<p>I have been working on scientific research in a University lab since this past summer. My professor has just recently written me a recommendation letter. However, he doesn't speak English very well, and was somewhat frustrated with the research during the time he wrote the letter. In a way he downplayed many of the things I had actually done in his lab. In short, the recommendation calls attention only to what I had done in the lab, with the addition to saying that he's been impressed/amazed with my talents and scientific approach and that I am a very friendly person who hard-working and intelligent, and also that I had contributed to presentations. </p>
<p>Overall the letter is a severely downplayed story of me, with the addition of a few praising comments like the one listed above. I guess in a way it adds new information through his saying of what I have done and that I am good with science, have talent, and helped his research, but besides that there isn't anything jaw-dropping. I am applying to top colleges (Ivys, MIT, Stanford, etc). Should I send it?</p>
<p>And also, if I don't send it, but I do send an abstract, will it look suspicious in any way?</p>
<p>What I would do, if it’s not too much work, is have the professor right a letter of recommendation for you in his 1st/original/native language and attach a translation of it. I’m not sure if you would be allowed to translate it yourself or if you would have to get a professional to do it. However, if the schools see the letter in a different language with his signature on it, they will always be able to verify that what was said in the translation was truthful, even if you did do the translation yourself, and the school could always do the translation themselves if they want to. Or maybe the person reviewing your app might even speak that language himself/herself. This is just an idea, I don’t know if it would work but it sounds like it could. I’d wait for another person’s opinion though.</p>
<p>Thanks, go4cornell. However, the main issue with the recommendation letter is that it severely downplayed what I had actually done and achieved in his lab and its corresponding research, perhaps due mainly to his frustration at the time he was writing the research, and partially due to his native tongue, but mainly the former. </p>
<p>I am wondering if it would benefit me to send this recommendation letter even though it’s grossly understated in regards to what I have done.</p>
<p>Well even though it is not as great as it could be, I guess it would still be beneficial to your application as in the letter he still states how impressed he is with you and your abilities and he also speaks of your work ethic. So I would say that its still a plus.</p>
<p>I just feel like it may add negatively to my application, because when I wrote about it in my essays, descriptions, I wrote about the things I had done. However, the recommendation letter only calls attention to some of the things I had done, and like I said before, severely downplays my achievements and activities. </p>
<p>I am wondering if the fact that I simply have a professor rec will overcome the fact that it isn’t stellar.</p>
<p>It also mentions incorrectly the amount of time I spend there, so it wouldn’t exactly match up with what I have put down on my common applications about my time commitment. I would have to go further in explaining that as well.</p>
<p>I would handle this differently. Many professors who are not from this country, do not understand the competitive nature of the process of applying to top schools. They have never seen a ‘rave review’ and don’t understand that it is the price of admission in most cases. </p>
<p>In your case, I would go talk to him. I would tell him about how competitive the admissions process is and I would explain to him that although you greatly appreciate the time he has taken to write this letter, you are concerned that it will not help your application and might actually hurt it- I suspect that was not his intent. If there are specific things you would like him to mention, I would bring those up as well. He may feel that the letter he wrote is, in fact, an accurate representation of your work, and this is a good opportunity to clarify with him what you actually did contribute - he may not know all of it. Or he may feel that your understanding of your role is over-stated - that would be painful information, but at least you know where you stand. My guess would be that he offers to reconsider the letter. If he does not do that, then I would probably not send it because it weakens the claims you have made in the rest of your application. No letter is better than a letter than suggests you have an over-inflated sense of your importance and accomplishments in an area critical to your future intersts.</p>
<p>Thank you go4cornell, NewAccount, and M’s Mom. I should have mentioned, my professor just left for vacation, so asking him redo the rec letter is out of question. </p>
<p>I guess I just won’t send it. Thank you very much for all your input!</p>
<p>Keep in mind that the deadlines for applications apply to you, not your recommenders. If this were a mandatory teacher recommendation, they would probably wait to review your file until it was complete. Since this recommendation is presumably and extra one, they may review your file before you can discuss this with your professor. However, if he agrees to do a rewrite and he submits his letter after the deadline, but prior to their review of your application, it will be included. </p>
<p>One reason to pursue this is that you may need additional recommendations from him for research programs you are applying to next summer, for a job, or for scholarship applications. I know approaching him is embarrassing, but if he is willing to help you, the benefits could potentially extend beyond college applications.</p>
<p>I did research too, and I attached an abstract of my research to my MIT application. I considered asking my research mentor for a rec, but I had waited to late to ask and I felt embarrassed, so I ultimately decided against it. I don’t think it would look suspicious if you didn’t have a rec even if you sent in an abstract especially since a lot of schools discourage sending additional recommendations. Personally, I don’t think recs make much of a difference unless they’re really, really strong. In your case, considering that it actually contradicts parts of your app, I’d say it’s probably best not to send it.</p>