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[appind]

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[hillz]

Since you know him pretty well, I think you should just kindly tell him that you feel uncomfortable doing that. I don't think saying that will make you look like you are disagreeing with him.

It sounds like maybe he is super busy/overwhelmed and that's why he's asking. Perhaps you could make his job easier by providing him with some info that you would like mentioned. Like an outline of sorts.

[Jchance]

How do I respond that I can't write my own draft?

This is horrible. Please don't do this.

I love it when a prof lets me write a first draft, because I can write whatever I want and think the reader would want to hear. As long as its not exaggerating, the prof would just sign it.

[Skool]

I asked my thesis adviser for a rec. He wrote he'd be happy to do it but asked for a full draft as a starting point that he would rewrite.

This prof has written me recs before on his own. This isn't some good grade in course rec, i have published with him and was an assistant in his research group. I need his rec.

How do I respond that I can't write my own draft? I don't want to and i think it'd be weaker than what he can say or come up with.
How can i politely say that i can't write draft without looking like I am countering/disagreeing with him?

Maybe it will be a little weaker than what he'd write, but do your best. This is an opportunity for you to make your app even more cohesive. Don't blow it, and don't get weird and damage what's apparently a good working relationship.

Maybe you can make something of a template, but leave blank spaces for him to fill in some stuff you want to be strictly from his point of view.

Dont forget that he's doing you a favor and he's asking you to make his life a little easier. Just talk to him about what he wants from you and do your best to meet his needs.

[appind]

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[Rowinguy2009]

I don't understand why his letter, when he is almost definitely overwhelmed right now, would be better than yours. You, presumably, know yourself and what you have done for this prof better than anyone. Don't write that you are the best student he has seen in 25 years because that's absurd, but write a really, really good letter for yourself that talks you up like crazy.

[Skool]

Maybe it will be a little weaker than what he'd write, but do your best. This is an opportunity for you to make your app even more cohesive. Don't blow it, and don't get weird and damage what's apparently a good working relationship.

I think weird is exactly what would occur if I responded to the question about full draft in any way. Anyone in my position would draft that the applicant is the best student I have seen in my 25 yrs of research of teaching, which would also be weird.

I am thinking of not addressing question about sending him a full draft and saying that I will send a bullet list of items to be highlighted and asking if that would be fine. Would I be mistaken in ignoring his question about sending full draft and suggesting bullet list instead?

It seems like 'damned if you do, damned if you don't' about not addressing his Q about sending him a full draft, which can be different than a bullet list.

I don't think it's that much of a damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Your draft should be honest. Try and see yourself the way you think he sees you. Make plausible claims (maybe you really are the best student he's seen in 25 years, I have no idea).

If I were you, and I were this concerned, I would stop by his office and have a quick chat. Be open about your concerns and give him an opportunity to voice why he needs this from you and what he wants in a draft specifically. Maybe you guys can work out a compromise position.

But don't pretend like you didn't realize what he's asking for, that's passive aggressive and not a good foundation to any relationship. Starting a dialogue is always better.

[Moneytrees]

All my professors as well as my employer asked me to write a draft for them. Some of them re-wrote the rec. completely and only used the draft for information about me. It's very normal, don't over think this.

[appind]

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