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1. The letter of rec issue is riven with problems. One is that not everyone has access to the letter-writers that might make the biggest impact on their application success. The second is that the letter of rec is only as good as the letter writer's seriousness.
2. I've seen a # (too many!) letters of rec from writers who write little more than a bloviating paragraph on a candidate, which means almost nothing to the reader of the letter, and suggests the writer doesn't even KNOW the applicant or their work.
3. It's also the case that the same folks write for multiple people for the SAME fellowship, etc. And sometimes that means we have to rank people. Which can sometimes hurt younger writers, since now you have to rank them against a more established or further-along writer.
4. And it's also the case (ahem) that some places already have ideas of who they want for the position, prize, etc. And sometimes letters are asked in support for particular candidates, regardless of who YOU would actually want to support.
5. That's a separate issue, but it's a related one re: insider- ness, hierarchies, the use and purpose of letters of rec, the fantasies of meritocracy we all continue to support but sometimes don't always see.
6. That said, I will say that letters of rec, and the commitment of recommenders, can and should make a big difference. When someone reaches out to me privately to add personal support for a candidate, to let me know MORE than what the letter says, that means something to me.
7. I myself reach out to committees to add more info about a candidate if I can: like a lot of people, I advocate for the people I'm mentoring, teaching, overseeing. That's part of the job. And I think that advocacy means more if it IS honest.
8. And most good letters of rec are inherently honest. So I want to end this thread by saying that the vast majority of letters of rec work on the model of honesty. But the system of requiring/looking for letters of rec for EVERY. LITTLE. THING is encouraging bloviation
9. and exhaustion, and withdrawal on the part of potential applicants. I've definitely not applied for things because I just didn't want to ask for yet ANOTHER letter of rec. Someone else with fewer resources, less confidence, less knowledge of the writing world?
10. I bet they aren't applying, too. Jobs need letters of rec. Grad programs do too, since I see a lot of talented people who have academic bad spells in the past that letters of rec can explain or contextualize. Fellowships? Not all of them, frankly.
11. Anyway, if you are a letter of rec writer, TAKE THAT RESPONSIBILITY SERIOUSLY. And if you are a committee, really think about whether you need to require applicants get that letter of rec. Thank you for coming to my fit of social media procrastination.
