My teacher wrote me an horrible reference, even when telling her I'm applying for med

6

Basically the title.

She wrote that it's an stretch I will be able to achieve an B in chemistry and just gave an list of the test results I have failed.

When saying the good stuff about (I got 2 A's in my year 12 mock) she stated she doubt I worked for hard for it and I probably cheated. My other references are pretty good and contain all the info I wanted.

The reference was just 2 lines of her bad mouthing me, I don't get the best grades (they're kind of average) but I've been working so hard on chemistry that I got an B in my recent Yr 13 mock.

It kind of hurts because I realised I don't have an supportive teacher in which I can go to for help as I feel she looks down on my because of my grades. I can't even look her in the eyes without feeling so bad - I feel so hurt, betrayed and just embarrassed.

I've been preparing for my med interviews but this keeps coming into my mind when studying - what will I do if I'm not good enough to go into med? Why is it whenever I try my hardest there's something that always puts me down?

I don't know how I got offers with that reference.

Does anyone have advice? I feel so down now I don't know what to do or how to feel

Reply 1

bibachu

14

Original post

by soffiyh

Basically the title.
She wrote that it's an stretch I will be able to achieve an B in chemistry and just gave an list of the test results I have failed.
When saying the good stuff about (I got 2 A's in my year 12 mock) she stated she doubt I worked for hard for it and I probably cheated. My other references are pretty good and contain all the info I wanted.
The reference was just 2 lines of her bad mouthing me, I don't get the best grades (they're kind of average) but I've been working so hard on chemistry that I got an B in my recent Yr 13 mock.
It kind of hurts because I realised I don't have an supportive teacher in which I can go to for help as I feel she looks down on my because of my grades. I can't even look her in the eyes without feeling so bad - I feel so hurt, betrayed and just embarrassed.
I've been preparing for my med interviews but this keeps coming into my mind when studying - what will I do if I'm not good enough to go into med? Why is it whenever I try my hardest there's something that always puts me down?
I don't know how I got offers with that reference.
Does anyone have advice? I feel so down now I don't know what to do or how to feel

Teachers make their judgments based on evidence they’ve seen of your progress. It has nothing to do with your potential to go on to do medicine and everything to do with your performance in a subject at A level. Those grades are important for you to be able to get into university, so it’s important for teachers to right truthful references, though I do think that your teacher’s comments seem a little harsh personally. In any case, your teacher’s opinion does not have to dictate your success. If you continue to work hard, then you may be able to exceed a B grade and go onto medical school successfully, assuming you are able to obtain an offer. In any case, pure reason alone can indicate that if you’ve been invited to interview then they’ve read your application, reference and all, and still deemed you an appropriate candidate to invite to interview. This means that your chances likely haven’t been hindered by your teacher’s comments, unless you have applied to medical schools that don’t look at applications thoroughly before shortlisting candidates for interview (i.e. medical schools that just go based off of stats alone). Not every teacher or academic you meet in life will be supportive or have faith in your abilities, but it’s up to you to prove them wrong.

Reply 2

soffiyh

OP

6

Original post

by bibachu

Teachers make their judgments based on evidence they’ve seen of your progress. It has nothing to do with your potential to go on to do medicine and everything to do with your performance in a subject at A level. Those grades are important for you to be able to get into university, so it’s important for teachers to right truthful references, though I do think that your teacher’s comments seem a little harsh personally. In any case, your teacher’s opinion does not have to dictate your success. If you continue to work hard, then you may be able to exceed a B grade and go onto medical school successfully, assuming you are able to obtain an offer. In any case, pure reason alone can indicate that if you’ve been invited to interview then they’ve read your application, reference and all, and still deemed you an appropriate candidate to invite to interview. This means that your chances likely haven’t been hindered by your teacher’s comments, unless you have applied to medical schools that don’t look at applications thoroughly before shortlisting candidates for interview (i.e. medical schools that just go based off of stats alone). Not every teacher or academic you meet in life will be supportive or have faith in your abilities, but it’s up to you to prove them wrong.

Thanks for your comment. I really needed to hear that. I’m preparing for my interviewing and using the situation as fuel for working more harder on chem.

Reply 3

ageshallnot

21

Original post

by soffiyh

Basically the title.
She wrote that it's an stretch I will be able to achieve an B in chemistry and just gave an list of the test results I have failed.
When saying the good stuff about (I got 2 A's in my year 12 mock) she stated she doubt I worked for hard for it and I probably cheated. My other references are pretty good and contain all the info I wanted.
The reference was just 2 lines of her bad mouthing me, I don't get the best grades (they're kind of average) but I've been working so hard on chemistry that I got an B in my recent Yr 13 mock.
It kind of hurts because I realised I don't have an supportive teacher in which I can go to for help as I feel she looks down on my because of my grades. I can't even look her in the eyes without feeling so bad - I feel so hurt, betrayed and just embarrassed.
I've been preparing for my med interviews but this keeps coming into my mind when studying - what will I do if I'm not good enough to go into med? Why is it whenever I try my hardest there's something that always puts me down?
I don't know how I got offers with that reference.
Does anyone have advice? I feel so down now I don't know what to do or how to feel

Are you saying that she put the part about cheating in your UCAS reference?

