing I can do anyway...

[waitingchan]

When I asked for professional references in the past (for other non-academic applications), my old boss usually would give me like 5 or 6 sealed letters along with an unsealed version and basically said "let me know if you need more letters". When I asked for academic references, the norm was that I do not see the sealed letter. 

Thanks for your reply...That's what I thought a lot of professional references do... uhmm...

[TakeruK]

Thanks for your reply...That's what I thought a lot of professional references do... uhmm...

 

Professional reference letters are a very different thing than academic reference letters. I have not heard of a company refusing to show a candidate their reference letters (obviously this doesn't mean this doesn't happen; but just my experience). In fact, (at least in Canada, maybe not in the US), very few companies will ever write a negative reference letter because then they might have to defend their criticism. Instead, they might just refuse to write a letter or write a completely generic one that states "Employee X worked for our company from AAA to BBB in the position of ZZZ."

[waitingchan]

Professional reference letters are a very different thing than academic reference letters. I have not heard of a company refusing to show a candidate their reference letters (obviously this doesn't mean this doesn't happen; but just my experience). In fact, (at least in Canada, maybe not in the US), very few companies will ever write a negative reference letter because then they might have to defend their criticism. Instead, they might just refuse to write a letter or write a completely generic one that states "Employee X worked for our company from AAA to BBB in the position of ZZZ."

Hi...wow interesting, thanks for your input. I guess it's a bit different in Canada. I have heard from MBA admission office that "make sure your recommendation is strong, it's not rare that we see bad recommendations"..although, typically, one would think, if you write a bad recommendation, why don't you just save yourself some time and refuse to do it.

I guess in my case, he didn't refuse to let me read it, but he didn't offer to show me...and I didn't ask....

[Eigen]

It's not uncommon for academic references to be bad, it's uncommon for professional references to be bad, primarily due to a worry of lawsuits on behalf of the companies. 

 

If you want to get a strong recommendation, it's generally a good idea when you're first approaching people to ask if they feel they can write you a strong letter of recommendation. 

 

Definitely don't ask to see it, if I were that professor I'd be likely to refuse, and probably ask you to find someone else to write you a letter. It breaks the intended confidentiality of the letter, which is the whole point of the process- the school wants to know my honest opinion of who I'm writing the letter for. 

[waitingchan]

It's not uncommon for academic references to be bad, it's uncommon for professional references to be bad, primarily due to a worry of lawsuits on behalf of the companies. 

 

If you want to get a strong recommendation, it's generally a good idea when you're first approaching people to ask if they feel they can write you a strong letter of recommendation. 

 

Definitely don't ask to see it, if I were that professor I'd be likely to refuse, and probably ask you to find someone else to write you a letter. It breaks the intended confidentiality of the letter, which is the whole point of the process- the school wants to know my honest opinion of who I'm writing the letter for. 

 

I agreed with you until the admission office for MBA (usually required all professional references) said its not rare that they see bad recommendations. And that's when I started to kinda worry...

 

And Yes, I totally agree not ask to see it..lol..that's a bad approach.