
As encouragement to all, I have two main things to say: Yes, there are people out there who read these letters of recommendation (in fact, it's part of their job). Thus, your work is significant and worthwhile. And remember, an individual letter writer is but one voice among several singing in support of an applicant. Therefore, each letter need not describe its subject completely; rather, it need only give an informed perspective from within the context that the author and applicant know each other.