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I really, truly, deeply dislike this author. This is the sort of thing which sometimes happens to academics -- in a position of absolute power over their studen

I really, truly, deeply dislike this author. This is the sort of thing which sometimes happens to academics -- in a position of absolute power over their students, divorced from any sort of checks-and-balances by tenure -- they become mean people. Over time, that leads to mean cultures, with increasingly abusive advisor-advisee relationships across entire fields. This is most common in fields where a Ph.D is required to do meaningful work (e.g. biology, philosophy, etc.). It is especially common in the humanities, where many (most?) suffer from imposter syndrome (in many cases, rightfully) so this gets tied up in ego issues too. On the receiving end of recommendation letters, I can say two things: 1) They're almost meaningless. Most are glowing. 2) They reflect more on the writer than on the student. That's something students don't (and based on information they have, can't) realize. If they pick the wrong professor to impress -- someone like Agnes here who applies a philosophy of "hyper-rationalism" to recommendation letters -- their career is shot. For the most part: * If you're applying somewhere, I recommend talking to many recommenders. Ask whether they can and will write a strong recommendation. If so, engage with them. If they don't answer, don't take a recommendation * If you're looking for a professor for graduate school, talk to their students first. Look over where they are now. A state school with a good advisor will beat an ivy league with a bad one, hands down. * If you're looking for an undergraduate projects, do the same. The stakes aren't as high, but you'll do a lot better if you chance on someone who cares about you as an individual and works to make you successful (which is their job, as a professor) rather than someone who places their career first (which is the reality, of most professors). If you want to take a hyper-rational approach to it, think of it this way: if better students students pick ethical, humane professors, you're giving ethical, humane professors an edge in the academic rat race. And you're giving sadistic bastards a disadvantage in the rat race. You're making the academy a better place.

BossingAround 7y ago
I think the writer simply wanted to appear very smart. The boiled-down TLDR is 1) A profesor should write a letter of recommendation for you. It's part of their job, not a favor. 2) If students believe the teachers know them deeply and the teachers deeply care about their studies, the students'll study better. Overall, I agree with your assessments of "letters are meaningless." I also think that the author's views are somewhat characteristic of the life in academia. I don't, however, think the author means, or does, harm. It's more of a 'meh' situation.
empath75 7y ago
I think you’ve completely misread her. She is saying that she doesn’t know what her students are capable of or what they can do, so she doesn’t tell them her honest opinion — she merely writes the recommendation letter based on what she knows objectively about the student. If she were to be honest, she’d probably direct some students away from life decisions that they’d have been successful and happy with if they had taken her misguided advice.
- habnds 7y ago
  I've always been disappointed by people's consistent refusal to voice opinions about my "career" decisions. I'm perfectly comfortable dismissing feedback and advice when I feel that is the best course of action. I want other opinions. It's very difficult to get anyone to give feedback in a meaningful way or opinionated career advice about what I might be well suited to. This was particularly true of college professors. Helpful sentences would start with "I think you would be good at..." or "While you might be able to improve, I think you should steer away from ..."
  - jameshart 7y ago
    Agreed - particularly in my early career I wished more experienced folks would tell me what potential they actually saw in me, rather than constantly being asked what I wanted to do. In particular, this kind of withholding of advice disadvantages people who are first generation college students, from the wrong social background, or lack access to networks. People who don’t know what their options even are, let alone which of those options is suited to them. Denying those people advice is especially cruel.

BossingAround 7y ago

I think the writer simply wanted to appear very smart. The boiled-down TLDR is 1) A profesor should write a letter of recommendation for you. It's part of their job, not a favor. 2) If students believe the teachers know them deeply and the teachers deeply care about their studies, the students'll study better. Overall, I agree with your assessments of "letters are meaningless." I also think that the author's views are somewhat characteristic of the life in academia. I don't, however, think the author means, or does, harm. It's more of a 'meh' situation.

empath75 7y ago

I think you’ve completely misread her. She is saying that she doesn’t know what her students are capable of or what they can do, so she doesn’t tell them her honest opinion — she merely writes the recommendation letter based on what she knows objectively about the student. If she were to be honest, she’d probably direct some students away from life decisions that they’d have been successful and happy with if they had taken her misguided advice.

habnds 7y ago
I've always been disappointed by people's consistent refusal to voice opinions about my "career" decisions. I'm perfectly comfortable dismissing feedback and advice when I feel that is the best course of action. I want other opinions. It's very difficult to get anyone to give feedback in a meaningful way or opinionated career advice about what I might be well suited to. This was particularly true of college professors. Helpful sentences would start with "I think you would be good at..." or "While you might be able to improve, I think you should steer away from ..."
- jameshart 7y ago
  Agreed - particularly in my early career I wished more experienced folks would tell me what potential they actually saw in me, rather than constantly being asked what I wanted to do. In particular, this kind of withholding of advice disadvantages people who are first generation college students, from the wrong social background, or lack access to networks. People who don’t know what their options even are, let alone which of those options is suited to them. Denying those people advice is especially cruel.