Letter of Recommendation From TA with PhD

[Big Moist 5]

Hi all
I just asked a TA from a humanities course at my school for a letter of rec and he agreed to write me one. At the time of teaching, he was my TA. Now he has a PhD so will he count as an instructor? If it helps, he pretty much did grade me as he graded all my essays.
Thanks for the help!

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[mimelim]

Anyone can write a letter of recommendation for you. Other than specific school requirements for what department people are in (number of science letters), their rank is generally not required. They will have to put their title on the letter. They are a teaching assistant because that is their job and that is how they interacted with you. What degrees they have or don't have are irrelevant.

Now, while anyone can write a letter of recommendation, TA letters are generally considered weak. Classroom letters are also considered weak. I'd find someone else.

 

[Big Moist 5]

Anyone can write a letter of recommendation for you. Other than specific school requirements for what department people are in (number of science letters), their rank is generally not required. They will have to put their title on the letter. They are a teaching assistant because that is their job and that is how they interacted with you. What degrees they have or don't have are irrelevant.

Now, while anyone can write a letter of recommendation, TA letters are generally considered weak. Classroom letters are also considered weak. I'd find someone else.

Thanks for the answer! I made a mistake and forgot to mention that we interacted quite a bit and he can write me a good letter. I'm planning to use his letter so at this point I'm concerned he won't count for non science faculty/instructor. I should look for another one as well though but that might be difficult for me.

 

[ChrisMack390]

Anyone can write a letter of recommendation for you. Other than specific school requirements for what department people are in (number of science letters), their rank is generally not required. They will have to put their title on the letter. They are a teaching assistant because that is their job and that is how they interacted with you. What degrees they have or don't have are irrelevant.

Now, while anyone can write a letter of recommendation, TA letters are generally considered weak. Classroom letters are also considered weak. I'd find someone else.

What do you mean by this? I thought that letters from professors who taught you in a class are basically the most important letters one gets maybe outside PI letters for big research schools. Is that wrong?

 

[TheRhymenocerous]

I had one from a TA with a PhD and think it was probably one of my best letters. Didn't get any comments about the credentials.

 

[mimelim]

What do you mean by this? I thought that letters from professors who taught you in a class are basically the most important letters one gets maybe outside PI letters for big research schools. Is that wrong?

Your grade reflects that you did well in the class. Your transcript (hopefully) shows that you are a good student. What does a classroom letter tell admissions committees that they don't already know?

 

[ChrisMack390]

Your grade reflects that you did well in the class. Your transcript (hopefully) shows that you are a good student. What does a classroom letter tell admissions committees that they don't already know?

I completely agree, but I have noticed a TON of schools asking very specifically for letters from professors that taught you in a class. What do you consider the "best" letters instead?

This is very relevant to me, because I have been out of school for a while and have been having some anxiety that my strongest letters are coming from work and volunteering and not so much from class.

 

[mimelim]

I completely agree, but I have noticed a TON of schools asking very specifically for letters from professors that taught you in a class. What do you consider the "best" letters instead?

This is very relevant to me, because I have been out of school for a while and have been having some anxiety that my strongest letters are coming from work and volunteering and not so much from class.

It isn't that it is bad to have letters from people who taught you. There is a reason that many (if not all) schools ask for them. It also won't particularly harm you if they are all from teachers. However, it is hard for them to be "strong" because of what I said above. It is normal for the stronger letters to come from non-teaching professors and coming from coordinators/employers/PIs.

 

[ChrisMack390]

It isn't that it is bad to have letters from people who taught you. There is a reason that many (if not all) schools ask for them. It also won't particularly harm you if they are all from teachers. However, it is hard for them to be "strong" because of what I said above. It is normal for the stronger letters to come from non-teaching professors and coming from coordinators/employers/PIs.

This is great news! My manager is going to write me an awesome letter, and I believe my PI will as well. I was worried about this but I guess I should not be 🙂

 

[mimelim]

This is great news! My manager is going to write me an awesome letter, and I believe my PI will as well. I was worried about this but I guess I should not be 🙂

I would actually go through the admissions requirements of every school you are applying to in detail. Look at their explicit letter requirements. As long as you fulfill the requirements, you just want the strongest advocates that you can get writing on your behalf.

 

[ChrisMack390]

I would actually go through the admissions requirements of every school you are applying to in detail. Look at their explicit letter requirements. As long as you fulfill the requirements, you just want the strongest advocates that you can get writing on your behalf.

Yup, for sure. Some schools have almost no requirements and just ask for 2-5 letters from "mentors" or "people who know you well". You think its fine if these are not professors from class? At least mostly not?

 

[mimelim]

Yup, for sure. Some schools have almost no requirements and just ask for 2-5 letters from "mentors" or "people who know you well". You think its fine if these are not professors from class? At least mostly not?

It would be odd to not have at least one or two people who know you from some sort of science background. Obviously every adcom and school is going to have their own preferences, but at the end of the day, your ability to do well in class is going to be reflected in your GPA/MCAT.

 

[Big Moist 5]

I would actually go through the admissions requirements of every school you are applying to in detail. Look at their explicit letter requirements. As long as you fulfill the requirements, you just want the strongest advocates that you can get writing on your behalf.

Some schools specify letters should be from professors, instructors, those who gave you a grade, and faculty. I'm sure my TA falls under faculty but I'm not sure about the other three categories. He teaches now so he is a professor and instructor, although he was a TA for me. As for grading, he graded all my essays but did not assign the final grade. I am so confused.

 

[ChrisMack390]

For whatever its worth, I have given that document that Gonnif just posted to everyone I have asked for a letter so far. All of them have really appreciated it.

 

[nRomaleos]

Hi all
I just asked a TA from a humanities course at my school for a letter of rec and he agreed to write me one. At the time of teaching, he was my TA. Now he has a PhD so will he count as an instructor? If it helps, he pretty much did grade me as he graded all my essays.
Thanks for the help!

You can consider asking the professor for that humanities course to co-sign the letter written by your TA.
Does it 100% make the letter more legitimate? Hard to say. But doesn't hurt.

 

[Big Moist 5]

You can consider asking the professor for that humanities course to co-sign the letter written by your TA.
Does it 100% make the letter more legitimate? Hard to say. But doesn't hurt.

That's true. Thanks for the tip!