Deep into the armpit of this unusual and physically demanding semester, a former student wrote to ask if I could submit letters of recommendation to what looks to be about ten or so colleges and universities.  If you haven't applied recently to a college or university, you will find that there are often online sites to do so and if there are not, there are additional forms to fill out and send with the letter.  For me, that would mean either going online and going through all the screens and clicking appropriately and uploading or printing, attaching, and mailing to ten places.

I don't have it in me right now.  I told her I'd write a catch-all letter and send her copies.  I can do that.  I have that in me.  But that will likely not help, but having done my quota of about five letters of recommendation already, I thought I could write a general letter.  Here is a good example of a letter.  If any of you need it, feel free to up or download at will:

Dear Admissions Officers--

I am writing to forward the application of Student X, who I have known for about 65 days.  She appeared on the first day of the semester, and to her credit, hasn't gotten bored enough to fling herself out of my classroom.  In fact, she even showed up the day that it rained and I canceled class.  I know that because she let me know.  She's shown up, been on time, and dresses really nicely.

What do I know?  She has a good stack of paper to print her papers on--she doesn't type on the other side as some of my students do, thinking I'm all about saving the planet.  I am, of course, but not in freshman composition.  She actually writes her papers, which is an encouraging sign.  She brings them in to class, and she turns them in.  They aren't bad, but my standards, truly, have gone down in recent years.  I'm all about a subject/verb/object in the right order if I can get it.

What else?  What else?  She doesn't say much, but I like to do all the talking, so I can't really take that into account.  She says she likes science, but I don't get that at all.  She doesn't mingle much with the other students, and that goes in her favor as well as they are a swarm of rabble rousers.

But really, just take her.  I know all about the budget crises you are going through.  She probably isn't a scholarship candidate and will be paying full price.  What skin is it off your nose?  Take her, for god's sake.  I can't be writing these damn letters every freaking semester.

If you want to know more about me, please let me know.

Best,

Jessica