LOR from prof without a phD

[rainsymphony]

As the thread title says, I'm wondering if it's worth it to get a LOR from a professor who's a grad student? What do adcoms think of that? I think my English prof can write a pretty good letter for me, but since he doesn't have a phD, should I even ask him for one? I really don't know how grad school works, but I've read somewhere that if someone gets a TA to write a letter for him/her, the TA can ask the professor (who's a phD) to sign it. Do graduate students, who are the actual professors of the course and not just a TA, also have someone above them (with the phD behind their name) who can sign their letters of rec?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[doinmybest5840]

As the thread title says, I'm wondering if it's worth it to get a LOR from a professor who's a grad student? What do adcoms think of that? I think my English prof can write a pretty good letter for me, but since he doesn't have a phD, should I even ask him for one? I really don't know how grad school works, but I've read somewhere that if someone gets a TA to write a letter for him/her, the TA can ask the professor (who's a phD) to sign it. Do graduate students, who are the actual professors of the course and not just a TA, also have someone above them (with the phD behind their name) who can sign their letters of rec?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

First of all, I'm pretty sure that if you don't have a Ph.D., you are not a professor. A grad student instructor is just that, an instructor. But that's not important. Usually there is someone overlooking the grad student, even if they never teach any classes. I thought most med schools prefer letters from professors, not grad student instructors, but I could be misinformed. You could ask your instructor if they report to a professor, and if so, if they'd be willing to write an LOR for you and have the prof cosign. Good luck. 🙂

 

[notdeadyet]

As the thread title says, I'm wondering if it's worth it to get a LOR from a professor who's a grad student?

Grad students are neither professors nor faculty. They may teach classes, but they are not professors. They can be great teachers and might be a nice LOR to add to your collection, but I wouldn't substitute them for one asking for LORs from science professors or faculty, as they don't qualify.

 

[momo101485]

As the thread title says, I'm wondering if it's worth it to get a LOR from a professor who's a grad student? What do adcoms think of that? I think my English prof can write a pretty good letter for me, but since he doesn't have a phD, should I even ask him for one? I really don't know how grad school works, but I've read somewhere that if someone gets a TA to write a letter for him/her, the TA can ask the professor (who's a phD) to sign it. Do graduate students, who are the actual professors of the course and not just a TA, also have someone above them (with the phD behind their name) who can sign their letters of rec?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

i wouldn't

 

[thislittlepiggy]

Sorry to thread hijack, but will it be alright to get a letter of recommendation from a lecturer? She's hired by the university to teach english, but she doesn't have a Ph.D. Unfortunately, she's the only humanities teacher that actually knows me.

 

[rainsymphony]

Oh oops! I mean instructor then! 😳

So if he asks a prof to cosign, the professor's signature still wouldn't add much credibilty to a LOR from him?

 

[jlq3d3]

Yea, I was wondering if its ok too. I want one from my spanish professor. She's not a grad student, but doesn't have phd either. Her title is lecturer.

 

[nbandy13]

It's a well known fact that unless you have a PhD you are not a real person and, therefore, you are not entitled to an opinion.

 

[Catalystik]

As the thread title says, I'm wondering if it's worth it to get a LOR from a professor who's a grad student? What do adcoms think of that? I think my English prof can write a pretty good letter for me, but since he doesn't have a phD, should I even ask him for one? I really don't know how grad school works, but I've read somewhere that if someone gets a TA to write a letter for him/her, the TA can ask the professor (who's a phD) to sign it. Do graduate students, who are the actual professors of the course and not just a TA, also have someone above them (with the phD behind their name) who can sign their letters of rec?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

You are in the same position that many students find themselves in at large universities where lecture halls exceed 300 students and the faculty teaching the class are not PhDs. While having a PhD write your letter is most desirable, that is only true if the person really knows you. If they don't, it is better to get a T.A. to write a great letter giving insight into your personality, problem-solving skills, and goals, rather than having a PhD write a letter saying you got an A, you showed up for class 95% of the time, and you asked 5 good questions. It is very common to ask the TA (undergrad or grad student) to have their PhD coordinator co-sign the letter to give it more perceived value. If you will only be satisfied by having a PhD write your letters, you will have to make a special effort for them to get to know you by attending their office hours, sitting in front and asking insightful questions, e-mailing for special help, etc. Students without PhD-written letters do get accepted to medical school. They are not obligatory.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

What was that that Freud said about the dull intellect of the average adult?

I'm wondering if it's worth it to get a LOR from a professor who's a grad student

Ah, yes, that reminds me......thanks OP!

