Having access to better technology than in the days of typewriters is hardly a defense for this practice. Writing a reference letter that makes a difference in the outcome of an application still remains a task that requires significant time and thought investment. I will also go out on a limb and say that referees who might complain about having to write a letter upfront are also most likely the ones that make this significant investment. People who may be using a letter template and modifying it lightly for a new institution are least likely to complain about this.
Given that the applicant pool has increased substantially, and most of them never even hear anything about their application, I agree with Brian that only a list of referees should be needed at the initial stage. Vikram -------------------------------- Vikram Chhatre, PhD Senior Research Scientist Wyoming INBRE Bioinformatics Core University of Wyoming Laramie WY 82071 [email protected]
