Thank you for answering my question and for your insights as always, Dean Z! LoR is the only part I still need before submitting my application, and this video couldn't have come out at a better time. I'll make sure to approach my recommenders with your advice in mind.
I think the politician thing might have helped in the past. When I was applying for grad school my great aunt (born in the early 30's) was convinced that her father who was a long time assemblyman would have been a huge help to me for getting in if he was still alive.
When I submitted my letters of rec, I was prompted to affirm that I never read the letters. Wouldn't that preclude me from writing a draft for my recommender?
Not necessarily. The recommender almost always makes some tweaks to the draft you sent them, so _technically_ you never read the letter they submitted to LSAC.
I mean, even if that’s technically true (I’m sure it isn’t always), I’m not sure minor edits are sufficient to say you haven’t read it. If you read the first version of a book that’s later edited, would you ever say you didn’t read the book?
This is actually a great example of the linguistic nitpicking that lawyers do. You can easily argue that you never read the specific letter uploaded by your recommender. The same thing could apply to a book. I might have read the rough draft, but the published version will be something new to me.
hi Dean Z! thanks for the video. I already submitted my application to Michigan Law but have not submitted a professional lor (I’ve been out of uni for 3 years), but after watching several of your videos, I think I should. How should I submit an additional lor to the law school? Do I get my recommender to email the admissions office, do we both email the office, or.....? thxx
Dean Z, could you please help me? What about asking former college colleagues that are on their way to become academics themselves, for example already Master/Doctoral candidates? Are those perceived as friends and so inappropriate for writing a recommendation.? I assume they would be great for statements about social skills, team work, leadership, etc.
These would not be great choices for a letter; you want to have someone who has been in a position to supervise you and your work, and who can compare you to other people. “College colleagues” does sound a lot like friends, and friends don’t have the objective distance that you’d want in a letter writer.
Dear Dean Z, Thank you very much for your video! I have requested two rec letters from my professors. However, I emailed them my original personal statement when I requested the letters but changed my PS topics and "why I want to go to law school" later. I was wondering if it is necessary to ask my recommenders to update the letters since they may have included materials from my original PS. Thanks!
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I can't believe people ask their parents to write their LOR! That sounds very entertaining to read lol
Wow, this was a good one. Helpful to letter writers as well. Never applying to law school!
Thank you for answering my question, Dean Z! This was super helpful!
I find your videos immensely helpful for my University of Michigan application coming up soon, thank you so much
Thanks for the videos! I think an overview of the different uses for colons and semicolons would be a great grammar topic for the future.
Thank you for answering my question and for your insights as always, Dean Z! LoR is the only part I still need before submitting my application, and this video couldn't have come out at a better time. I'll make sure to approach my recommenders with your advice in mind.
I think the politician thing might have helped in the past. When I was applying for grad school my great aunt (born in the early 30's) was convinced that her father who was a long time assemblyman would have been a huge help to me for getting in if he was still alive.
This is great, thank you so much for this video :) !
These videos are super helpful! Thank you so much!
I love singular they!! I'm singular they's number 1 fan!
When I submitted my letters of rec, I was prompted to affirm that I never read the letters. Wouldn't that preclude me from writing a draft for my recommender?
Not necessarily. The recommender almost always makes some tweaks to the draft you sent them, so _technically_ you never read the letter they submitted to LSAC.
I mean, even if that’s technically true (I’m sure it isn’t always), I’m not sure minor edits are sufficient to say you haven’t read it. If you read the first version of a book that’s later edited, would you ever say you didn’t read the book?
This is actually a great example of the linguistic nitpicking that lawyers do. You can easily argue that you never read the specific letter uploaded by your recommender. The same thing could apply to a book. I might have read the rough draft, but the published version will be something new to me.
My Mom and Dad know me best. Lol.
hi Dean Z! thanks for the video. I already submitted my application to Michigan Law but have not submitted a professional lor (I’ve been out of uni for 3 years), but after watching several of your videos, I think I should. How should I submit an additional lor to the law school? Do I get my recommender to email the admissions office, do we both email the office, or.....? thxx
Good Q! The best way is to submit via LSAC, but also fine to have letter writer email our office.
@@umichlaw thank you!
Dean Z, could you please help me? What about asking former college colleagues that are on their way to become academics themselves, for example already Master/Doctoral candidates?
Are those perceived as friends and so inappropriate for writing a recommendation.? I assume they would be great for statements about social skills, team work, leadership, etc.
These would not be great choices for a letter; you want to have someone who has been in a position to supervise you and your work, and who can compare you to other people. “College colleagues” does sound a lot like friends, and friends don’t have the objective distance that you’d want in a letter writer.
Dear Dean Z,
Thank you very much for your video! I have requested two rec letters from my professors. However, I emailed them my original personal statement when I requested the letters but changed my PS topics and "why I want to go to law school" later. I was wondering if it is necessary to ask my recommenders to update the letters since they may have included materials from my original PS. Thanks!
Is it oky for LOR to address "to whom it may concern"?
Also nice explanation re pronouns!