LOR from grad student-instructors?

[anisole]

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Hey all!

At my school, most English courses that are geared for non-English majors (freshman composition, business writing, technical writing, etc.) are taught by graduate students in the English department. Their title is "instructor" rather than "professor" per our university's naming convention.

I am wondering if a LOR from an English instructor can serve as a non-science professor LOR?

Any input?

 

[aldol16]

Yeah, an English instructor can write a non-science LOR. If it's a grad student, you might see if you can get it co-signed by a faculty member. Even though the grad student teaches the class, he/she is accountable to a faculty member, who may be just a tenured professor or even the head of the department.

 

[DocJuan]

Hey all!

At my school, most English courses that are geared for non-English majors (freshman composition, business writing, technical writing, etc.) are taught by graduate students in the English department. Their title is "instructor" rather than "professor" per our university's naming convention.

I am wondering if a LOR from an English instructor can serve as a non-science professor LOR?

Any input?

I was under the impression you should never get a LOR from a graduate instructor/resident/anyone who isn't in the supervisory role. Maybe you could ask the professor for a LOR and they will have the instructor to write it and just cosign. That'd be preferable. I feel like getting a LOR from a grad student is just like getting one from a medical student.

 

[aldol16]

I was under the impression you should never get a LOR from a graduate instructor/resident/anyone who isn't in the supervisory role. Maybe you could ask the professor for a LOR and they will have the instructor to write it and just cosign. That'd be preferable. I feel like getting a LOR from a grad student is just like getting one from a medical student.

It's perfectly fine to ask/have the graduate write the letter if he/she has been your primary instructor for the course. Just get his or her supervising faculty member to co-sign the letter if possible. Medical students don't teach undergraduates; graduate students have significant roles in teaching - some even design courses.

 

[When the Moon Forgot]

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