Does your professors title matter in recommendation?

[Smiley25]

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I am currently collecting letters of evaluation from my professors and I discovered that the biology professor I asked has her masters NOT PhD! I already have 1-Physical Chemistry, 1-Organic Chemistry, and 1-Dentist, but I saw some schools ask that students have a bio and chem rec. I believe that she will write me a great recommendation as she volunteered to write one after completing her class! She also referred me out to several students in her class to privately tutor and I did independent studies under her.

I can't believe I never knew she didn't have her PhD!!! I ALWAYS called her Doctor....oops! 😳 I just thought all professors had their PhD! Does anyone else have experience in the matter or any advice? I really don't think any other bio professor could write me a letter as personal and accurate as she could. Do dental schools really look at their title to weigh the significance of the letter? Thanks!

 

[erk005]

I am currently collecting letters of evaluation from my professors and I discovered that the biology professor I asked has her masters NOT PhD! I already have 1-Physical Chemistry, 1-Organic Chemistry, and 1-Dentist, but I saw some schools ask that students have a bio and chem rec. I believe that she will write me a great recommendation as she volunteered to write one after completing her class! She also referred me out to several students in her class to privately tutor and I did independent studies under her.

I can't believe I never knew she didn't have her PhD!!! I ALWAYS called her Doctor....oops! 😳 I just thought all professors had their PhD! Does anyone else have experience in the matter or any advice? I really don't think any other bio professor could write me a letter as personal and accurate as she could. Do dental schools really look at their title to weigh the significance of the letter? Thanks!

I wouldn't think they care as long as it is written by a biology professor. Do you go to NAU by any chance...this describes a cellular and molecular Biology professor I had very well.

 

[angelnyc89]

I think you should get the LOR from her. You did well in her class and did a study under her and also tutored some of her students. She can write a really good recommendation.

 

[dentaldawg32]

At a certain interview at a very research-oriented school that shall remain nameless, one of my recommendations was called into question as the professor had the title of "Assistant Professor" and was relatively young with little experience (although he did have his Ph.D., which is the norm). Suffice to say, they were not impressed and asked why I didn't choose a different professor, whose name carried more clout in the field.

Take this anecdote with a grain of salt, but I do think the credentials of the professor do play a role in the strength (or lack thereof) of the letter.

 

[Vicviper]

She was still your Professor - it doesn't say anything about needing a PhD, and if she can write you a great letter, it'll be just fine.

 

[Smiley25]

Thanks for your thoughts. I have decided to use her letter, as I think she will highlight some of my strengths that the other professors might not have seen as much from me. Also, I have one coming from the head of the chemistry dept and the other from a very well known chemist, as his research has made public headlines recently. I hope it won't be an issue!

ERK005-Not a student at NAU.