A prof who wrote my recommendation died Forum

[AnonymousApplicant]

What should I do if one of the profs who wrote me a recommendation died? Can I still use the recommendation, or should I get another one? I should probably call the schools that I'm applying to to see what they have to say, but to be perfectly honest, I'm really not comfortable asking. So what do you all think?

(Please don't quote -- I intend to eventually delete this post once I'm satisfied with the feedback. Thanks.)

[Caesar Salad]

Definitely use it. Write an addendum explaining that he thought so highly of you that he declared he'd never write another rec as long as he lived; in the alternative explain that after writing your rec he looked at you peacefully and said "My life is validated, I can die happy." This could be a serious soft if you spin it right.

[BillsFan9907]

Why do you think it might not be a good idea to use the recommendation ?

[Ron Don Volante]

Definitely use it. Write an addendum explaining that he thought so highly of you that he declared he'd never write another rec as long as he lived; in the alternative explain that after writing your rec he looked at you peacefully and said "My life is validated, I can die happy." This could be a serious soft if you spin it right.

[Nonconsecutive]

Use it.

[twenty]

The degree to which a school will care about this is slightly lower than the degree to which the school cares about your favorite color.

[hillz]

I really don't understand why this is a problem. Their feedback is valid, whether alive or dead, as they are commenting on your performance in the past.

[sparty99]

What should I do if one of the profs who wrote me a recommendation died? Can I still use the recommendation, or should I get another one? I should probably call the schools that I'm applying to to see what they have to say, but to be perfectly honest, I'm really not comfortable asking. So what do you all think?

(Please don't quote -- I intend to eventually delete this post once I'm satisfied with the feedback. Thanks.)

Because the recommendation was the declarant's dying declaration, you can get this into evidence.

[ilikebaseball]

Definitely use it. Write an addendum explaining that he thought so highly of you that he declared he'd never write another rec as long as he lived; in the alternative explain that after writing your rec he looked at you peacefully and said "My life is validated, I can die happy." This could be a serious soft if you spin it right.

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[Meow Meowsworth]

I think OP's concern is probably that when you fill out the information for the recommendation on LSAC, it asks for the recommender's contact details. But schools aren't going to waste time contacting your recommenders, except maybe in cases where they think there is fraud. So it shouldn't be a problem, and if it comes up at a specific school, you can explain the situation then. I would use it.

[hillz]

I think OP's concern is probably that when you fill out the information for the recommendation on LSAC, it asks for the recommender's contact details. But schools aren't going to waste time contacting your recommenders, except maybe in cases where they think there is fraud. So it shouldn't be a problem, and if it comes up at a specific school, you can explain the situation then. I would use it.

Yeah, but doesn't it only ask you for their contact info when you intially enter their info so they can upload the letter? Wouldn't the letter already have been uploaded before the death? On individual schools it usually just asks for their name and even if the school asks for contact info on individual apps, just write an addendum that the prof died. Either way, it shouldn't matter because the date on the LOR will be before the death.

[anonymousdouche]

Why do you think it might not be a good idea to use the recommendation ?

Death shows weakness. It reflects badly on the recommender.

[KMart]

Definitely use it. Write an addendum explaining that he thought so highly of you that he declared he'd never write another rec as long as he lived; in the alternative explain that after writing your rec he looked at you peacefully and said "My life is validated, I can die happy." This could be a serious soft if you spin it right.

Just pure gold.

In all seriousness it's fine to use. If it comes up (it won't), just explain and apologize to the school.

[CardozoLaw09]

Definitely use it. Write an addendum explaining that he thought so highly of you that he declared he'd never write another rec as long as he lived; in the alternative explain that after writing your rec he looked at you peacefully and said "My life is validated, I can die happy." This could be a serious soft if you spin it right.

[Carter1901]

Definitely use it. Write an addendum explaining that he thought so highly of you that he declared he'd never write another rec as long as he lived; in the alternative explain that after writing your rec he looked at you peacefully and said "My life is validated, I can die happy." This could be a serious soft if you spin it right.

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