can you ask a ta for a letter?

[Doctor Bagel]

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I'm thinking about asking one of my bio TAs for a letter of recommendation. I know she wouldn't take the place of a science professor recommendation, but I didn't get to know any of my science profs for my postbacc, so the letter I get will probably be sort of lackluster. Would it be useful to supplement that with a potentially really positive letter from a TA? Let me know if it's a really stupid idea. 🙂

 

[carn311]

I did this myself. It is very common at larger schools. (there were 500+ students in each of my gen bio courses)


But as you said this is not a substitute for a letter from a phd.

 

[DrBowtie]

Tell the TA to get it cosigned by the main prof. It gives it more cred.

 

[LT2]

having the prof sign the letter does give it more credibility but the letter still doesn't carry as much weight as it would if the prof wrote it.

also, many grad students don't have a lot of experience writing letters, so make sure if you do ask the ta that you sit down and really hash out what is required/what you think is important to have for the letter.

 

[-Goose-]

I encountered the same problem (but in a philosophy course) and was advised by a member of a adcom that it was acceptable, as long as you have some other phd lors.

good luck!