LOR from a class with a B grade

[suwaifo]

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Is it unwise to get an LOR from someone who you earned a B from? For the record, it was an 89% 🙁. This is assuming good relations and the likes.

 

[Carlin]

I asked a professor whose class I received a B+ in for a recommendation. It was Pchem II, the hardest class I've ever taken and I got a 54% (seriously) on the first exam. I talked to him a lot about how I could improve, and then I brought my grade up about 35%, so I thought he'd be good for a rec, to show how hard I can work.

As long as the professor can speak highly of you, I say go for it.

 

[MsKrispyKreme]

I wish there was a way to throw e-tomatoes...

 

[flip26]

Probably not the best letter writer for these purposes.

Think about it - the only thing that a prof can tell a reader in a letter is how well you performed in his class compared to the rest of the class. He might be able to add anecdotes about your dedication, attendance, etc., but in most cases the only thing he can communicate is how well you performed, and a "B" is not giving that prof a whole lot to talk about...

 

[MilkmanAl]

That depends on what class it is. If we're talking PChem 2 or Advanced Fluid Dynamics or something, then a B is a pretty damn good grade.

 

[chad5871]

I got a letter from my Organic II professor and I got a B. As long as it's someone who knows you well and can speak of you on a personal level, it should be fine.

 

[MilkmanAl]

Yep, I got a letter form my Astrophysics 2 prof despite getting a B- in his class. Some of the brightest people I've encountered got B's in there, so I was pretty much at the top of the pile.

 

[[pj]]

One of my best letters was from a class I got a B in. The good relations part is the biggest thing regarding LORs. Another note, it's possible that getting a LOR from a class you "didn't do well in" might show that regardless of what you do, you're able to be engaged and make a good impression. But, that's all a big guess.

 

[shiftingmirage]

If you have a good relationship with the prof I would go for it. Your transcripts have your grades so a LOR is not to reitterate what grade you got in the class. LOR's are used to determine who you are as an individual, your personality, work ethic, ability to get along with others, etc. At my school an 89 is 1 % away from an A-. I would ask the prof.

 

[pianola]

Random musing:

It's a classic conundrum it seems. True all around. Inevitably, classes seem to fall into one of the two following scenarios.

(1) You do well in the class -- why are you going to spend a lot of time going to office hours? To sound like an annoying know-it-all prick?

(2) You do poorly in the class -- you go to office hours and develop a relationship with the prof. S/he learns more about you, your goals, desires, dreams...and that somehow, you did poorly in his/her class. So you're a hard-worker for whom it didn't pay off.

Sadly, neither situation is incredibly conducive to rec letters.
~~~~
OP, I'm sure a B+ is just fine. I'm sure this prof is a good choice if he knows about you. After all, the ADCOMs have your grades already. They know that you could have chosen someone else.

Good luck.

 

[student1799]

I got a letter from my Organic II professor and I got a B. As long as it's someone who knows you well and can speak of you on a personal level, it should be fine.

Same for me--in fact, this orgo prof VOLUNTEERED to write me a recommendation. (I was getting the B because I had trouble doing well on his exams, whereas I got extremely high grades on the problem sets and always worked really hard in the class.) He told me not to worry and assured me that B students he'd recommended had gotten into good med schools (like Tufts).

 

[nontrdgsbuiucmd]

this sounds like more the exception than the rule, my take would be that, if an instructor gives 10% As, I'd personally want to be in that top 10% group before I'd ask the instructor to write a LOR so that the teacher could speak of me as among his best students.

But if the teacher that an applicant knows best (and who can speak about the applicant in a positive, personal way) relative to any other teacher is one who gave the student a B, then I'd say go for it.

But to be seriously considered for med school, most of our grades must be As, so does an applicant who requests a LOR from a "B" teacher lack confidence to approach any of the "A" teachers to request a LOR instead of going with the B teacher? (this last point is hypothetical from an admissions committee person)

 

[student1799]

But to be seriously considered for med school, most of our grades must be As, so does an applicant who requests a LOR from a "B" teacher lack confidence to approach any of the "A" teachers to request a LOR instead of going with the B teacher? (this last point is hypothetical from an admissions committee person)

My premed committee requires 5 LORs, and I had 3 others from profs who gave me A's, plus one from a research supervisor. As I said, this letter was volunteered to me, but I think it would have been good to ask for it anyway, because it said positive things about my performance in a difficult class. I'm sure that a B in orgo carries at least mild negative connotations, and hopefully this letter counteracted that a little bit. (Seriously, how could it be BAD for a prof to say nice things about you?)

If you weren't that close to the prof, and suspected that he might have a hard time coming up with positive comments about you, that would be a different story.

 

[[pj]]

Random musing:

It's a classic conundrum it seems. True all around. Inevitably, classes seem to fall into one of the two following scenarios.

(1) You do well in the class -- why are you going to spend a lot of time going to office hours? To sound like an annoying know-it-all prick?

(2) You do poorly in the class -- you go to office hours and develop a relationship with the prof. S/he learns more about you, your goals, desires, dreams...and that somehow, you did poorly in his/her class. So you're a hard-worker for whom it didn't pay off.

Sadly, neither situation is incredibly conducive to rec letters.
~~~~
OP, I'm sure a B+ is just fine. I'm sure this prof is a good choice if he knows about you. After all, the ADCOMs have your grades already. They know that you could have chosen someone else.

Good luck.

I guess your optimal situation would be that after going to office hours, you end up doing well as a result.

 

[Raryn]

Random musing:

It's a classic conundrum it seems. True all around. Inevitably, classes seem to fall into one of the two following scenarios.

(1) You do well in the class -- why are you going to spend a lot of time going to office hours? To sound like an annoying know-it-all prick?

(2) You do poorly in the class -- you go to office hours and develop a relationship with the prof. S/he learns more about you, your goals, desires, dreams...and that somehow, you did poorly in his/her class. So you're a hard-worker for whom it didn't pay off.

Sadly, neither situation is incredibly conducive to rec letters.
~~~~
OP, I'm sure a B+ is just fine. I'm sure this prof is a good choice if he knows about you. After all, the ADCOMs have your grades already. They know that you could have chosen someone else.

Good luck.

The professors I chose were ones that I talked to about subjects other than class. Even if you're doing well, you can go to office hours to ask about a particularly difficult problem. You can also ask them to look over the mistakes on your test, or something along those lines. Then, if the professor isnt busy, you stay and talk to them a little bit. Do it three or four times, and then you start a relationship with the professor that can result in a good LOR. Also a good idea to make yourself noticed in class, whether by asking questions or participating in discussion or just anything that makes you not just another face in the crowd.

At least, I hope my strategies resulted in good LOR. I'll never get to see them, unless I break into the premed office or something. (Not about to happen.)