Gradwise

Should You Write Your Own Letter of Recommendation?

Almost every school will want to see several letters of recommendation before admitting you into an undergraduate or graduate program. Sometimes it can be hard to find someone who can create a letter for you. This leaves many people wondering whether or not it is ok to write your own letter of recommendation.

Is it ok to write your own letter of recommendation? Yes and no. It depends on the situation.

Situation One
You asked someone to write a letter of recommendation for you. They said that they would love to, but they haven't got the time. They ask you to write the letter for them and agree to sign it for you before you turn it in.

In this situation, it is ok to write your own letter of recommendation. In fact, this is how many letters of recommendation get written. However, you should ask the reference giver for specific information that they would include in the letter if they had time to write it. This will make the letter of recommendation more genuine and it will make you feel more comfortable with the situation. You will also want to make sure that the person reads it over carefully and agrees with it completely before allowing them to sign off on it.

Situation Two
You couldn't think of anyone to ask, so you decided to make up a name and write the letter of recommendation yourself.

In this situation, it is NOT ok to write your own letter. This would be both deceptive and plain out wrong. If you can't immediately think of anyone to write a letter of recommendation for you, you are just going to have to keep thinking. You'll eventually find someone.

Related Articles
» How to Request a Letter of Recommendation
» Getting a Good Letter of Recommendation
» Free Sample Letter of Recommendation
» College Application Checklist
» College Application FAQ