Recommendation for a student
Because this is a phone reference there's probably only a 50-50 chance that you'll be called. That being said, I tell the sugar-coated truth, i.e., that this is a student who does well when she puts her mind to a task and that she has excellent potential. With that info and with the student's transcript, the potential employer should be able to put 2 & 2 together. If the student is coming to you it's a safe bet that she has no one who thinks better of her. That being the case, you'd be sending her up the proverbial creek by refusing to serve as a reference. You don't have to lie but neither do have to be brutally honest. Edward I. Pollak, Ph.D., Department of Psychology, West Chester Univ. of PA, West Chester, PA 19383 Office: 610-436-3151; Home: 610-363-1939; Fax: 610-436-2846; ~~~ Husband, father, grandfather, biopsychologist, herpetoculturist and bluegrass fiddler Shameless self promotion: The Mill Creek Bluegrass Band performs every Tuesday night at Dugal's Inn, Mortonville, PA. Call 610- 486-0953 for directions. > -- > > Date: Sat, 30 Dec 2000 12:20:45 -0500 > From: Deborah Briihl <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: Recommendation for a student > Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > A student e-mailed me, asking for a recommendation for a job. I e-mailed > her back and asked her what the job was about and a few other questions. > This is her reply: > > In the interview he asked me what I thought you would say about me and I > said that because you knew me on a more "professional (?)" level that you > would prob. say that I was a good speaker (from Senior Seminar)...he told > me that I would have to speak to crowds during meetings, and that I had > been exposed to researching and reporting...because I will be reviewing > credit and making decisions about the data given to me. I told him about > my > 100 on my final (that may be an interesting topic to talk about :) > > Here's the problem. This student was barely a "C" student and her last > semester she almost received a "D" in one of my courses. The _only_ reason > > she didn't was because she REALLY buckled down and studied for the last > test and, indeed, received a 100. However, nothing else that she did even > came close. She was an OK speaker, nothing special. Any suggestions on how > > I'm supposed to handle this phone call? Can I tell the interviewer about > her other grades? I believe that she included me as a recommendation > before > I was asked. > Deb > > Dr. Deborah S. Briihl > Dept. of Psychology and Counseling > Valdosta State University > Valdosta, GA 31698 > (229) 333-5994 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > -- > > Date: Sat, 30 Dec 2000 21:33:17 -0500 > From: "McKinley-Pace, Marcia" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >
Re: Recommendation for a student
The first thing that I would do is to get the student to sign a letter authorizing you to be as candid as you would like. Next, I would tell th student my reservations about their overall motivation. If, they still wanted to list you as a reference, you are clear to do what your conscience dictates. Rip Rip Pisacreta, Ph.D. Professor, Psychology, Ferris State University Big Rapids, MI 49307 email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >From: Deborah Briihl <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: Recommendation for a student >Date: Sat, 30 Dec 2000 12:20:45 -0500 > >A student e-mailed me, asking for a recommendation for a job. I e-mailed >her back and asked her what the job was about and a few other questions. >This is her reply: > >In the interview he asked me what I thought you would say about me and I >said that because you knew me on a more "professional (?)" level that you >would prob. say that I was a good speaker (from Senior Seminar)...he told >me that I would have to speak to crowds during meetings, and that I had >been exposed to researching and reporting...because I will be reviewing >credit and making decisions about the data given to me. I told him about my >100 on my final (that may be an interesting topic to talk about :) > >Here's the problem. This student was barely a "C" student and her last >semester she almost received a "D" in one of my courses. The _only_ reason >she didn't was because she REALLY buckled down and studied for the last >test and, indeed, received a 100. However, nothing else that she did even >came close. She was an OK speaker, nothing special. Any suggestions on how >I'm supposed to handle this phone call? Can I tell the interviewer about >her other grades? I believe that she included me as a recommendation before >I was asked. >Deb > >Dr. Deborah S. Briihl >Dept. of Psychology and Counseling >Valdosta State University >Valdosta, GA 31698 >(229) 333-5994 >[EMAIL PROTECTED] > >Well I know these voices must be my soul... >Rhyme and Reason - DMB > _ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
Re: Recommendation for a student
