Tricky LOR Situation Forum

[athenaruth]

I'm hoping you can provide some advice for me, PLEASE.

I've asked my onsite manager at my current workplace (a massive tech company) to provide a LOR. We've worked with each other for a while and she'd be the best person to write this letter. However, I technically work for an agency and contract on site. There is a lot of red tape/rules that make it impossible for the feedback to come directly from my onsite manager. Instead, the letter must come from someone at my contracting agency whom I have practically zero contact with. The onsite manager has agreed to write the letter and pass it off to someone at my agency. The agency has told me they won't change the content of the letter, but instead just need to appear as if they're the one giving the feedback.

Should I make this clear in my application? Do I write an addendum? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Minnietron]

I'm hoping you can provide some advice for me, PLEASE.

I've asked my onsite manager at my current workplace (a massive tech company) to provide a LOR. We've worked with each other for a while and she'd be the best person to write this letter. However, I technically work for an agency and contract on site. There is a lot of red tape/rules that make it impossible for the feedback to come directly from my onsite manager. Instead, the letter must come from someone at my contracting agency whom I have practically zero contact with. The onsite manager has agreed to write the letter and pass it off to someone at my agency. The agency has told me they won't change the content of the letter, but instead just need to appear as if they're the one giving the feedback.

Should I make this clear in my application? Do I write an addendum? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Given the growing amount of data suggesting LORs have little affect on admissions decisions, I would not draw attention to it or worry about it. It is unlikely - at best - such a LOR will help you outperform your numbers.

[athenaruth]

Thanks for the input!

[debdeb2]

LORs are used to weed out cranks and crazies. Academics protect each other by slyly saying things like "I had some difficulty communicating with this student, but that could just be me" in their LORs. They don't do it often, but they will hesitate to give a full positive review of someone who was kind of a pain in class.

Letters from places of work are more of a wild card, because they're used to providing references related to getting a job.

95% of LORs are generic 1-page "this is a fine student/person who you should be happy to have in your program" letters. They're mostly a box to check, and do not sway admissions decisions. Even a truly glowing letter is unlikely to overcome a numbers issue.

As long as your letter gets in, it shouldn't matter how it was submitted. Good luck -

[athenaruth]

thanks for the input. your response has definitely provided some perspective.