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Writing Your Own. Increasingly (over the past several years), we've heard stories of candidates whose harried bosses were overwhelmed by the request to write a letter of recommendation. The applicants were instead instructed to write the letter themselves and simply submit it to the "author" for a signature. Most applicants consider this a dream come true. After all, what could be better than a chance to "toot your own horn" under the guise of being your own boss or major professor?

Sadly, most candidates haven't a clue what an excellent reference letter looks like. To assume the perspective and tone of someone in your recommender's position requires experience and perspicacity. Most letters written by the actual candidates are embarrassingly easy to spot: they are timid, stilted and one-dimensional. They include far too many details that a real reference letter wouldn't mention and they frequently are identical in tone to the candidate's own writing. We nearly automatically discount candidates who do this and make a mental note of the individual who supposedly wrote the reference. In a few cases, we've contacted them and they confirmed our suspicions.

We strongly discourage you from trying this approach. Remember, the admissions committee has viewed thousands of letters and has an excellent feel for authenticity. We want ethical candidates who offer a balanced, honest appraisal of their credentials. Rather than writing the letter yourself, ask someone else who will take the time to write a reference that genuinely reflects your suitability for the program.