LOE and LOR from TAs and CC Instructors?

[MrBeans]

Because professors are very hard to get to know at a large university, do you think that Teaching Assistants would be acceptable as a reference for the LOR?

What are your thoughts on community college instructors?

Both have taught students, so do you think they would make appropriate letter writers?

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[Dismo]

Hi MrBeans,

For TA's, you should ask them to coordinate a letter with the professor. Since the TA knows you better, they'll be able to write a more personal letter, but most dental schools won't accept one without a professor signing off. They can usually write "I acknowledge that MrBeans was in my class and consistently scored within the top whatever percent of the exams. TA whatshername closely supervised his labwork and I endorse her letter of rec."

As for CC instructors, I think they should be fine, but check with your school if you are going to get a committee letter and check the schools you are applying to; most post their requirements on their admissions websites. In order to get a committee letter at my school, I needed 2 letters from professors at the university and one additional from any source; I used my CC instructor.

 

[MrBeans]

Thanks for the input!

I had a specific TA/instructor in mind: my calculus TA.

When he taught the summer class, he was in charge of the whole class. There was no prof involved where I took this class at the university.

Therefore, having a prof sign off on the TAs letter is not an option.

Do you think it would still be acceptable to get a letter from him?

 

[Vicviper]

CC professors are definitely fine - most of my letters were from my CC science professors as they actually knew me and were able to write great letters.

 

[MrBeans]

Thanks for the reply VicViper.

I have a gut feeling that a University Prof would be of more influence than a CC, but then again maybe a strong CC letter would reflect much more positively?

I'm still awaiting others input on TA letters from a University.

 

[dentalaee]

TA will not be acceptable for one of the LORs. To be safe, I would stick with professors. And yes, I would imagine good letters from CC is definitely worth more than week letters from university.

 

[Vicviper]

Thanks for the reply VicViper.

I have a gut feeling that a University Prof would be of more influence than a CC, but then again maybe a strong CC letter would reflect much more positively?

I'm still awaiting others input on TA letters from a University.

As far as more influential, sure, if you can get a letter from a super famous professor who says he knows you really well, and you're the best thing since sliced bread, then yes, it would be better to have a university professor. On the other hand, if you get a university professor who you had with a class of 400 others, and the letter more or less says, "I had this student in my general chemistry class, he got an A, he seemed to do well on his lab work," (not making this up, professors at UCI said they would write this exact letter if asked and they didn't know you) this is not just neutral to your application, but is actually looked as bad by adcoms. But if you had a CC professor (my letter writers had their Ph.D's from MIT and Cal, so not from podunk-U that people stupidly assume CC professors earn their degrees from) who actually knows you, and can write about your characteristics other than what grade you got in their class, and this is what Adcoms are actually looking for. I was actually complimented on my LOR's at an interview, so they must have taken the thoughts of CC professors as pretty influential.

 

[MrBeans]

Thanks for the advice VicViper

I have an English teacher from a CC that said he could write me an extremely strong LOR.

Do you think I should include the English instructor in my LORs along with 2 science university profs (who will not provide me with the strongest/personal letters)?

 

[Vicviper]

Thanks for the advice VicViper

I have an English teacher from a CC that said he could write me an extremely strong LOR.

Do you think I should include the English instructor in my LORs along with 2 science university profs (who will not provide me with the strongest/personal letters)?

I think that would be a good idea, but just watch out, some schools need 3 science professors, so be sure to look into the exact requirements for every school. I actually needed to submit a total of 4 letters to cover everything.

 

[MrBeans]

I think that would be a good idea, but just watch out, some schools need 3 science professors, so be sure to look into the exact requirements for every school. I actually needed to submit a total of 4 letters to cover everything.

Due to every schools exact requirements, I'll probably end up sending out 5 letters to each school.

I hope this isn't overkill.

 

[Vicviper]

Due to every schools exact requirements, I'll probably end up sending out 5 letters to each school.

I hope this isn't overkill.

Eh, if you've got to, you've got to - don't worry too much about it.

 

[coolfez]

Thanks for the input!

I had a specific TA/instructor in mind: my calculus TA.

When he taught the summer class, he was in charge of the whole class. There was no prof involved where I took this class at the university.

Therefore, having a prof sign off on the TAs letter is not an option.

Do you think it would still be acceptable to get a letter from him?

Hi MrBean. Are you sure there isn't a prof. involved? I am assuming the TA is a graduate student since no University would allow an undergrad to teach alone. If the TA is a grad student, then he/she must have a prof. that is his adviser. I am almost certain there is a prof. involved since my classes in the summer at my school is the same way. A grad TA usually teaches it but there is always a prof in the background that goes over the course planning and other stuff behind the scene with the TA.

good luck!

