Letter of Rec minimum grade?

[sl2obel2ts]

Hi

Is there like a minimum grade to ask a prof for letter of recommendation? I really tried hard in one of my classes, really got to know my professor. but I ended up getting a B(B-). I didnt do well on the final (50%). I know she will write me a really good letter, but I'm afraid a letter from her might result in me being "damned by faint praise". I did do well in all my other classes this semester. This class was just wack. 18 page final, 60 short sentence questions in 3 hours.

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[TheWiredNerv]

Do not ask a professor for a letter of recommendation soley based on grades. Adcoms will roll their eyes at these letters as they get them so often. Get letters of recommendation from professors you really know and have spent a lot of time with.

 

[SoCalDent]

If you don't have a pretty good relationship with your instructor and don't have the best grade I would definitely shy away from getting a LOR from them.
Most of the time a professor will just put something along the lines of: this is your grade, this was the class rank, seemed like a good student...blah blah blah.

So if you don't have a good enough relationship to change that, then I wouldn't ask them.

 

[sl2obel2ts]

I actually had amazing experience with my prof, but received bad grade. She was actualyl the one I got to know the most in my 4 year college. So even with the B-/B, it is OK to get a letter from her right? I know for sure she is gonna write me a really good and long one. I was just worried that the good letter from a class that I didnt do so well would negatively affect my application.

thanks!

 

[SoCalDent]

I actually had amazing experience with my prof, but received bad grade. She was actualyl the one I got to know the most in my 4 year college. So even with the B-/B, it is OK to get a letter from her right? I know for sure she is gonna write me a really good and long one. I was just worried that the good letter from a class that I didnt do so well would negatively affect my application.

thanks!

In that case I would most definitely get one from her. I don't know if you are already planning on doing so, but I made a resume of sorts for my LOR writers that seemed to be of help to them. Good luck.

 

[berg1373]

You could honestly just ask her about it if you have a good relationship with her.

Even though you didn't get an "A" in the class, I'm sure she still thinks you would make a great dentist. As long as you are confident that SHE has confidence in your abilities I think she would be a great person to write you a letter.

 

[TheWiredNerv]

In that case I would most definitely get one from her. I don't know if you are already planning on doing so, but I made a resume of sorts for my LOR writers that seemed to be of help to them. Good luck.

I agree 👍

 

[ChrisM07]

Yeah I am kind of in the same spot. I received a C in my organic chemistry class but I really got to know the professor and he knows the effort and time I spent in the class. I would like to ask him for a letter but I don't know if I should because of my grade in the class 😕.

 

[Lopyswine]

Correct me if I'm wrong but LORs are supposed to have the grade received listed in them. Its not a "rule," but its pretty much understood that the prof should mention how the student did in his/her class.

I've heard that when the students grade IS NOT mentioned it basically is a dead give away that the student did not receive an A.

Now your prof may still write an amazing letter, however the letter may end calling attention to deficiencies in your application. The adcom might say "if this kid had such a great time with this professor, how come he couldn't get an A?" or they may wonder how successful you'll be in dental school if you are pulling B-'s in the class of your favorite teachers...

So if I were you, I'd ask the professor for a letter, but tell her that you will need to read it before it is sent to schools. that way if the letter is mediocre or mentions your B-, you can decide whehter or not its even worth mailing.

 

[ChrisM07]

So even though I will be applying to dental school in 2 years, the letter will still have to be sent away somewhere now? I am not just handed the paper and told to hold onto it? Sorry if this is a stupid question.

Cant the letter also show your strengths other than the grade such as hard work, determination, and perseverance and also the kind of person you are? "Although _______ didnt receive an A in the class, his hard work, and determination is something that, blah blah blah, to your institution...."

 

[Lopyswine]

So even though I will be applying to dental school in 2 years, the letter will still have to be sent away somewhere now? I am not just handed the paper and told to hold onto it? Sorry if this is a stupid question.