Reply 4

soffiyh

OP

6

Original post

by ageshallnot

Are you saying that she put the part about cheating in your UCAS reference?

Yep I don’t think she likes me lol

Reply 5

ageshallnot

21

Original post

by soffiyh

Yep I don’t think she likes me lol

Unusual, to say the least. I didn't think that UCAS referees were allowed to put down such negative comments, particularly unsubstantiated allegations.

Have @PQ or @Admit-One or @McGinger ever come across such a reference?

Reply 6

PQ

Clearing and Applications Advisor, Universities Forum Helper

21

To be honest a reference that includes things that can’t be proven (for example if a teacher stated that they think a pupil cheated but without any evidence or consequences) then that would normally lead to us ignoring the reference as not being evidence based.

Anything negative in a reference has to be a provable fact: “x was investigated for cheating” “x was investigated for cheating and found to have cheated and this was the result” etc etc. “I think”s undermine the referee not the applicant.

(edited 1 year ago)

Reply 7

McGinger

20

Have you actually seen this reference - did the teacher show it to you, or did you ask UCAS?

Reply 8

Admit-One

Universities Forum Helper

21

My first thought was that it doesn’t sound like a very professional reference.

Unless I am misreading you’ve already had some offers anyway? That would suggest your choices felt the same, or don’t use it in any meaningful way at.

Reply 9

Trinculo

21

IF and that's a massive IF, the teacher actually did write the "she probably cheated", you're in luck. Get that evidenced and you're suing the school and making enough money to pay off your student loans. It's page one defamation and negligence.

Unless of course you actually did cheat.

Reply 10

soffiyh

OP

6

Original post

by McGinger

Have you actually seen this reference - did the teacher show it to you, or did you ask UCAS?

Yes I got one of my other subjects teacher to show me what she wrote for my reference. I then checked my other references and saw what my chem teacher wrote. I was quite a shock and embarrassed. Even the teacher (who showed me the reference) just stood there quite shocked and told me not to dwell on it too much.

Reply 11

soffiyh

OP

6

I didn’t but she told nearly half the class they cheated as most of us got A’s and some got B’s. Can I get ucas to send me a copy of the reference? My other teacher is probably not going to show me it again as it may put them in trouble.

Reply 12

Admit-One

Universities Forum Helper

21

Original post

by soffiyh

I didn’t but she told nearly half the class they cheated as most of us got A’s and some got B’s. Can I get ucas to send me a copy of the reference? My other teacher is probably not going to show me it again as it may put them in trouble.

Yes, UCAS will give you a copy of the final submitted reference on request.

Reply 13

mesub

Volunteer Section Leader, Clearing and Applications Advisor

22

Original post

by soffiyh

Yes I got one of my other subjects teacher to show me what she wrote for my reference. I then checked my other references and saw what my chem teacher wrote. I was quite a shock and embarrassed. Even the teacher (who showed me the reference) just stood there quite shocked and told me not to dwell on it too much.

Was this on your 'file' or on the UCAS portal? Somebody else may be in charge of collating everything together, and I'm sure they may leave that out (unless it's this chemistry teacher who does it as well...)

Original post

by soffiyh

I didn’t but she told nearly half the class they cheated as most of us got A’s and some got B’s. Can I get ucas to send me a copy of the reference? My other teacher is probably not going to show me it again as it may put them in trouble.

As above, yes. Once you've submitted your application (i.e. when your school sends it off finally), you are entitled to have a copy of your full application (including your reference) under data protection laws. You can call UCAS to start this process at the right time.

Reply 14

McGinger

20

Original post

by soffiyh

Yes I got one of my other subjects teacher to show me what she wrote for my reference. I then checked my other references and saw what my chem teacher wrote. I was quite a shock and embarrassed. Even the teacher (who showed me the reference) just stood there quite shocked and told me not to dwell on it too much.

You do not know that is what was sent to UCAS.

What is written in individual subject references within school would be used by the 'UCAS person' at your school to compile a UCAS reference - and that would have been written to be positive and supportive, regardless of what individual teachers may have written.

I suspect therefore that you are getting worked up about something that has not actually happened.

I suggest that you go and (calmly) talk to your Head of Sixth Form and ask to see the actual UCAS reference.

Reply 15

soffiyh

OP

6

Original post

by McGinger

You do not know that is what was sent to UCAS.
What is written in individual subject references within school would be used by the 'UCAS person' at your school to compile a UCAS reference - and that would have been written to be positive and supportive, regardless of what individual teachers may have written.
I suspect therefore that you are getting worked up about something that has not actually happened.
I suggest that you go and (calmly) talk to your Head of Sixth Form and ask to see the actual UCAS reference.

I think I understand. We used unifrog so I'm not 100% sure it was put on my reference but the teacher that showed me it stated that these were my references for uni. Thank you so much for your input but I'm just going to forget the whole situation and try to work harder on my subjects. :smile:

Reply 16

totallyfine

12

The Unifrog teacher references are used by the reference writer to produce a final reference and I think the strong likelihood is that it would not make it to the final cut, so I think you can rest assured that all will be ok. I know you want to leave it but you could raise it with your sixth form as this teacher clearly needs better guidance on writing a reference.
Good luck with your studies and I hope your Uni place works out.