Dear CFoley,

Thanks for posting to the forum!

I am sorry to hear that one of your recommendation letters is not as well written as you would have liked. There are a few points to keep in mind about this sort of thing:

1) In many ways, the schools view your selection of recommenders and the end product they produce as a test of your judgment and management skill. In other words, candidates who pick appropriate recommenders and then manage those writers to ensure strong letters typically come across well in the admissions process. Whereas applicants who poorly select their recommenders (not using direct supervisors, going for a 'big name' or alum, using a subordinate, etc) or who choose recommenders that submit poorly written responses will not be viewed as favorably.

2) When it comes to grammatical issues specifically, it's safe to say that your recommenders have a bit more leeway than you do in your essays - but not much. In other words, no admissions officer will dismiss your candidacy over a typo or gramatical slip in your rec letter. Of course, if a letter is riddled with grammatical mistakes, hard to follow or does not answer the questions posed, it could impact your candidacy in a negative way - since the adcom will either assume that the author didn't care enough to take the time and get it right, or that they simply aren't terribly bright (neither of which will reflect well on the applicant).

While I know you are reluctant to sit down with your boss and point out the issues, it might be a worthwhile conversation to have - assuming this hasn't already been submitted.

Best of luck,

Graham

Graham -

Thanks a lot for your quick response.

I work for a small business, and have no other supervisor to ask for a recommendation. I know adcom will be aware that I work in a small environment, and my boss does make it clear in his letter that I am essentially second in command at the organization. He also mentions that he is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries, so I'm hoping that the committee will get the impression that he is an intelligent guy (which he is) who just doesn't write all that well in English.

I have cleaned up the grammar in his letter and tried to streamline the phrasing and organization without changing or adding any content. I think what gets submitted will be seen as not necessarily well written, but no train wreck either.

My other recommendations will come from my supervisor at a previous job (who was also the business owner) and from a former co-worker for whom I have done contract work and with whom I've recently started a small business. Both of those letters will be more well written, but may not have the same impact as they are not from current supervisors.

Given that information, should I still be worried about adcom second-guessing my choice of my current supervisor as a recommender?

- C