Cant the letter also show your strengths other than the grade such as hard work, determination, and perseverance and also the kind of person you are? "Although _______ didnt receive an A in the class, his hard work, and determination is something that, blah blah blah, to your institution...."

when the letter is witten and sent is something YOU have to discuss with your prof. Some professors will want write, hold, and send them. Others will write one and then give it to you to mail out.

The consensus is that if you want a letter from a prof ask for it right after the class is over. Provide that teacher with materials he or she will need to write a good letter, then give him or her 2 months to write it. If you wont need the letter for 2 years, then explain that to the prof. They might just tell you to come back in 2 years, or they may write one now and then update the letter in 2 years.

 

[ChrisM07]

Ahh I see now, thanks for the clarification. But, if the letter turns out so-so,

that way if the letter is mediocre or mentions your B-, you can decide whehter or not its even worth mailing.

wouldn't it be kind of rude to tell your professor to forget about sending it because it doesn't make you look good enough, or it brings out things that you didn't really want talked about in the letter? Or is this just something you decide without telling them.

 

[dmd2011]

Hi

Is there like a minimum grade to ask a prof for letter of recommendation? I really tried hard in one of my classes, really got to know my professor. but I ended up getting a B(B-). I didnt do well on the final (50%). I know she will write me a really good letter, but I'm afraid a letter from her might result in me being "damned by faint praise". I did do well in all my other classes this semester. This class was just wack. 18 page final, 60 short sentence questions in 3 hours.

it shouldn't matter whether or not you did well in the class (a B- isn't "bad"), rather how well the professor knows you and your work ethic. if she can write you a good letter, then you should ask her. it would be worth more than a letter from a professor whose class you got an A in but didn't know you at all.

 

[sl2obel2ts]

THANK YOU so much guys!

I will def ask her for letter (regardless what grade I got). She knows me, I was the only one who went to her officehours weekly. 🙂

 

[Suzan]

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[shake]

my cousin's a dentist currently and told me that you don't really need a special relationship with any professor because usually if you get an A in the class, that's a clear indication of the type of student and person you are. just get an A and give them your resume = a solid good LOR 👍

That's not always true. In some cases like this the prof may only say "so and so was in this class of mine and got an A." I've seen similar rec's (for undergrad admissions) and you can tell the prof doesn't know the student and could not say anything about their personality and strengths and future plans. The rec is the place where somebody else can tell the adcoms superlatives about your you and your personality in a direct manner. If the prof has lots of experience under their belt they might be able to pull off something fairly convincing based on a resume only, but the rec will lack the support of examples and won't be very personal.

If you are shy with profs, find that one prof who you like in terms of personality, who is friendly and has their door open most of the time. Then go and ask them questions about the class or talk about things you read that are related to their field. At one point mention your dental school plans. Find out about their interests, things you have in common and then talk about those. After the class is done, stop by their office or shoot them an email and update them on what you are doing (internships, other classes, extracurriculars). This way you can establish a relationship that will make them feel comfortable talking about you at a more personal level and will provide them with enough to write you an excellent rec about your motivation to go to dental school and why you will be an excellent student and dentist.

Regarding the OP situation, a well-written, personal rec from a prof in whose class you got a B (which is a very good grade) could be better and could present you in a better light than the one-paragraph rec from a prof who gave you an A and never got to talk to you outside class.

 

[sl2obel2ts]

I just got my grades. ahh I was trippin. A- 🙂 I hate those 50% final exam courses! I thought I did horrible, but I guess all the other students did horrible as well 🙂


This is true what shake said.

I took a graduate level class as an undergrad. I did go to office hours like 5-6 times. The prof was also my faculty advisor. I received an A- in that class. I asked her for a letter because I did receive an A- and thought she knew me. Guess what, she said she will write me one but only limited to 2 paragraphs of short letter saying that I took grad class and did well because she didn't really get to know me in personal level but only in academics. She runs few clubs and I never really participated in her clubs and speakings. She told me straight up, I was sad that whole day 🙁. Make sure you ask them if they CAN write you a postive and strong letter.

Good thing I asked last semester... I had plenty more time to get to know other professors, and prepare back-up plans.

 

[tryin2bepatient]

haha, sweet. another cal student!

 

[TerpFan]

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