Teacher still hasn’t submitted letter of recommendation

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why aren’t teachers using ChatGPT for recommendations. Write your main points. Throw it into ChatGPT. Edit what comes out. Done. Still takes time but more efficient.

most do this now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That makes no sense. Many schools require recommendations. if you submit without them the application is incomplete and wouldn’t be considered.

The pieces can be submitted separately. The student submits the common app whenever it is ready to go, the teacher submits the rec letter whenever it is ready to go, the HS submits the transcript (if required) as a separate step, test scores arrive separately (if required). All the pieces get linked together in the student’s application file. The student does not need to wait for the teacher to submit the LOR before completing and submitting the common app.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That makes no sense. Many schools require recommendations. if you submit without them the application is incomplete and wouldn’t be considered.

The pieces can be submitted separately. The student submits the common app whenever it is ready to go, the teacher submits the rec letter whenever it is ready to go, the HS submits the transcript (if required) as a separate step, test scores arrive separately (if required). All the pieces get linked together in the student’s application file. The student does not need to wait for the teacher to submit the LOR before completing and submitting the common app.

Correct.

Also, assuming the kid meets the college’s application deadline, we’ve been told that colleges give high schools an extra two weeks to submit their materials.

It’s annoying and stressful when the high school is slow to do its part, but it’s not uncommon. Colleges have seen it all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why aren’t teachers using ChatGPT for recommendations. Write your main points. Throw it into ChatGPT. Edit what comes out. Done. Still takes time but more efficient.

most do this now.

Our English department does not.

We collectively agree that AI-generated writing is ridiculously obvious, especially if you don’t take time to train it. ChatGPT-produced writing has a very obvious structure. I’m a little tired of all the em dashes, as well. They are in every single response.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is where private school makes all the difference.

There is a system in place to request recommendation letters from teachers. If a teacher is late, it is the college counselor's job to follow up. We didn't run into this, but my student was concerned because one submitted it in September, and the other not until mid October. But the counselor was familiar with how these teachers operate and was able to calm her concerns. No teacher should get away with not submitting on time. That should be grounds for dismissal.

This is the problem right here. No teacher referenced in this chain has been late. If someone was complaining about a teacher missing the Oct 15 deadline, I can support that even though teachers do have a grace period. The level of distrust and animosity towards teachers doing your students a favor is astounding. I can't even tell you how many students I have written letters for over the past 20 years. This thread is making me just want to stop doing that all togehter.

Ugh. The attitude does suck!

Just focus on the kids - they’re usually normal and sweet. Overwhelmed by the process, sure. But grateful, not entitled.

It’s the parents who let their (our) anxiety get the best of them (us). 😬

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That makes no sense. Many schools require recommendations. if you submit without them the application is incomplete and wouldn’t be considered.

The pieces can be submitted separately. The student submits the common app whenever it is ready to go, the teacher submits the rec letter whenever it is ready to go, the HS submits the transcript (if required) as a separate step, test scores arrive separately (if required). All the pieces get linked together in the student’s application file. The student does not need to wait for the teacher to submit the LOR before completing and submitting the common app.

Correct.

Also, assuming the kid meets the college’s application deadline, we’ve been told that colleges give high schools an extra two weeks to submit their materials.

It’s annoying and stressful when the high school is slow to do its part, but it’s not uncommon. Colleges have seen it all.

You may think it’s “slow,” but the teachers and counselors are preparing material for 500 students. That takes time. Your senior isn’t the only senior, and all of this work gets done on top of their normal jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why aren’t teachers using ChatGPT for recommendations. Write your main points. Throw it into ChatGPT. Edit what comes out. Done. Still takes time but more efficient.

most do this now.

Our English department does not.

We collectively agree that AI-generated writing is ridiculously obvious, especially if you don’t take time to train it. ChatGPT-produced writing has a very obvious structure. I’m a little tired of all the em dashes, as well. They are in every single response.

As a professional writer and editor and die-hard em dash user, I am sad that genAI has ruined em dashes for those of us who use them.

