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ishcabibble
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Retired recommender and therefore no letterhead! 10 Aug 2007, 08:45
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So, one of the people that I asked to write me a letter of recommendation has retired. He is a former supervisor with whom I worked very closely at a previous job. He is a great guy, who only ever had great things to say about me to whoever would listen, and I know that he will write me a fantastic letter.

The problem is that I just noticed that on the application it says that letters of recommendation must be on official academic or business letterhead. Does anyone know why this is mandatory? It's not like I'm getting a peer to write me a letter, or that he is trying to claim that he still works at the organization he retired from. Any suggestions? Should I find someone else who still works someplace that I used to, even though the letter wouldn't be as good?

P.S. My current boss already wrote me a letter. I need three.
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aviroop
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Retired recommender and therefore no letterhead! 10 Aug 2007, 10:44
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My boss did not give me a LOR on official business document. A letter head can raise issues of liability, so it will be hard for anyone to give you a letter, unless they are comfortable with you.
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abhishek.sardana
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Retired recommender and therefore no letterhead! 10 Aug 2007, 11:21
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ishcabibble
So, one of the people that I asked to write me a letter of recommendation has retired. He is a former supervisor with whom I worked very closely at a previous job. He is a great guy, who only ever had great things to say about me to whoever would listen, and I know that he will write me a fantastic letter.

The problem is that I just noticed that on the application it says that letters of recommendation must be on official academic or business letterhead. Does anyone know why this is mandatory? It's not like I'm getting a peer to write me a letter, or that he is trying to claim that he still works at the organization he retired from. Any suggestions? Should I find someone else who still works someplace that I used to, even though the letter wouldn't be as good?

P.S. My current boss already wrote me a letter. I need three.
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Which schools want it on official letter head?
I think most of the recommendations are online.
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kryzak
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Retired recommender and therefore no letterhead! 10 Aug 2007, 12:12
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yeah, aren't most recommendations online these days?
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ishcabibble
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Retired recommender and therefore no letterhead! 10 Aug 2007, 12:43
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Nope, not for OSU! They still require a letter on paper, in an envelope, with the recommender's signature across the seal.

Quote:
My boss did not give me a LOR on official business document. A letter head can raise issues of liability, so it will be hard for anyone to give you a letter, unless they are comfortable with you.
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I would not have even thought about this. One of my recommenders is my current boss (actually, they had me write my own letter-talk about awkward), and another is the immediate past president (I'm the new president) of an organization I belong to and she used her company's letterhead. Neither person even mentioned having issues with using company letterhead.

However, as an update, after I decided that I didn't care if I sounded like an idiot, I called the graduate admissions office and asked them. They immediately said not to worry about it, that it was not a big deal if a letter is not on letterhead. After I hung up the phone, I had to wonder, why do they bother stating, in 2 places on the recommender form and on the website, in bold letters nonetheless, that "Each recommendation must include the completed Reference Form as well as a separate letter from your recommender written and signed on academic or business
letterhead stationery." if it's not necessary?
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mbadart07
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Retired recommender and therefore no letterhead! 13 Aug 2007, 20:04
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Ish,

You dont need to have the letterhead for the recommendation letters. Your recommenders can submit the letters online, wherein you just need to past the content of the letters in the stipulated boxes in the online app.
Hope this helps!!
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ishcabibble
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Retired recommender and therefore no letterhead! 16 Aug 2007, 08:29
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mbadart07, I just started filling out the online application yesterday, and indeed you are right, there is an option for recommenders to post their letters online. Maybe it's just because I'm applying for the PT program, but I've attended 2 info. sessions and have been over the website numerous times, and no where did it say that recommendations could be done online. However, there are several places (both on the website and during the info. sessions) where it is mentioned how paper letters are to be handled. Sheesh!

Oh well, I already have my three letters so it really doesn't matter now!