Did I harm any chance for a good rec letter? (Research)

[Green_Goose]

---

Members don't see this ad.

-

 

[MonkeyArrow]

Go back next semester and go back to the lab and feel things out. However, getting a B in a research-for-credit class is not great, and I don't know if he could write you a strong letter of recommendation, especially for a summer research program now.

 

[Green_Goose]

Go back next semester and go back to the lab and feel things out. However, getting a B in a research-for-credit class is not great, and I don't know if he could write you a strong letter of recommendation, especially for a summer research program now.

Yep, that's what I was planning on doing, our new semester starts tomorrow. Do you think I still have a shot for getting a good letter for this cycle? I don't plan on getting a letter for my old lab and I feel like it would look very sketchy if I didn't at least get one from this lab.

 

[HomeSkool]

is this something that's going to haunt me if I end up asking for a rec letter?

Answer: stop worrying about it. Whether or not the e-mail or the B will hurt you, it's water under the bridge now. Tormenting yourself won't change that, it'll only make you miserable. So let it go. Don't waste another second fretting about it.

I guess I have a few months left to fix it, but I'm also going to need a letter if I end up applying for summer research programs :/

The best way to fix this is to do great work in the lab. It sounds like the postdoc gave you feedback that you can use to improve your performance, so make a point of specifically addressing the weak areas he pointed out. You don't need to have a dedicated follow-up discussion. When I give a trainee feedback about how to improve their performance, I don't want them to keep coming back and saying, "Did you see how much better I'm doing?" I want them to just do it and trust that I'm an observant guy who can see their improvement. (And believe me, after I give performance improvement feedback, I'm watching.)

As for getting a good letter, just ask him directly, "Can you write me a strong letter of recommendation?" If the answer is no, you've lost nothing. If it's yes, you've got a great letter. Anyone you approach for an LOR knows you're doing it to look out for your own interests; there's nothing wrong with that and you don't have to try to hide it by being coy. If someone's willing to write you a strong LOR, they're not going to downgrade it to a lukewarm one just because you asked if it would be strong.

 

[Green_Goose]

Answer: stop worrying about it. Whether or not the e-mail or the B will hurt you, it's water under the bridge now. Tormenting yourself won't change that, it'll only make you miserable. So let it go. Don't waste another second fretting about it.


The best way to fix this is to do great work in the lab. It sounds like the postdoc gave you feedback that you can use to improve your performance, so make a point of specifically addressing the weak areas he pointed out. You don't need to have a dedicated follow-up discussion. When I give a trainee feedback about how to improve their performance, I don't want them to keep coming back and saying, "Did you see how much better I'm doing?" I want them to just do it and trust that I'm an observant guy who can see their improvement. (And believe me, after I give performance improvement feedback, I'm watching.)

As for getting a good letter, just ask him directly, "Can you write me a strong letter of recommendation?" If the answer is no, you've lost nothing. If it's yes, you've got a great letter. Anyone you approach for an LOR knows you're doing it to look out for your own interests; there's nothing wrong with that and you don't have to try to hide it by being coy. If someone's willing to write you a strong LOR, they're not going to downgrade it to a lukewarm one just because you asked if it would be strong.

Thanks for your thoughtful response. My postdoc seemed to believe I was capable of succeeding, so I'm going to put in more hours this semester and really buckle down, and hopefully improve his opinion of me.

But in regards to having lost nothing by not getting a strong letter, I was worried it would be a red flag to adcoms if I didn't have a letter from a research position where I put in several months of work. How big of a problem do you think that would be?

 

[Robin-jay]

I'd personally be weary of asking a post-doc for a letter of rec. for three reasons:

1.) Its not a professor.
2.) In your case, I'd almost question the quality of a letter written by someone who gave you a "B" in research.
3.) A post-doc may not be experienced yet in writing quality LORs.

But that's just my opinion. If you think he will write you a great letter, then ask for sure!

 

[HomeSkool]

But in regards to having lost nothing by not getting a strong letter, I was worried it would be a red flag to adcoms if I didn't have a letter from a research position where I put in several months of work. How big of a problem do you think that would be?

Sorry, when I said you'd lose nothing, I meant by asking for a strong letter rather than just asking for a letter and leaving it at that. Some premeds worry about whether it's OK to specifically ask for a strong letter. It's totally fine to ask that directly.

And it probably wouldn't be much of a problem not to get a letter from that postdoc. Play your cards right by getting to know your professors and getting great non-research ECs, and you should be just fine on LORs.

 

[Green_Goose]

I'd personally be weary of asking a post-doc for a letter of rec. for three reasons:

1.) Its not a professor.
2.) In your case, I'd almost question the quality of a letter written by someone who gave you a "B" in research.
3.) A post-doc may not be experienced yet in writing quality LORs.

But that's just my opinion. If you think he will write you a great letter, then ask for sure!

Yeah good point, but if I was to get a letter from my postdoc my plan would be to get it cosigned by my PI

 

[Robin-jay]

Yeah good point, but if I was to get a letter from my postdoc my plan would be to get it cosigned by my PI

I didn't know that was a thing, but sounds reasonable.

 

[Green_Goose]

I didn't know that was a thing, but sounds reasonable.

I'm hoping it's a thing lol

 

[Robin-jay]

I'm hoping it's a thing lol

One of the ADCOMs here will probably shortly get back to you on that.