Bad LOR

[LightShallBringVictory]

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Hello all,

I was wondering if anyone could give me advice on my LORs... in brief, I worked for this professor for about two years, from whom I took my pre-req classes. I did very well in the classes, and I thought I would do well in the lab, but I didn't. I spent ~12 to 15 hours every week except during breaks, but I could not make great contribution to his lab. After working for him for ~2 years, I left his team due to time constraints from family/financial issues. However, because I made great commitment despite the lack of contribution, I decided to ask him for a letter.

After contacting him about the letter the other week, he said that the letter would be about my performance in the classes and my achievement in his lab. It was then I decided not to receive his letter.

However, my ECs are research-oriented... I did a research internship at some other institution, but the majority of my research experience (hour wise) was from when I worked in this professor's lab.
Because my work did not result in publications (or posters), I thought I should really get a good letter from him that reflects other aspects, like commitment and my passion for research. I am leaning towards not receiving the letter, but I am just worried because my research experience from his team would just be "nothing" without a letter. I would have about 5 letters without one from him. One very strong one, and with others being decent. Will I be okay with LORs? 🙁

 

[TexasSurgeon]

Hello all,

I was wondering if anyone could give me advice on my LORs... in brief, I worked for this professor for about two years, from whom I took my pre-req classes. I did very well in the classes, and I thought I would do well in the lab, but I didn't. I spent ~12 to 15 hours every week except during breaks, but I could not make great contribution to his lab. After working for him for ~2 years, I left his team due to time constraints from family/financial issues. However, because I made great commitment despite the lack of contribution, I decided to ask him for a letter.

After contacting him about the letter the other week, he said that the letter would be about my performance in the classes and my achievement in his lab in an honest way. It was then I decided not to receive his letter.

However, my ECs are research-oriented... I did a research internship at some other institution, but the majority of my research experience (hour wise) was from when I worked in this professor's lab.
Because my work did not result in publications (or posters), I thought I should really get a good letter from him that reflects other aspects, like commitment and my passion for research. I am leaning towards not receiving the letter, but I am just worried because my research experience from his team would just be "nothing" without a letter. I would have about 5 letters without one from him. One very strong one, and with others being decent. Will I be okay with LORs? 🙁

Sounds like your professor is more concerned with what he gains out of you rather than what he can give you in terms of training. You might want to ask for a strong letter of recommendation from him if you can one more time. But I would just forget this professor.

 

[LightShallBringVictory]

Thank you @gonnif and @TexasSurgeon for your advice. I do not think I will receive the letter from him. I do not know how my research experience will be viewed now, given that there are 0 publications AND without a PI letter. But I believe it is better than a bad letter...