LOR from Graduate Student who Taught the Class

[OGRA01]

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Hello,

This is my first time posting/using SDN so I hope this is in the right place.

I am applying this upcoming cycle, and for my non-science letter, I was planning on using a Graduate student. Yet from what I read it was advised against. In terms of my situation, the graduate student was the person who actually taught the class. The professor had no relevance to the class I never even saw them once. When speaking to the graduate student, they said they would write the letter in the perspective that they were the actual teacher of the class, rather than just a TA. However, their name is not on the course that is listed on my transcript and they are still in candidacy for their PhD.

Should I look for another professor to write a non-science letter for me? In terms of relationships, he is pretty much the only non-science teacher I actually talked to, and beyond that, we had a really strong relationship so I know he would write me a very strong letter in comparison to most likely a weaker/average letter from another professor. Would it be highly advised against using his letter?

Edit: I also discussed this with the graduate student and he said he does not think the "actual" professor of the class will co-sign a letter.

-Thank you in advance.

 

[Browns99]

Hello,

This is my first time posting/using SDN so I hope this is in the right place.

I am applying this upcoming cycle, and for my non-science letter, I was planning on using a Graduate student. Yet from what I read it was advised against. In terms of my situation, the graduate student was the person who actually taught the class. The professor had no relevance to the class I never even saw them once. When speaking to the graduate student, they said they would write the letter in the perspective that they were the actual teacher of the class, rather than just a TA. However, their name is not on the course that is listed on my transcript and they are still in candidacy for their PhD.

Should I look for another professor to write a non-science letter for me? In terms of relationships, he is pretty much the only non-science teacher I actually talked to, and beyond that, we had a really strong relationship so I know he would write me a very strong letter in comparison to most likely a weaker/average letter from another professor. Would it be highly advised against using his letter?

Edit: I also discussed this with the graduate student and he said he does not think the "actual" professor of the class will co-sign a letter.

-Thank you in advance.

IMHO, I would try to get other letter writers (Professors) before I used the TA. And, regardless of how they would write the letter as you say, from a perspective that they were the actual teacher, is a moot point, since they were NOT the teacher according to the syllabus and for them to say otherwise would not work. " Hi, I'm a candidate for a PhD program and taught a class as a TA and would like to recommend xxxx"....Just don't see it impressing any adcom.

if you absolutely have no other professor to write the letter, then having the TA write it is better than not having any, I suppose.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Graduate student letters that are co-signed by the instructor of record are generally acceptable. But I agree with the general advice to get professors over grad students if you can for science letters.

 

[Browns99]

Graduate student letters that are co-signed by the instructor of record are generally acceptable. But I agree with the general advice to get professors over grad students if you can for science letters.

The OP never saw the professor once and the TA doubts that he would co-sign, so that is not likely happening....

 

[candbgirl]

The OP never saw the professor once and the TA doubts that he would co-sign, so that is not likely happening....

Did the grad student ask the professor to co-sign? It’s a pretty usual happening actually. OP and the TA should go together to the professor and ask. In the mean time think of another teacher you could use. Sorry you are in this situation.

 

[OGRA01]

Hello everyone, thank you for all your responses!

So I talked to the actual professor and she is willing to co/sign! Should I still look for another humanities letter from an actual professor even though I believe this should be a quite strong recommendation letter?

 

[skaran17]

Hello everyone, thank you for all your responses!

So I talked to the actual professor and she is willing to co/sign! Should I still look for another humanities letter from an actual professor even though I believe this should be a quite strong recommendation letter?

Imo no, get this letter if you believe it would be strong. Have the TA write it from their perspective as someone who can speak to your strengths and have the professor co-sign.

This specific situation was addressed in an episode of Premed Years I believe and that was the advice given.

 

[aldol16]

You should try to get a letter from a faculty member at your institution. Faculty member letters are always going to be preferred over a graduate student, no matter what their role was in teaching the class.