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I'm kind of worried about my situation right now.
I have three LoR lined up and have already asked 3 professors- 2 science, 1 nonscience. I took a class with one professor and head TA'ed for him, and he told me his letter for me was absolutely amazing, so I have no concerns about that. The other science professor told me that she'd be "very pleased" to write me a letter and she seemed happy with the packet that I sent her. The non-science professor mentioned that was she was pretty busy, but that because I was an "exceptionally good student," that she'd write one for me, even though she'd usually "turn most student down" <--- dont know if I should take that one with a red flag or not!
Here's where the trouble starts. I've also been volunteering 10-15 hours/week in a research lab for ~1 year and I thought my post-doc would be supportive of writing me a letter, since he seemed to be generally happy with my performance over the summer and told me that I was a hard worker. And, although I'm not around full-time like during the summer, I still try to come in everyday to help out with what I can on our project.
Apparently, when I asked him about getting a letter from the PI, he told me to "wait until June" until we get more concrete data to show him (we've hit a huge rut for a few months... I've been trying and re-trying different methods but we haven't gotten our desired data. In my defense, I have been very obedient and doing what the postdoc has told me to do, but it just hasn't worked). I asked my post-doc if June would be cutting it too close, since I like to give my professors ample time. He told me that "it's okay, the PI only needs about 3 weeks." I was concerned about this so I emailed my PI directly and told him quite honestly that I would be leaving in June b/c of graduation . I told him about my medical school aspirations and that even though I have three LoR already, that I had the "general impression that it might not be best to ask for a letter at this time, unless you think otherwise," but he never responded back to me. Apparently, the PI went to talk to my postdoc, who slightly got in "trouble" for misleading me into thinking that I wouldn't get a letter. But it seems like the postdoc somehow turned it against ME by saying that "if I improve my performance in lab in the next 4 weeks, then he'll write me a letter and have the PI co-sign it." He also mentioned that "unlike other professors, this lab gives very honest evaluations and we do not inflate our letters," but that he wouldn't write anything negative in my letter, and that even though we hit a rut, he would mention something about my persistence.
I was absolutely bewildered because I was wondering, since when was I doing an unsatisfactory job? Then he threw me off and asked me if I wanted to continue with the project, which I adamantly confirmed that I did. I said I would try to take more initiative in the next 4 weeks and try to be around more. I've been really confused since then because all along I thought I was doing a decent job (I've definitely been dedicated and going in at weekends, etc.), and I don't know if they've been unfairly holding me at a grad student calibration. I think they want me to help out more with planning the experiment and reading papers to bring up suggestions, but frankly, there's only so much I can do at this level.
Anyway, I've been trying to up my work ethic and time in lab, and trying to bring in questions from papers. But even if they give me a letter in the end, should I bother taking it? I'm afraid that not having a research letter is going to hurt me... Is he telling me that I shouldn't get a letter from them? Ok, thanks. Sorry for the long rant!
I have three LoR lined up and have already asked 3 professors- 2 science, 1 nonscience. I took a class with one professor and head TA'ed for him, and he told me his letter for me was absolutely amazing, so I have no concerns about that. The other science professor told me that she'd be "very pleased" to write me a letter and she seemed happy with the packet that I sent her. The non-science professor mentioned that was she was pretty busy, but that because I was an "exceptionally good student," that she'd write one for me, even though she'd usually "turn most student down" <--- dont know if I should take that one with a red flag or not!
Here's where the trouble starts. I've also been volunteering 10-15 hours/week in a research lab for ~1 year and I thought my post-doc would be supportive of writing me a letter, since he seemed to be generally happy with my performance over the summer and told me that I was a hard worker. And, although I'm not around full-time like during the summer, I still try to come in everyday to help out with what I can on our project.
Apparently, when I asked him about getting a letter from the PI, he told me to "wait until June" until we get more concrete data to show him (we've hit a huge rut for a few months... I've been trying and re-trying different methods but we haven't gotten our desired data. In my defense, I have been very obedient and doing what the postdoc has told me to do, but it just hasn't worked). I asked my post-doc if June would be cutting it too close, since I like to give my professors ample time. He told me that "it's okay, the PI only needs about 3 weeks." I was concerned about this so I emailed my PI directly and told him quite honestly that I would be leaving in June b/c of graduation . I told him about my medical school aspirations and that even though I have three LoR already, that I had the "general impression that it might not be best to ask for a letter at this time, unless you think otherwise," but he never responded back to me. Apparently, the PI went to talk to my postdoc, who slightly got in "trouble" for misleading me into thinking that I wouldn't get a letter. But it seems like the postdoc somehow turned it against ME by saying that "if I improve my performance in lab in the next 4 weeks, then he'll write me a letter and have the PI co-sign it." He also mentioned that "unlike other professors, this lab gives very honest evaluations and we do not inflate our letters," but that he wouldn't write anything negative in my letter, and that even though we hit a rut, he would mention something about my persistence.
I was absolutely bewildered because I was wondering, since when was I doing an unsatisfactory job? Then he threw me off and asked me if I wanted to continue with the project, which I adamantly confirmed that I did. I said I would try to take more initiative in the next 4 weeks and try to be around more. I've been really confused since then because all along I thought I was doing a decent job (I've definitely been dedicated and going in at weekends, etc.), and I don't know if they've been unfairly holding me at a grad student calibration. I think they want me to help out more with planning the experiment and reading papers to bring up suggestions, but frankly, there's only so much I can do at this level.
Anyway, I've been trying to up my work ethic and time in lab, and trying to bring in questions from papers. But even if they give me a letter in the end, should I bother taking it? I'm afraid that not having a research letter is going to hurt me... Is he telling me that I shouldn't get a letter from them? Ok, thanks. Sorry for the long rant!
