Appropriate to ask letter from professor who's class I didn't take

[moemoekyun]

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Hi SDN, I know this is alot, so near the end is my actual question, rest is background I feel someone may ask so I wanted to cover it.

I'm in the process of completing my letter packet for this upcoming application cycle and before I meet with the person in charge, I want to make sure this is ok. I'm going for 5 letters, 3 professors, 2 others, and so far I have some confirmed.

For the professors, I am asking 3 science as I have only taken one non science at my undergrad years ago and the professor left. 2 professors I'm comfortable asking is one I took 2 classes with, got As, UTA'd his molec bio/biochem lab for 3 semesters, helped him with his question board, etc and he offered to write me a letter. I heard he's real personal with letters so his should stand out. Another is an MD/PHD who I took all 3 of her clinically focused classes and got As (one W due to bad planning, but A later). She agreed to write me a letter, says I'm smart and would make a good doctor, even kicking me out of her office once as she already knows me and doing well in the class (though I heard hers are template, she gives presentations on how to ask for letters and always talks about students going to med school, her classes are to prepare us, etc).

Now the real question: for the 3rd professor, I have asked 3 others who I have taken classes and got As in who all said they would write a letter, but weren't as enthusiastic: one recently tenured Biochem 2 professor who I emailed and agreed, when I asked if he wanted me to come to his office to discuss this, he said no. I heard he writes good letters for others, but I always feel like I'm bothering him, esp when I took his class and asked questions, he looked annoyed; one tenured Metabolism professor who I would chat with in the bar about material and how pre-meds "follow a list" and don't learn anything. He understands how challenging letters are, he told me he would write a good one for me, but there's not much for him to talk about other than I appreciate the material, serious, all stuff that is expected anyways; third one is a Biochem lab visiting lecturer who left, but we stay in touch and considers me a good friend. He would write a strong one, but I worry he's too young (phD 2 years old) and he doesn't like the premed zombies (Aaaaaa) and thinks I would be better off in research.

Ok, the real question: I have tutored for a Genetics instructor (doesn't have phD, don't think she's tenured, but she's been teaching longer than I've been alive) and she has seen me outside of the classroom leading study sessions and at the end of the semester has told me she would write a strong letter whenever I needed it. She has taught for awhile and has written many letters over her years so I see she's qualified and knows what to write and is focused on students, teaching many classes, lots of hours, etc., but I'm concerned that I haven't taken any classes with her. I want to ask her for a letter as she is more enthusiastic about writing a letter for me compared to the others (she offered to) but I haven't taken classes with her.

Any advice is appreciated. I plan to talk to the premed office either this week or next, but I want to get started on the rest of the letters ASAP.

 

[ndafife]

1. There are schools that will ask for a non-science professor LOR. Check the LOR requirements for the schools you are applying to.

2. Is the 3rd professor going to add anything the other two are not? You don't need a bunch of LOR's that say the exact same thing.

 

[moemoekyun]

1. There are schools that will ask for a non-science professor LOR. Check the LOR requirements for the schools you are applying to.

2. Is the 3rd professor going to add anything the other two are not? You don't need a bunch of LOR's that say the exact same thing.

1. Several schools I want to apply to say it's ok. I've tutored (didn't take his class) for a religion professor who may write me a letter, but doesn't know me too well or can say anything amazing so I'm looking for a 3rd science.

2. I'm not going to see the letters so I wouldn't know. I would imagine it will be different as each professor has seen me in a different light (one teaches clinical related classes, one I've taken molec bio classes with, TA'd for and did "mini-research", and one I've "tutored" for). Schools I have looked at in general say 3 faculty letters.

 

[wowsers]

A third science letter seems like overkill. I wouldn't do have that be a part of my app if I were in your shoes. Doesn't sound like it would add much

 

[moemoekyun]

So it turns out the professor I tutored for can only write a character non-faculty letter, which works fine for me. She's enthusiastic about writing one and she's had enough students go to med school so I'll ask her.

 

[RutgersAR]

So it turns out the professor I tutored for can only write a character non-faculty letter, which works fine for me. She's enthusiastic about writing one and she's had enough students go to med school so I'll ask her.

Just so you know, I had a similar letter written for me in a similar situation (I had actually taken the class with the prof, but we never talked until after the class when I offered to tutor for her). She wrote an excellent letter, and it was specifically mentioned in two interviews. I think many professor letters blend together because they all say similar things so when the adcoms see a hybrid style letter (I.E. it depends upon mastery of material but isn't about your classwork) it can really be advantageous!

 

[moemoekyun]

Just so you know, I had a similar letter written for me in a similar situation (I had actually taken the class with the prof, but we never talked until after the class when I offered to tutor for her). She wrote an excellent letter, and it was specifically mentioned in two interviews. I think many professor letters blend together because they all say similar things so when the adcoms see a hybrid style letter (I.E. it depends upon mastery of material but isn't about your classwork) it can really be advantageous!

That sounds great 🙂 My school has a dept that assigns "tutors" to professors and she had no one, so I volunteered to work for her (I was already doing biochem) and she told the class and my boss how grateful she was, she loves the program, etc. I was worried that she would be another science faculty, but now I'm more grateful that she offered to write me one. Thanks!