|
Perhaps it is because I teach in a small department (3 FT faculty) at a small college, but I feel that if a student is successfully nearing completion of her or his undergraduate work and asks for a letter of recommendation, I should try to comply. �However, I do not feel obligated to provide only highly positive or glowing letters. If you truly had a concern that a student's �beliefs, values, ethics, etc. would interfere with his or her ability to succeed at the graduate level or beyond, wouldn't you also be obligated to include that assessment ( and the reason for it) in the letter? Isn't that the "job" of the letter writer to provide a particular perspective on this student to be combined with other sources of data so that the graduate school can make a reasonably informed decision? It is possible that something I feel is a serious flaw may not be seen in the same way by those who use my opinion to inform their ultimate decisions (and vice versa). Those decisions belong to them, not to me. Withholding a letter seems somehow spiteful, like punishing the student for not being more like me. I will add that if I cannot in good conscience write a generally positive letter for a student (rarely happens) I do tell the student that I will write a letter but they might want to consider asking someone else who could be more positive in tone. Then it is their choice whether I proceed or not.
Ron W. Eskew, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Psychology Hilbert College 5200 So. Park Ave, Hamburg, NY 14075
You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] |
