Some time back, well certainly I knew my application in one of the IVY league would be declined, YET, I thought to apply for a certain program. As I was going through the requirements, there were three recommendations needed. So, I honestly asked them that: would one recommendation be acceptable, as only that many I can arrange! I received a genuine response in the email that no exceptions could be considered. I never applied further, but, I had few reservations about it:
1. Firstly, which method or study proves that recommendations always, or maybe, even on a normal scale, works?;
2. Secondly, recommendations are alike internal examinations & assessments. Thus, if you’ve a good repo with your guide; then, you would certainly get a good internal grade. Correct? The same goes for recommendations as well, as I’ve never gone through any such news wherein, the person sending recommendations, sent negative feedback; and,
3. Thirdly, let’s us say I had somehow arranged Three Recommendations of certain top individuals for my application. Now, what was the guarantee that I’m now eligible to be efficient or trustworthy or transparent or original enough? Because those who’re sending the recommendations now would want me to evolve in their image!
Now, expand the above example on a larger scale, and perceive, discern, analyze it calmly; that in the last several millennia, we actually built foundations, generations, literatures, texts, philosophies, psychologies, on the basis of recommendations only! Add different faiths to it eventually. And then moving forward, in the modern times, amplify that with the help of P.R. agencies, which is now the conscious of the mainstream.
Thus think about it; is it Worth?
© Pranav Chaturvedi 2024