What's the difference between recommend and recommend with reservation?

Question

I'm applying for graduate nursing school and need letters of recommendation. Theres a list of answers that you can check off for whatever the person believes is fit for the applicant.

Do not recommend
Recommend
Recommend with reservation
Strongly recommend

I wanted to know what the difference was between "recommend" and "recommend with reservation". Is one better than the other? How would person who is reviewing this judge the applicant if one is checked over the other?

Answer 1

"Recommend with reservation" is basically a polite way of saying that the person doesn't really recommend you. You're a better candidate than someone they would outright refuse to recommend, but if they had the choice they would recommend someone else instead. Obviously, "Recommend" and "strongly recommend" are the better options.

Answer 2

Recommend Without Reservation

Answer 3

If you recommend someone, that's good - if you recommend someone with reservation, that means you generally recommend them, but there's something about them you don't quite like, or that might pose and issue to what they're applying to. So in order of goodness, least to most:



do not recommend

recommend with reservation

recommend

strongly recommend.