Top recommender refuses to fill out the rec forms

[socaljournalist]

I posted earlier this week about anxiety over the letter of recommendation... My undergraduate thesis advisor just responded to my letter request. She's appears ready and willing to write the letter, but says she's not going to send out a letter to each of the schools to which I'm applying (10) and requests that I use a dossier service.

She didn't specifically say that she wouldn't fill out those annoying recommendation forms that each school asks the recommender to attach to the letter, but I'm guessing that if she's not willing to mail ten letters, then she's definitely not willing to fill out ten one-page questionnaires and staple it to the letter.

I am applying for MPP/MPA/Masters in IR programs. Do you think the failure of one recommender to fill out this form is going to present a big problem? I would rather use her letter (which I know will be strong) than ask another prof who might write a weaker/less detailed letter but fill out those forms. Also, I am pretty confident that my other two recommenders will do the forms.

Also, I'm thinking I need to call admissions offices and let them know that this is the situation. I can't imagine any school saying, you must ask someone who will fill out that form. I feel like they would say, "We prefer that form. But if your recommender refuses, she refuses." And I also think a respectful clarification email is in order to the prof in question, saying I will use the dossier service and asking whether she can do the questionnaires or not. But I highly doubt that these dossier services are going to attach a recommendation form filled out by my prof to the letter.

Advice?

[rainy_day]

I don't know that I would make that big a deal about it. I don't think schools put much, if any, stock in the cover form. I think the most important (only important) piece is where you waive your rights. You *do* need to send the form in, because you need to waive your rights to see the letter.

If I were you, I would fill out the part of the form with your name, etc., waive your rights, and then attach a little note or something that says "letter will follow through a dossier service," and leave it at that.

I am sure this feels stressful, but you are not the first student in this situation, and you won't be the last.

[purplepepper]

My top recommender also refused to write letters for all of the schools that I initially wanted to apply to (7), even though I knew his letter would be strong and he seemed willing to write one. I think some professors' philosophy is different--being probably, apply to only 2 or 3 schools that you really want to attend this year and if it doesn't work out, apply to more next. This sounds very much like the case. What I did, was picked out 3 schools that I realllly wanted to apply to (long shots, but I got into all of them), and becuase I didn't trust myself I applied to a 4th but asked another recommender. (didn't get in). I'm sure there were other reasons why I wasn't accepted to the 4th school, but I'd try the narrow your schools down approach first. 10 is a lot actually, and I can imagine some profs being turned off by writing so many letters, as they want to help you in any way they can, which probably means personalizing them to some extent. 10 is a lot to personalize.

You can sit down wiht her and ask her to help you narrow your choices down to a few. And if you really want, find a 4th person to write to some of the schools you don't really want to go to even if you were accepted.

[rogue]

And if you really want, find a 4th person to write to some of the schools you don't really want to go to even if you were accepted.

If you don't really want to go somewhere, why bother applying? Even if it's a safety school, if you wouldn't be happy there, what's the point?

[fuzzylogician]

My top recommender also refused to write letters for all of the schools that I initially wanted to apply to (7), even though I knew his letter would be strong and he seemed willing to write one. I think some professors' philosophy is different--being probably, apply to only 2 or 3 schools that you really want to attend this year and if it doesn't work out, apply to more next. This sounds very much like the case. What I did, was picked out 3 schools that I realllly wanted to apply to (long shots, but I got into all of them), and becuase I didn't trust myself I applied to a 4th but asked another recommender. (didn't get in). I'm sure there were other reasons why I wasn't accepted to the 4th school, but I'd try the narrow your schools down approach first. 10 is a lot actually, and I can imagine some profs being turned off by writing so many letters, as they want to help you in any way they can, which probably means personalizing them to some extent. 10 is a lot to personalize.

You can sit down wiht her and ask her to help you narrow your choices down to a few. And if you really want, find a 4th person to write to some of the schools you don't really want to go to even if you were accepted.

Don't cut down the number of schools you want to apply to just because of a recommender -- i don't think that's good advice! Also don't apply to "schools you don't really want to go to even if you were accepted" (really, why waste your time and money?). Choose schools that you can honestly say about each one of them that if they were the only place that accepted you, you'd be happy to attend.

It seems to me that your recommender is simply too busy to mess around with each schools' individual forms. That's ok, as long as she is willing to write you a strong letter. Schools will normally understand it if the recommender attaches their own letter and not use the standardized form. If a school really insists, you can either ask your recommender to fill out that form just this once, or you can ask another recommender. But don't give up just because of the recommender!

ETA: find out if the schools allow you to pick up the lor (in a signed, sealed envelope) and send it in with the rest of your application material. That way you'll save your recommender the trouble of having to deal with anything other than actually writing the letter. She might appreciate your being helpful so maybe that's another way of getting her to fill out a form if a school absolutely insists on it.

[socaljournalist]

Thanks, comrades! This forum is a Godsend!!

[rainy_day]

I just want to reiterate that I don't think you should cut down on the number of applications because of this one professor. It varies by discipline, but in mine (English) the average PhD candidate probably applies to about 10 schools.

(That is of course, whole un-scientific, but it is the reoccurring number on the forums and it was the number recommended to me.)

Anyway, the point is just that it is definitely okay to apply to lots of programs.