Bad letter of REC?

Applying to College
1

<p>Hey all, I think I have a bit of problem here. So, this summer I worked at SLAC (Stanford Linear Particle Accelerator), and helped the computer science branch write code for the machines there. It was special summer program for high school students and I was paid 3000 dollars, and so I asked my mentor for a letter of recommendation for college. But.... he said that I should write it myself and he would sign it, since he was very busy with his projects at his lab. He says he does this often, but how often does this really occur? Is this a sign he doesn't like me? During the summer, we weren't able to work together that often, since he was also very busy then.</p>

<p>I'm worried because I am applying to MIT, Caltech, Stanford, and Carnegie Mellon, but if I write my own letter won't they see that it sounds the same as me in my supplements?</p>

<p>And it makes me embarrassed to write about myself, it feels awkward to brag about myself...</p>

<p>There's nothing for me to do, I pretty much have to write the letter, but is there any advice you guys have for a worried high school senior applicant?</p>

<p>Oh btw, he was the director of the entire computer science branch I worked with, so maybe important people like that are usually too busy to write letters? I really don't know...</p>

<p>Is this going to hurt my chances for MIT, Caltech, Stanford, Carnegie Mellon?</p>

2

<p>This happens often in the business world, one writes the letter as if you are the recommender, then you email the letter to the recommender so s/he can revise it.</p>

<p>Include good things that you accomplished on internship and include favorable comments the person made about you.</p>

<p>Because you are likely to remember more of these details than your boss this method will result in a stronger letter than you’d probably get otherwise.</p>

3

<p>Check out the MIT website for some good examples of recs. You might be able to take on the tone of their examples rather than the one you used in your own essays.</p>

4

<p>If you are looking for new voice, see if one of your parents can write it with your input.</p>