 

[-Goose-]

As the thread title says, I'm wondering if it's worth it to get a LOR from a professor who's a grad student? What do adcoms think of that? I think my English prof can write a pretty good letter for me, but since he doesn't have a phD, should I even ask him for one? I really don't know how grad school works, but I've read somewhere that if someone gets a TA to write a letter for him/her, the TA can ask the professor (who's a phD) to sign it. Do graduate students, who are the actual professors of the course and not just a TA, also have someone above them (with the phD behind their name) who can sign their letters of rec?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

I did exactly this (except by the time my phil prof wrote it he may of had his PhD) and his letter was mentioned at almost every interview I had... One of my interviewers read a section to me, and after hearing it, I'm pretty sure it helped me get into some schools my stats alone may not have (in addition to essays, ecs, etc). If you think the letter will be good, go for it.


If you get the letter, make sure that your other letters are from heavy-hitters (my other LORs were from two very well known profs). This way, you ensure a balance.

 

[-Goose-]

What was that that Freud said about the dull intellect of the average adult?



Ah, yes, that reminds me......thanks OP!

👎

 

[DropkickMurphy]

👎

I would respond as eloquently to you as you did to me, but I'm afraid the mods refuse to install a smiley with the proper finger extended...... 🙄 If the OP is really so dimwitted that she can't tell the difference between a TA and a prof, then maybe we should leave her to her own devices. Think of it as passive eugenics for the professions.

 

[sillydoc2230]

The Ph.D. thing only matters for your science recommendations. You would not want a TA to write a rec in science and not have it co-signed by the prof. However, in English or any humanities class, if the person taught you, can explain your relationship, and ultimately give you a great rec, you're golden. This is the rule of thumb our premed advisor gives us and we have 98% acceptance rates at our school.

 

[Bacchus]

The Ph.D. thing only matters for your science recommendations. You would not want a TA to write a rec in science and not have it co-signed by the prof. However, in English or any humanities class, if the person taught you, can explain your relationship, and ultimately give you a great rec, you're golden. This is the rule of thumb our premed advisor gives us and we have 98% acceptance rates at our school.

Can't believe I'm writing this... Anyway, would you recommend for the committee letter, which is chaired by a Ph.D, to forego a faculty member who only has a Masters degree? This professor has been teaching at my ugrad for about 25-30 years and is well respected. I don't honestly see the difference in a Ph.D and Masters recommendation letter when it is going to be forming a composite letter of recommendation that is written by a Ph.D. Thanks a lot!

 

[armybound]

I've been asked for a rec by one of my students (I'm a graduate student) and have turned them down. I think graduate students have no real pull for committees and may even hurt your chances since you had to find someone so "low" to write you a letter. He may be able to write you a good letter but I'donly use it if you had absolutely no other options.

 

[Glorified]

I thought people with master's were professors as well.

 

[Bacchus]

I thought people with master's were professors as well.

I agree. To me, the prefix of Dr. or Mr./Mrs. means nothing. Although, if omitted, some people get a bit defensive. My humanities professor that has a JD and E.Ed blatantly wrote Dr. infront of his name on my term paper, haha.

 

[doinmybest5840]

I agree. To me, the prefix of Dr. or Mr./Mrs. means nothing. Although, if omitted, some people get a bit defensive. My humanities professor that has a JD and E.Ed blatantly wrote Dr. infront of his name on my term paper, haha.

Well a JD is Juris Doctor.

 

[rainsymphony]

Ah thanks for the input. 🙂 And yeah, I was totally unaware that instructors aren't considered professors unless they have their ph.D. I thought a member of the university faculty who teaches classes should be addressed as professor. How else would you address them, not Dr., not Mr./Mrs....😕 Ah well, my mistake.

I think I'll go ahead and ask, sounds like it would do more good than harm.

If the OP is really so dimwitted that she can't tell the difference between a TA and a prof, then maybe we should leave her to her own devices.

Sorry, I guess I'm just not as sharp as you are. 🙁 I don't know where I said that my instructor was a TA, but I'm sure your superior intellectual abilities could not have allowed you to, god forbid, misread something, so you must be right. My deepest apologies for being so dimwitted.

 

[Catalystik]

The word "professor" can legitimately be used in two ways. It can refer to a teacher or instructor. Or it can be used to refer to a teacher of the highest rank in an institution of higher learning.

In a university setting, when a PhD is hired there are various academic ranks they go through before they become a full professor, like assistant professor, associate professor. Somewhere during this process they become a tenured professor. All of them are appropriately called professor by their students. In common usage though, while it is not inappropriate for a teacher of any rank to be given the title of "professor", I have never seen this used to address an undergrad who is a TA who does not yet hold any degree.

Reference: The American Heritage Dictionary

 

[enigma85]

I think this is somewhat common for English courses to be taught by Instructors/Lecturers. I think it would be okay to have a Lecturer/Instructor without a PhD write it. It had better be pretty good though. A so-so letter from a staff member is not going to help your application much. If the person is in fact a TA, I would be sure to have the course-master (usually a PhD) co-sign the letter. As mentioned above, I would also stick to PhD faculty members for the science letters.

 

[63768]

no. find someone that has enough experience to write on character and candidacy for med school. or at least someone that looks like they do. i doubt a grad student knows what makes a good doctor.