Feedback from LOR

[peppermint.beatnik]

I sent one of my LORs my sop for one of my applications.

I always ask for feedback if they feel anything needs to be changed/added.

For my first application sop, he went through and provided detailed feedback. He's normally quite fussy.

This time, he just replied to say he had put it in the mail.

Is this just a case of he's busy because it's almost the holidays and they're exams to grade, etc. He can be like this too.

I'm feeling insecure and worry that he totally hated it.

This is my second round of applications so I worry about everything.

[alexis]

I personally wouldn't worry about it. It probably is because it's close to the holidays etc, and/or he liked it. I doubt he hated it though. If he did, and is usually fussy, he would tell you. My one prof, who is quite critical about writings usually, didn't give any detailed feedback about my personal statement other than she liked the content. I took that as a good sign; however, I think in part it was because she is busy with other things. Anyway, I think you shouldn't take it as a bad sign at all.

[coyabean]

LOL

My mentor did the same thing. I think there isn't much to say when something is effective. Are they supposed to go line-by-line with "great verb" and "ooooohh! snap! you sold that theorist!" and "excellent semicolon usage"? Not that I wouldn't mind hearing those things but it just isn't natural. Take it as a compliment.

[peppermint.beatnik]

LOL

My mentor did the same thing. I think there isn't much to say when something is effective. Are they supposed to go line-by-line with "great verb" and "ooooohh! snap! you sold that theorist!" and "excellent semicolon usage"? Not that I wouldn't mind hearing those things but it just isn't natural. Take it as a compliment.

"you sold that theorist" lol . . . yes, I would love those comments on my papers

[jacib]

"you sold that theorist" lol . . . yes, I would love those comments on my papers

Assuming your two statements were pretty similar... I doubt this is a problem. I had my old man, a professor who used to chair his department (which has a graduate program) for twenty years read my letter. Even my own flesh and blood barely said anything the second and third times. I think professors know its ultimately supposed to be your voice, and if they futz with the SoP too much, your voice will be lost. The second time, it was probably just a check that you were still focused and there were no glaring grammar/usage mistakes. Don't worry.

Edited December 22, 2009 by jacib