On the Use of Letters of Recommendation in Astronomy and Astrophysics Graduate Admissions
Letters of recommendation are a common tool used in graduate admissions. Most admissions systems require three letters for each applicant, burdening both letter writers and admissions committees with a heavy work load that may not be time well-spent. Most applicants do not have three research advisors who can comment meaningfully on research readiness, adding a large number of letters that are not useful. Ideally, letters of recommendation will showcase the studentsâ promise for a research career, but in practice, the letters often do not fulfill this purpose.
Authors
- Lía Corrales (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5466-3817)
- Anne M. Medling (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7421-2944)
- Laura Blecha (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2183-1087)
- Rachel Bezanson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5063-8254)
- Kristen B. W. McQuinn (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5538-2614)
- Ryan F. Trainor (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6967-7322)
- Vera Gluscevic (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3589-8637)
- Jessica K. Werk (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0355-0134)
- Noel D. Richardson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2806-9339)
- Laura B. Chomiuk (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8400-3705)
- Darcy Barron (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1623-5651)
Institutions
- University of Southern California (US)
- University of Pittsburgh (US)
- Franklin & Marshall College (US)
- University of Washington (US)
- University of Michigan (US)
- California Southern University (US)
- University of Florida (US)
- Rutgers Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (NL)
- Michigan State University (US)
- University of Toledo (US)
Publication Details
- Published
- 2024-12-11
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3847/25c2cfeb.5474fe92
- Primary Topic
- Medical Education and Admissions
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Research Corporation for Science Advancement
- China Scholarship Council