Is it a good idea to have my LOR writer to address my upward GPA trend?

[tiffxp]

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Hey people,

Do you think it is a good idea to have my professor who is writing my letter to talk about my upward trend in GPA and how I improved academically?

Or should I save this matter for myself during interviews?

Any input helps thanks! @Goro May I have your opinion on this as well? Thank you so much!!!!!!!

 

[Marrowist]

I don't see how it could hurt. I would just make sure that it was not the only thing the evaluator wrote about. I know from reading the PS guides on this forum that the PS is a great place to address any GPA inconsistencies as well, which is what I did. Also, I did not add in any more information than was needed. I addressed the issue in two sentences, clear and concise. Good luck my friend!

 

[Goro]

It won't hurt to have an L:OR writer mention it.

But it will be obvious that you have an upward trend from looking at your transcripts.

Hey people,

Do you think it is a good idea to have my professor who is writing my letter to talk about my upward trend in GPA and how I improved academically?

Or should I save this matter for myself during interviews?

Any input helps thanks! @Goro May I have your opinion on this as well? Thank you so much!!!!!!!

 

[DrMikeP]

Hey people,

Do you think it is a good idea to have my professor who is writing my letter to talk about my upward trend in GPA and how I improved academically?

Or should I save this matter for myself during interviews?

Any input helps thanks! @Goro May I have your opinion on this as well? Thank you so much!!!!!!!

If you improved in the writer's class or the writer has specific knowledge of your improvements in the dept (like a dept chair) why not.

 

[tiffxp]

It won't hurt to have an L:OR writer mention it.

But it will be obvious that you have an upward trend from looking at your transcripts.

Does the course name and number need to be in the LOR? I look up all the schools that I plan to apply it seems that only PCOM explicitly states that the course name/number taught by the letter writer need to be on it.

On a side note, it gets confusing as to most schools say that the letter writers need to be a faculty member under sciences department but it doesn't say whether it is necessary or not that he/she had assigned you a grade before.
I really want to use my professor's LOR where I did my research at his lab...he knows me really well and in my opinion a letter from him is probably going to be the strongest. @DrMikeP @marrowis @Goro

 

[DrMikeP]

Does the course name and number need to be in the LOR? I look up all the schools that I plan to apply it seems that only PCOM explicitly states that the course name/number taught by the letter writer need to be on it.

On a side note, it gets confusing as to most schools say that the letter writers need to be a faculty member under sciences department but it doesn't say whether it is necessary or not that he/she had assigned you a grade before.
I really want to use my professor's LOR where I did my research at his lab...he knows me really well and in my opinion a letter from him is probably going to be the strongest. @DrMikeP @marrowis @Goro

No on course number, but they should have letterhead and signature. Different schools specify differently on the letter writers. One to my memory specified they wanted a letter from a committee or 2 sci professors, 1 of which taught required sci courses, another school said 2 science and 1 non-science prof, but didn't clarify and many don't care that much. I doubt the schools will spend much time trying to figure such out as long as the person's name/title is something professor in some science dept, but the safest route is always look at the requirements for the specific schools you are interested in applying to.

Good Luck

 

[Goro]

Most people include the course name, bur never the number. A PI is less useful than someone who actually taught you. We want to know that you're a good student, not what a wonderful tech you were. Your not applying to grad dchool, after all.

Does the course name and number need to be in the LOR? I look up all the schools that I plan to apply it seems that only PCOM explicitly states that the course name/number taught by the letter writer need to be on it.

On a side note, it gets confusing as to most schools say that the letter writers need to be a faculty member under sciences department but it doesn't say whether it is necessary or not that he/she had assigned you a grade before.
I really want to use my professor's LOR where I did my research at his lab...he knows me really well and in my opinion a letter from him is probably going to be the strongest. @DrMikeP @marrowis @Goro