But also, thank you for your dedication and effort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why aren’t teachers using ChatGPT for recommendations. Write your main points. Throw it into ChatGPT. Edit what comes out. Done. Still takes time but more efficient.

most do this now.

Our English department does not.

We collectively agree that AI-generated writing is ridiculously obvious, especially if you don’t take time to train it. ChatGPT-produced writing has a very obvious structure. I’m a little tired of all the em dashes, as well. They are in every single response.

Deleting the em dashes should be #1 on EVERYONE’s post-AI edit checklist!

After that, a hard substantive edit - including both additions and deletions - can help a lot. Infuse the recommendation with more specific examples and details, along with some language, punctuation, and word choices that reflect your personality.

[Anonymous]

My daughter’s college recommendation letter from one teacher went in at 2 am on Nov 2nd. This was 2 years ago so I doubt teacher used ChatGPT. Male teacher had young kids so I assume he put kids to bed and then finished up college recs. I’m glad we didn’t hound him about his late submission. It all worked out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So glad my son said, "screw it" and submitted without recommendations.

As he should have.

I’m a teacher and a parent. Of course my child submitted without her recommendations. She did that back in September. Her teachers will get the recommendations in when they write them.

Why would your son wait?

My kid did his part, the issue is the teacher did not do hers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That makes no sense. Many schools require recommendations. if you submit without them the application is incomplete and wouldn’t be considered.

The pieces can be submitted separately. The student submits the common app whenever it is ready to go, the teacher submits the rec letter whenever it is ready to go, the HS submits the transcript (if required) as a separate step, test scores arrive separately (if required). All the pieces get linked together in the student’s application file. The student does not need to wait for the teacher to submit the LOR before completing and submitting the common app.

Correct.

Also, assuming the kid meets the college’s application deadline, we’ve been told that colleges give high schools an extra two weeks to submit their materials.

It’s annoying and stressful when the high school is slow to do its part, but it’s not uncommon. Colleges have seen it all.

no this is not universally true, it's a hard deadline for some colleges

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That makes no sense. Many schools require recommendations. if you submit without them the application is incomplete and wouldn’t be considered.

And they aren’t late. This thread has been going on for a week. Applications aren’t even due until tomorrow.

And, as it has been pointed out many times, schools actually have a grace period and can submit after the deadline. The deadline is for the student.

There’s been a whole lot of angst over nothing.

No not all schools have a grace period.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So glad my son said, "screw it" and submitted without recommendations.

As he should have.

I’m a teacher and a parent. Of course my child submitted without her recommendations. She did that back in September. Her teachers will get the recommendations in when they write them.

Why would your son wait?

My kid did his part, the issue is the teacher did not do hers.

Wait… did the teacher actually not submit at all? Or did she not submit at the time that was convenient for you?

Because those are two different things.

And if she did submit before the deadline, I certainly hope your child reached out and thanked her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why aren’t teachers using ChatGPT for recommendations. Write your main points. Throw it into ChatGPT. Edit what comes out. Done. Still takes time but more efficient.

most do this now.

Our English department does not.

We collectively agree that AI-generated writing is ridiculously obvious, especially if you don’t take time to train it. ChatGPT-produced writing has a very obvious structure. I’m a little tired of all the em dashes, as well. They are in every single response.

As a professional writer and editor and die-hard em dash user, I am sad that genAI has ruined em dashes for those of us who use them.

But also, thank you for your dedication and effort.

+1000 to the bolded. The em dash is my favorite punctuation mark.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Give a deadline of two weeks before you need it. Request at least 4-6 weeks of when you need it, in which your kid's case sounds like what kid did by asking in spring and following up early in senior year.

Many ask in the Spring but never follow up. Students are told to ask in Spring but teachers are way too busy at the end of the year. I say yes to everyone and tell them to come see me in the fall and give me their resume. OP's student didn't bring in brag sheet until September, so when they asked is irrelevant. Are they in common app? That always serves as a good reminder. Teachers get an email when we are added.

We were told to get the commitment in the spring, not the letter. —NP