Hello New Year's Listers, In a message dated 12/30/2000 9:23:17 AM Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: << I told him about my 100 on my final (that may be an interesting topic to talk about :) Here's the problem. This student was barely a "C" student and her last semester she almost received a "D" in one of my courses. >> You do have the choice of declining to write the letter or providing the reference, which I would recommend you do if you don't feel comfortable recommending this person. I had a good friend, years ago, receive a "recommendation" letter for law school from a professor who should have declined. It arrived at his house having been mutiliated en route and was partly open (I was there when it arrived so I know that he didn't lie and open it) and it was clearly going to ruin his chances of getting into law school. That day (beside feeling just awful for my friend), I also learned that declining to write letters is a legitimate and appropriate thing to do. On the other hand, a person who is doing Cs and Ds and bootstraps herself to a 100 on the final clearly is motivated and has something going for her. You could probably write a positive and helpful letter to the prospective employer emphasizing her real strengths. If she wants the employer to call you, well, I don't know, maybe you want to discuss your doubts about her self-appraisal with you before you cross or burn that bridge. I think honesty is generally the best policy. You may find a way to provide the recommendation for her without compromising your integrity. Good luck. Nancy Melucci East Los Angeles College
Re: Recommendation for a student
Deb, I'd suggest a reply from a TIPSter a while ago, that I've used several times since. "I'm not sure that what I would write/say would be helpful to you as a recommendation." That can imply, to the student, whatever she brings to it. But it gets the job done as far as getting you off the hook for your natural disinclination to stretch the truth. IF, as you suspect, the student did indeed already submit your name as a recommendation, I'd suggest that you begin with the truth that, when pressed, the student did indeed get 100 on the final. (This may be an astounding feat, or it may not, since of course the difficulty of final exams varies. But at any rate, it's obviously more than the she had done in the past.) This allows that at least there's some ability. But I wouldn't dodge the truth about the student's so-so speaking ability. As an inexperienced new teacher, some years ago, I wasn't as forthcoming in a recommendation as I would be now (a "pity party," as I now recall), and found some time later that the student had gotten and then subsequently lost a job based on the very lack of qualities about which I was concerned. If you're worried that you may unfairly prejudice the student's job-seeking, remember that your recommendation is only ONE part of the student's application. Human Resource departments should know to take that into account as use your opinion accordingly. Beth Benoit Daniel Webster College, Portsmouth NH College of Lifelong Learning, Portsmouth, NH -- >From: Deborah Briihl <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: Recommendation for a student >Date: Sat, Dec 30, 2000, 12:20 PM > > A student e-mailed me, asking for a recommendation for a job. I e-mailed > her back and asked her what the job was about and a few other questions. > This is her reply: > > In the interview he asked me what I thought you would say about me and I > said that because you knew me on a more "professional (?)" level that you > would prob. say that I was a good speaker (from Senior Seminar)...he told > me that I would have to speak to crowds during meetings, and that I had > been exposed to researching and reporting...because I will be reviewing > credit and making decisions about the data given to me. I told him about my > 100 on my final (that may be an interesting topic to talk about :) > > Here's the problem. This student was barely a "C" student and her last > semester she almost received a "D" in one of my courses. The _only_ reason > she didn't was because she REALLY buckled down and studied for the last > test and, indeed, received a 100. However, nothing else that she did even > came close. She was an OK speaker, nothing special. Any suggestions on how > I'm supposed to handle this phone call? Can I tell the interviewer about > her other grades? I believe that she included me as a recommendation before > I was asked. > Deb > > Dr. Deborah S. Briihl > Dept. of Psychology and Counseling > Valdosta State University > Valdosta, GA 31698 > (229) 333-5994 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Well I know these voices must be my soul... > Rhyme and Reason - DMB > >
Recommendation for a student
A student e-mailed me, asking for a recommendation for a job. I e-mailed her back and asked her what the job was about and a few other questions. This is her reply: In the interview he asked me what I thought you would say about me and I said that because you knew me on a more "professional (?)" level that you would prob. say that I was a good speaker (from Senior Seminar)...he told me that I would have to speak to crowds during meetings, and that I had been exposed to researching and reporting...because I will be reviewing credit and making decisions about the data given to me. I told him about my 100 on my final (that may be an interesting topic to talk about :) Here's the problem. This student was barely a "C" student and her last semester she almost received a "D" in one of my courses. The _only_ reason she didn't was because she REALLY buckled down and studied for the last test and, indeed, received a 100. However, nothing else that she did even came close. She was an OK speaker, nothing special. Any suggestions on how I'm supposed to handle this phone call? Can I tell the interviewer about her other grades? I believe that she included me as a recommendation before I was asked. Deb Dr. Deborah S. Briihl Dept. of Psychology and Counseling Valdosta State University Valdosta, GA 31698 (229) 333-5994 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Well I know these voices must be my soul... Rhyme and Reason - DMB
