Confidentiality of Recommendation Letters

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Confidentiality of Recommendation Letters
Tweet Topic Started: Nov 20 2012, 01:20 PM (171 Views)
Klaus	Nov 20 2012, 01:20 PM Post #1
HOLY CARP!!! Posts: 19,403 Group: Members Member #350 Joined: May 21, 2006	I received a request for a letter of recommendation today from a university in NYC. I've written many such letters in the past, but today I stumbled about some extra information in the request which I haven't seen before: The letter will be made available to the applicant. I'm not an expert in the American customs with regard to such letters, but this seems rather odd to me. I am not sure whether I want to write a letter under these circumstances. Any comments? Is that also common in other US universities?
	Trifonov Fleisher Klaus Sokolov Zimmerman


Aqua Letifer	Nov 20 2012, 01:28 PM Post #2
ZOOOOOM! Posts: 45,901 Group: Members Member #262 Joined: September 22, 2005	Klaus Nov 20 2012, 01:20 PM I'm not an expert in the American customs with regard to such letters, but this seems rather odd to me. I am not sure whether I want to write a letter under these circumstances. Any comments? Is that also common in other US universities? When I applied to my university in Australia, they required 3 reccos. But the way my application had to be submitted (they required scanned copies of all documents, and for me to sign off on them), that would mean that I would have access to and be reading the letters before I submitted them. They didn't think this was the least bit strange; as a matter of fact they found my questioning this procedure to be strange. So, I asked for my reccos and told everyone what the procedure was upfront, so they knew they were open letters. No problem. Personally between the two, I find our practice much more ****ed up. With our system it's entirely possible to ask a professional acquaintance or colleague for a favor, and give them full opportunity to completely dick you over while you remain oblivious. I prefer the open letter system. I think it's only fair that other people are allowed to know what you're saying about them. It's courtesy.
	I cite irreconcilable differences.


schindler	Nov 20 2012, 01:34 PM Post #3
Fulla-Carp Posts: 3,406 Group: Members Member #244 Joined: July 31, 2005	I think it varies somewhat from uni to uni, but the general procedure is to keep them confidential, at least in my experience.
	We're all mad here!


John D'Oh	Nov 20 2012, 02:28 PM Post #4
MAMIL Posts: 53,812 Group: Members Member #276 Joined: October 19, 2005	The reference system is a bloody farce at best. Like I'm going to pick someone honest to write about my foibles.
	What do you mean "we", have you got a mouse in your pocket?


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