The more I read recommendation letters, the less I want to rely on them.
Many people will disagree with me. But I will still say that:
#AcademicChatter #phdlife #research
Many people will disagree with me. But I will still say that:
#AcademicChatter #phdlife #research
1. Recommendation letters promote elitism.
“You are not from a famous advisor’s group..? Sorry, you don’t belong here.”
2. When poorly written, a recommendation letter devaluates the candidate.
“This student has such a dull reference… It’s clearly not for us.”
“You are not from a famous advisor’s group..? Sorry, you don’t belong here.”
2. When poorly written, a recommendation letter devaluates the candidate.
“This student has such a dull reference… It’s clearly not for us.”
3. Recommendation letters is a way to indirectly control and even intimidate students and postdocs.
“You don’t want to spend 15 hours a day on your research? But then how can I write a good recommendation letter for you?”
“You don’t want to spend 15 hours a day on your research? But then how can I write a good recommendation letter for you?”
4. Recommendation letter can be used to cut opportunities for students (although rarely).
“This student is so good… I don’t want him to go to my competitor’s group and transfer my lab’s expertise there. A dull reference will save me.”
“This student is so good… I don’t want him to go to my competitor’s group and transfer my lab’s expertise there. A dull reference will save me.”
5. Recommendation letter is the reason why students don’t report their advisors’ inappropriate behavior.
“I absolutely need that recommendation letter from my advisor. So I can’t report what he did to me…”
“I absolutely need that recommendation letter from my advisor. So I can’t report what he did to me…”
Pros of such letters?
- It saves time during search.
- It helps when the candidate hasn’t published the paper(s) yet.
- It saves time during search.
- It helps when the candidate hasn’t published the paper(s) yet.
I was surprised when I found out that a recomm. lett. and advisor’s name ARE what brings many faculty candidates on campus for interview.
I thought it should be the research interests (diversity + depth), prior experience & personal vision. But no, they played a minor role.
I thought it should be the research interests (diversity + depth), prior experience & personal vision. But no, they played a minor role.
Ever since I finished PhD and started looking for faculty positions, I’ve been questioning this approach.
So, is it worth it? Given all the inequity and bias that this approach introduces.
Many people will say: “Yes, it helps us decide on a candidate quickly”.
So, is it worth it? Given all the inequity and bias that this approach introduces.
Many people will say: “Yes, it helps us decide on a candidate quickly”.
However, now looking from the PI’s side, I am still inclined to think that no, it’s not worth it.
Recommendation letters can be helpful sometimes.
But there are way too many excellent candidates who were not lucky enough to have “that big name writing a 2-page reference” for them.
But there are way too many excellent candidates who were not lucky enough to have “that big name writing a 2-page reference” for them.
Maybe one day we will learn how to assess candidates without references.
But until then, students who want to stay in academia SHOULD be looking for the world-known advisors who (1) know how to and (2) have time to write excellent recommendation letters.
But until then, students who want to stay in academia SHOULD be looking for the world-known advisors who (1) know how to and (2) have time to write excellent recommendation letters.
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