Can you have two faculties to write you one LOR?

[DameJulie]

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There are two professors from the same department taught me in two different courses (Biochem I & II). I had great relationships with both professors, and would like to ask them for LOR.

Here's the problem: Both professors had guest lectures in each other's classes (but are not listed as co-instructors). They know each other very well.

Would it be wise to ask both of them to co-write a LOR to compel a stronger recommendation? Or should I ask them to write two separate LORs? I am not lack of other science LORs, and need to have the strongest quality of recommendation if it takes two professor in one LOR.

 

[infectiousdisease101]

You don't need a 100 dollar bill to have $100. You can have 2 50s and still have $100.

I was going to use a dollar and two half dollar coins, but nobody makes those anymore (I don't think).

Edit: I bet @HomeSkool will steal this analogy too.

 

[HomeSkool]

Asking them to co-write a single letter is weird, and it would not go over well. It would be a slap in the face to both because you'd essentially be saying, "Your recommendation doesn't carry enough weight on its own." My guess is that they'd both decline and you'd get no letter at all.

@infectiousdisease101: Why ask for two $50 bills when you can get...

 

[Perfect Hair Day]

I agree this is unusual and would likely be received as such, both by the faculty you mention as well as an admissions committee should they ever agree to write it. Ask each one for a letter individually.

 

[infectiousdisease101]

Just out of curiosity, when you say you're not "lack of" other science letters, did you mean you're not lacking and still have other science professors?

@HomeSkool, because there's no $200 bill go make the analogy.

 

[Goro]

There are two professors from the same department taught me in two different courses (Biochem I & II). I had great relationships with both professors, and would like to ask them for LOR.

Here's the problem: Both professors had guest lectures in each other's classes (but are not listed as co-instructors). They know each other very well.

Would it be wise to ask both of them to co-write a LOR to compel a stronger recommendation? Or should I ask them to write two separate LORs? I am not lack of other science LORs, and need to have the strongest quality of recommendation if it takes two professor in one LOR.

Why on Earth would you think that this is a good idea?

 

[freedoctor17]

Lol I'm sorry but this had me laughing. I just imagined both professors sitting at a cafe arguing over what they wanted to say about how great you were

 

[infectiousdisease101]

Now, now, now. Let's not be too harsh on OP.

 

[HomeSkool]

@HomeSkool, because there's no $200 bill go make the analogy.

Sure, there is.

$200 bill accepted by store clerk

 

[DameJulie]

Just out of curiosity, when you say you're not "lack of" other science letters, did you mean you're not lacking and still have other science professors?

Yes. I was thinking maybe the two biochem professor can write one letter and the other sci letter can be from another professor from a different subject.

Why on Earth would you think that this is a good idea?

A simple "no, that's not a good idea" will do, Goro. No need for the unnecessary hostility against applicants. I proposed an idea about two professors co-writing a LOR, and opened the discussion of whether it would be a good idea. But thanks for your reply.

You don't need a 100 dollar bill to have $100. You can have 2 50s and still have $100.

I was going to use a dollar and two half dollar coins, but nobody makes those anymore (I don't think).

Edit: I bet @HomeSkool will steal this analogy too.

Thanks for the analogy. I was hoping for using the $100 bill to buy $200 worth of stuff 🙂

 

[freedoctor17]

Yes. I was thinking maybe the two biochem professor can write one letter and the other sci letter can be from another professor from a different subject.



A simple "no, that's not a good idea" will do, Goro. No need for the unnecessary hostility against applicants. I proposed an idea about two professors co-writing a LOR, and opened the discussion of whether it would be a good idea. But thanks for your reply.


Thanks for the analogy. I was hoping for using the $100 bill to buy $200 worth of stuff 🙂

Sorry I laughed, I've probably asked questions that others have laughed at, the image I saw in my head was just super funny 😛

 

[Microbug]

Yes. I was thinking maybe the two biochem professor can write one letter and the other sci letter can be from another professor from a different subject.



A simple "no, that's not a good idea" will do, Goro. No need for the unnecessary hostility against applicants. I proposed an idea about two professors co-writing a LOR, and opened the discussion of whether it would be a good idea. But thanks for your reply.


Thanks for the analogy. I was hoping for using the $100 bill to buy $200 worth of stuff 🙂

But like... did you actually think it through before asking... ? What did you think was going to happen? The two professor would meet up to write it? Or one writes half and then other one writes half? What good things can possibly result from the scenario?

 

[Goro]

But like... did you actually think it through before asking... ? What did you think was going to happen? The two professor would meet up to write it? Or one writes half and then other one writes half? What good things can possibly result from the scenario?

Somebody gets it.

 

[DoctorSnow]

Why on Earth would you think that this is a good idea?

Isn't this what cosigning letters of rec is? I remember coming onto SDN to ask about which person to have a LOR from and your advice was to have one teacher write it and cosign it with my department chair/boss. At least, I think that's what OP was meaning???

 

[Perfect Hair Day]

This isnt as weird an idea as people make it out to be. I have seen from a veryapplicants, usually from small or from small departments where everyone knows the student and write a single letter with multiple signers. Sometimes it is the department chair who writes a letter with details from other faculty. This would be more like an informal committee letter than anything else. I wouldnt necessarily recommend this route especially for a young student who may be walking into a political mine field by asking each.

Heh, isn't that what medical school is these days anyway?

 

[DameJulie]

At least, I think that's what OP was meaning???

My situation is a bit different. I was thinking of asking two different professors who taught me two different classes (but same subject) to co-write a letter together, hoping maybe making this a stronger letter than one professor writing it alone.

This isnt as weird an idea as people make it out to be.

Thank you for your friendly advice, gonnif. It makes me feel that SDN is still a safe community to ask questions.

 

[Microbug]

My situation is a bit different. I was thinking of asking two different professors who taught me two different classes (but same subject) to co-write a letter together, hoping maybe making this a stronger letter than one professor writing it alone.


Thank you for your friendly advice, gonnif. It makes me feel that SDN is still a safe community to ask questions.

There’s gonna be people who say harsh things all the time throughout your life, don’t be so sensitive. Patients can give you much harder times, are you only going to see nice, polite “safe” patients, develop some thicker skin and look at things in good lights with a sense of humor

 

[DoctorSnow]

There’s gonna be people who say harsh things all the time throughout your life

I second this. Literally had a patient spit in my face and tell me somewhere I could place my glucometer...(it wasn't in my pocket)