PSA: Faculty Don't Owe You a Letter of Recommendation

Just a quick drop that faculty don't owe you a letter of recommendation. We are busy! We don't have time to write you a letter, especially if you did not make a good impression or had poor work.

Writing letters of recommendation is not something we are paid for, nor does it help us in any way with regards to how our performance is evaluated. Writing letters is out of our own personal time and our bosses do not reward us for it at all.

I don't write a letter unless I can actually recommend the student for grad school.

If you want letters, start forming good relationships with faculty members now, don't simply email all your past professors hoping for results.

Hope this helps!