Letter of Recommendation from 1 semester professors

[deleted421268]

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What if someone were to ask a professor they had for just 1 semester for all class combined like say someone had a professor genetics for one semester and a professor for biochemistry for one semester and wanted those professors for there letter of recommendations would that be good? Or is it better to ask professors one has had for numerous classes with and done extracurricular stuff like research with?

 

[deleted421268]

A letter from a professor you had for a longer time and a more substantial relationship with would have a larger impact for an adcom

What if someone got a letter from a professor they have for longer time and more substantial relationship with and also a professor for 1 semester course like upper level bio classes like genetics or biochemistry? Especially in my situation with my withdrawals situation which I posted in another thread.

 

[Isoval]

I had a letter from a professor that I had for just one semester.

I had her my first semester of freshman year, kept up with her throughout all of undergrad, and still keep in touch.

 

[Robin-jay]

I had a letter from a professor that I had for just one semester.

I had her my first semester of freshman year, kept up with her throughout all of undergrad, and still keep in touch.

How does one just "keep in touch" like that?

Do you just an E-mail every 6 month updating her on your life situation? Not sure I understand.

I could understand if you had a masters/PhD and they were your adviser you spoke with everyday for like 2-8 years,

 

[Isoval]

How does one just "keep in touch" like that?

Do you just an E-mail every 6 month updating her on your life situation? Not sure I understand.

I could understand if you had a masters/PhD and they were your adviser you spoke with everyday for like 2-8 years,

I visited office hours once every few weeks and we'd usually talk for about an hour each time I showed up.

Now it's mostly email unless I'm go to campus for some reason.

 

[Robin-jay]

I visited office hours once every few weeks and we'd usually talk for about an hour each time I showed up.

Now it's mostly email unless I'm on campus for some reason.

I'm glad you have a great contact. I'm still curious though, if she wasn't your professor anymore, you would just go in every few weeks and share life goals with her? For years?

 

[Isoval]

I'm glad you have a great contact. I'm still curious though, if she wasn't your professor anymore, you would just go in every few weeks and share life goals with her? For years?

Yes and no.

We didn’t always talk about the future and what I was doing, although that did usually make up a substantial portion of our meetings - especially when I was a freshman and this past year when I was going through the application cycle. I’d say maybe 25% was about goals and 75% “what’s going on in the life of Isoval”.

When the conversation wasn’t focused on me, sometimes I heard about her son (who was doing extremely well in his own right), helping her model future classes, etc.

 

[Robin-jay]

Yes and no.

We didn’t always talk about the future and what I was doing, although that did usually make up a substantial portion of our meetings - especially when I was a freshman and this past year when I was going through the application cycle. I’d say maybe 25% was about goals and 75% “what’s going on in the life of Isoval”.

When the conversation wasn’t focused on me, sometimes I heard about her son (who was doing extremely well in his own right), helping her model future classes, etc.

Sounds good. I taught 15+ university chemistry courses and understand how I can see a student being around a lot. Since I was young (early 20's), it was like talking to peers and friends.

I can't say I had anyone jump into my office or purposely talk to me more than a year though (on a regular basis).

Anyway, best of luck.

 

[califlipboy92]

Sometimes you just have to work with what you have. So yes, you can have a letter written by a professor you only had for 1 semester.

 

[FlowRate]

It depends how well they know you. One of my best letters was from a professor I had for only one semester. But I also ran into him walking to class many mornings so he got to know me pretty well. (And of course did very well in the class.)