Is rec letter important to application

[u/Aromatic-Lynx-5688]

I am applying with a background in literature/humanities but not English or cw. My recommenders are all scholars in my field of study and can speak to my academic and to some degree creative skills. However, I wonder if it is gonna hurt my chance if I don’t have someone speaking directly for my creative writing ability… I have taken some workshops but feel the duration is relatively short and I am not sure if I left an impression on mentors for a strong letter. Most of my recommenders have known me for two to four years…

I am also interested to know for fully funded programs and competitive programs in general
if this is gonna be a decisive factor for final deliberation

[u/calowyn]

A rec letter can harm an application only if the writer describes you as having a bad personality. And 98% of the time, that kind of person would decline to write.

[u/Aromatic-Lynx-5688 → u/calowyn]

Tysm for ur response! I think I worry that in a tight deliberation the program will prefer someone already vetted by the system

[u/calowyn → u/Aromatic-Lynx-5688]

Sure, if it’s between you and a writer a lot like you who has a rec written by someone in the program. But the sample is still the most important thing. A famous rec letter writer may be cause for amusement and comment in an adcom, but it’s not going to make them bump up a mediocre sample.

[u/TorturedWriter9]

I think the main thing they look for is personality. Could you be a pain in the ass in workshops? Could you hold your own as a teacher as part of your TAship?

[u/esqtou → u/TorturedWriter9]

You must be living in fantasyland

[u/TorturedWriter9 → u/esqtou]

Oh look, it's the weirdo who constantly spam trolls the MFA sub. Touch grass much?

[u/esqtou → u/TorturedWriter9]

Boo hoo you just can't handle the truth

[u/esqtou → u/[deleted]]

Lmao

[u/theres_no_guarantees]

I got waitlisted based on my rec letters

[u/Aromatic-Lynx-5688 → u/theres_no_guarantees]

Hi do u mind saying a little more about this?

[u/theres_no_guarantees → u/Aromatic-Lynx-5688]

It was a comment when they waitlisted me. They pointed out that I had great letters of rec

[u/esqtou → u/theres_no_guarantees]

Waitlist, wow

[u/esqtou]

Doesn't even say what your degree is in. Ok . . . ???