A few months ago, I got a question on our LSAT Forum that tackled a concept that I find comes up rather often in my conversations with students in our admissions consulting programs, namely: “Can I help my recommenders write my letters?” I talked about this in our Letters of Recommendation webinar, but I wanted to expand on my answer for the blog.
Open vs Closed Status
Letters can be open (meaning you helped in some capacity with it, whether by reading, editing, or suggesting topics). Or they can be closed (meaning you were not involved with the writing or content of the letter at all). Schools will not know, unless the recommender specifically addresses that in the letter (which is unlikely). It is also not something in the LOR Form provided by LSAC. Therefore, there will be no positive or adverse effect on your letter in the eyes of an admission officer. All they will have is the letter itself without information on how it came to be written.
Give Them Background Info
However, I should clarify a very important point: When I mention that students should attempt to provide writing and reading assistance to their recommenders, it is in a very limited capacity. The kind of writing assistance students provide should be limited to giving their recommender copies of their personal statement, any major paper written for their class, their résumé, and a letter or conversation in which they detail the points that they would like if the recommender could address (all of these points, of course, being things that the applicant has actually done, and nothing fabricated. This should be obvious, but is always worth mentioning). The “reading” assistance, if the recommender asks for it, should be limited to ensuring that the recommender has incorporated everything the applicant originally suggested be included with no glaring errors.
Most recommenders will not want reading assistance. Although many are thankful for any background information you can provide.
Do Not Write the Letter!
I should also make a it a point to say that when I mention that it can be useful to assist your recommenders in writing and editing your letters of recommendation, at no point do I mean that you should write the letters for them. Some recommenders may ask you to write the letter for them (and then just have them sign it), since they are too busy with other endeavors/letters to write the letters themselves. If that’s something that happens to you, I would suggest you find another recommender. Why? Because it’s obvious that this particular one doesn’t have the time or inclination to write you a truly personal letter. Writing the letter yourself is a huge misstep. And, as I’ve been told by many a law school dean, something that they can often easily identify.
Summary of Steps
So, to sum up:
- Unless the recommender specifically states in the letter that you assisted (in whatever capacity it may have been) in the writing of the letter, it won’t affect the effectiveness of said letter. AdComms will not know if you helped with the letter unless they are specifically told that you did.
- You should never, ever, write the letter yourself. If a recommender asks you do, thank them for their time. Then go find someone else who actually cares and has the time to write you a good letter.
- Don’t expect recommenders to jump at the chance to have your help in writing, editing, or reading the letter. Many want to have the freedom to say whatever they want (even if it’s all glowingly positive). That’s just fine!
- Despite point #3, still offer to help. And, at the very least, come prepared with your personal statement. Plus, any major papers you wrote for them, your résumé, your goals, and a list of schools where the letter might be going. This helps frame the letter for your recommender.
Leave a Reply