 

[MrBeans]

Hi MrBean. Are you sure there isn't a prof. involved? I am assuming the TA is a graduate student since no University would allow an undergrad to teach alone. If the TA is a grad student, then he/she must have a prof. that is his adviser. I am almost certain there is a prof. involved since my classes in the summer at my school is the same way. A grad TA usually teaches it but there is always a prof in the background that goes over the course planning and other stuff behind the scene with the TA.

good luck!

You're probably right about a prof being in the background.

My TA was a graduate student, and he solely did the lectures, grading, and final grade administration.

Even the syllabus did not indicate a professor to contact.

 

[UKdreams]

Due to every schools exact requirements, I'll probably end up sending out 5 letters to each school.

I hope this isn't overkill.

You are only allowed 4 LORS
http://www.adea.org/dental_education_pathways/aadsas/Pages/default.aspx
Then click on how to apply 2011 then go down to evaluators

Applicants may submit a maximum
of four individual Letters of
Evaluation or one Committee
Letter/Report plus the optional of
one additional individual letter.

 

[Vicviper]

You are only allowed 4 LORS
http://www.adea.org/dental_education_pathways/aadsas/Pages/default.aspx
Then click on how to apply 2011 then go down to evaluators

Applicants may submit a maximum
of four individual Letters of
Evaluation or one Committee
Letter/Report plus the optional of
one additional individual letter.

However, there's only one school that needs that fifth letter, like the Spiritual Adviser letter for LLU, you can just send those directly to the school - I had 5 letters as well.

 

[coolfez]

just so you know, I was researching a school VCU and got this


How many letters of recommendations are required and is there a limit to the number of recommendations that can be sent?

VCU requires a minimum of three (3) letters of recommendation, at least two of these letters must be from science professors and one must come from a dental practitioner who knows the candidates professional abilities through direct observation through shadowing or volunteer work. AADSAS accepts and processes a maximum of four individual letters of evaluation. VCU accepts additional letters of recommendation from science faculty or people who know the candidate well and can give a testimonial of the applicant's abilities. VCU has no upper limit imposed on to the number of recommendations; however, the number should not be excessive. Letters from politicians or other people who do not know the candidate personally are discouraged. If an evaluation/recommendation form is needed, we recommend using the
VCU School of Dentistry form, though the use of this form is optional.
Note: If the course has a teaching assistant or laboratory instructor who has taught the candidate and has knowledge of the candidate's abilities in the course, then a letter from that person countersigned by the course director is acceptable.

 

[Vicviper]

just so you know, I was researching a school VCU and got this


How many letters of recommendations are required and is there a limit to the number of recommendations that can be sent?

VCU requires a minimum of three (3) letters of recommendation, at least two of these letters must be from science professors and one must come from a dental practitioner who knows the candidates professional abilities through direct observation through shadowing or volunteer work. AADSAS accepts and processes a maximum of four individual letters of evaluation. VCU accepts additional letters of recommendation from science faculty or people who know the candidate well and can give a testimonial of the applicant's abilities. VCU has no upper limit imposed on to the number of recommendations; however, the number should not be excessive. Letters from politicians or other people who do not know the candidate personally are discouraged. If an evaluation/recommendation form is needed, we recommend using the
VCU School of Dentistry form, though the use of this form is optional.
Note: If the course has a teaching assistant or laboratory instructor who has taught the candidate and has knowledge of the candidate's abilities in the course, then a letter from that person countersigned by the course director is acceptable.

Nice find Cool, that does make a lot of sense.

 

[MrBeans]

just so you know, I was researching a school VCU and got this


How many letters of recommendations are required and is there a limit to the number of recommendations that can be sent?

VCU requires a minimum of three (3) letters of recommendation, at least two of these letters must be from science professors and one must come from a dental practitioner who knows the candidates professional abilities through direct observation through shadowing or volunteer work. AADSAS accepts and processes a maximum of four individual letters of evaluation. VCU accepts additional letters of recommendation from science faculty or people who know the candidate well and can give a testimonial of the applicant's abilities. VCU has no upper limit imposed on to the number of recommendations; however, the number should not be excessive. Letters from politicians or other people who do not know the candidate personally are discouraged. If an evaluation/recommendation form is needed, we recommend using the
VCU School of Dentistry form, though the use of this form is optional.
Note: If the course has a teaching assistant or laboratory instructor who has taught the candidate and has knowledge of the candidate's abilities in the course, then a letter from that person countersigned by the course director is acceptable.

It seems only reasonable that a community college/CC/2-year science instructor would be acceptable for a letter writer to fulfill the requirement of a letter from a "science professor."

A CC instructor and a University Professor have the exact same interaction dynamics; they teach, distribute grades, and hold office hours.

Any thoughts?

 

[Vicviper]

It seems only reasonable that a community college/CC/2-year science instructor would be acceptable for a letter writer to fulfill the requirement of a letter from a "science professor."

A CC instructor and a University Professor have the exact same interaction dynamics; they teach, distribute grades, and hold office hours.

Any thoughts?

Of course, I don't think anyone is debating that.