Can recommendation letters have negative effects?

Question

i have asked three teachers to write recommendation letters for college. when i asked them they all said that they would be happy to write it for me. but ive read that some letters can have negative effects, such as teachers writing to say that they do not recommend you to the school you are applying. is that true? do they actually mean it when they say "i'd be happy to write it for you"? can they reject if they dont want to write it/ going to say something negative about you?

i dont have these three teachers anymore this year, and so i dont see them so often. im afraid that they would forget about writing the letters for me. should i do anything to remind them? if so, what should i do?

Answer 1

I would have to refute what everyone else has said.  Mainly due to the fact that you would never ask someone to write you a recommendation letter that wouldn't give you the best letter ever!  Second, the person you ask usually would not agree to write it, if they were going to write a negative letter.  

And to respond to what the first person that answered said....you cannot just trash the letter because you do not get to read the letter.  Schools ask for a certified letter which is sealed in an envelope and directly sent to them or either in a sealed envelope that the student can send it....either way you canNOT read the letter.  

Just be careful in who you choose to write your letters.  Pick teachers you know very well!  OH...and it is VERY rude to ask what the teacher wrote in the letter or to ask if you can read the letter...so don't try.

GOOD LUCK!

Answer 2

First of all, I don't know of any teachers that would write a bad letter.  Second of all, if you get a bad letter, simply don't send it in.  Throw it in the shredder.  You're the one who sends in the letters, the teachers just give it to you.  Best of luck!

Answer 3

Yes people can write negative recommendation letters but I would say that it is not typical usually the person would just refuse to write one at all. I would give the teachers two weeks and then remind them casually, just say "Hey, I was wondering if you had a chance to write that recommendation.."

Answer 4

Of course if the letter isn't good, it can have a negative impact.  You can help, by providing them with a HARD COPY, not e-mail, of the classes you took with them, grade received, anything else that was positive...e.g. essay on xyz written.  I ask students to do this when I am requested to write a letter, it greatly helps, considering I have hundreds of students every academic year.  Good luck to you!  (college professor)