LOR from professor who never taught me

[deleted678432]

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Is this frowned upon by adcom? I'll TA for an ochem professor this semester while I wait for the professor that I had to teach the class again next year. If it comes to it, will the first professor (whom I've never had as a teacher) be able to write me a valid LOR?

Edit: I am "waiting" for the professor because I will be TAing for them next year.

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[deleted740991]

... they want letters from professors you had directly in class, with performance and character considerations. What?

 

[deleted678432]

... they want letters from professors you had directly in class, with performance and character considerations. What?

Just wondering, no need for the snarkiness. I think it's a good question seeing as though I will be working very close with him for half a year.


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[osker246]

I don't think it will be an issue. I only had one science LOR from a professor I took a course with. The other came from an instructor I actually never met before. I was volunteering in a lab and was told by the grad student I could get a LOR if I ever need one. Schools did not seem to have any issue with this either.

 

[Dr5paceman]

I also only had one science LOR from a professor who taught me. My other science LOR was from a professor who I did research for. As long as its enough for your undergrad's committee process, it's probably fine.

 

[deleted678432]

I also only had one science LOR from a professor who taught me. My other science LOR was from a professor who I did research for. As long as its enough for your undergrad's committee process, it's probably fine.

I don't have committee unfortunately🙁


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[Meeza]

Multiple schools that I applied to specifically requested letters from professors which I received a grade from (or committee) which is likely the case for the majority. But you can probably use it as a fourth letter or something. I just feel like you will encounter trouble down the road if you rely on it as a letter from a professor, but no harm in checking The admissions website for each school you are interested in. 🙂

Edit: example from U Mich, "

• Two letters of recommendation must be from science professors (instructors with whom you've taken a course, have given you a grade and can write about your academic qualities), and one letter of recommendation from a non-science professor OR a dentist OR an employer. It is strongly encouraged that your science letter be from a basic science instructor."

 

[rassulwest]

Multiple schools that I applied to specifically requested letters from professors which I received a grade from (or committee) which is likely the case for the majority. But you can probably use it as a fourth letter or something. I just feel like you will encounter trouble down the road if you rely on it as a letter from a professor, but no harm in checking The admissions website for each school you are interested in. 🙂

Edit: example from U Mich, "

• Two letters of recommendation must be from science professors (instructors with whom you've taken a course, have given you a grade and can write about your academic qualities), and one letter of recommendation from a non-science professor OR a dentist OR an employer. It is strongly encouraged that your science letter be from a basic science instructor."

very true. my issue is that i only have one professor which I formed a bond with during my undergrad. im struggling for the other. OSU say they accept TA LOR if its from a large class size however they dont specify whats large

 

[Meeza]

very true. my issue is that i only have one professor which I formed a bond with during my undergrad. im struggling for the other. OSU say they accept TA LOR if its from a large class size however they dont specify whats large

Hmm, that's a bit of a dilemma. That is worth calling and asking what constitutes a large class size. Honestly, this professor would be the ideal letter, but I'd hate for it to not be accepted on a technicality. Is there any chance you can take like a one-credit paper review course, research for credit, or anything he teaches that gets you a letter grade?

 

[rassulwest]

Hmm, that's a bit of a dilemma. That is worth calling and asking what constitutes a large class size. Honestly, this professor would be the ideal letter, but I'd hate for it to not be accepted on a technicality. Is there any chance you can take like a one-credit paper review course, research for credit, or anything he teaches that gets you a letter grade?

My professor LOR would be completely legit. Im currently doing research with her and her TA( which im also closer to and could get a LOR from).....I have no time to take another class. I want to apply this upcoming cycle early. I will just have to ask a professor I really never spoke with for the second science faculty LOR. Ill talk to my professor about it and see what teacher she would recommend i ask based on her association. hopefully, her opinion of me would rub off on them when they write the LOR

 

[Symphonies]

Hmm, that's a bit of a dilemma. That is worth calling and asking what constitutes a large class size. Honestly, this professor would be the ideal letter, but I'd hate for it to not be accepted on a technicality. Is there any chance you can take like a one-credit paper review course, research for credit, or anything he teaches that gets you a letter grade?

I know this has been asked before, but I haven't really been able to find a solid answer. If I'm taking a "research" 3 credit class with my PI and receive an actual letter grade for it, would it be a good idea to use it as a science LOR? The class is labeled as a biochemistry course, and my PI is an associate professor in the molecular biology department at my school. I really want to use it since I know it'll definitely be strong, but since it's not technically a lecture based course, I'm not too sure if planning to use it as one of my 4 LORs would be risky...

 

[NCC1701]

I know this has been asked before, but I haven't really been able to find a solid answer. If I'm taking a "research" 3 credit class with my PI and receive an actual letter grade for it, would it be a good idea to use it as a science LOR? The class is labeled as a biochemistry course, and my PI is an associate professor in the molecular biology department at my school. I really want to use it since I know it'll definitely be strong, but since it's not technically a lecture based course, I'm not too sure if planning to use it as one of my 4 LORs would be risky...

This is pretty much exactly what I did for 2 of my LORs. At my school, you can get research credit if you enroll in this research seminar. You get a letter grade based on your attendance and spending a certain amount of hours in the lab per week. The instructor was listed as Dr. A but my PI was Dr. B and I also worked with Dr. C. My LORs consisted of a lab professor, Dr. B, and Dr. C. I applied to 17 schools and only 1 emailed me to say that I was missing a letter from a science professor but I replied with my situation (saying that the professor was the one who issued me the grade for my research class) and they accepted the LOR.

 

[DentalAptitude]

Solution: register for a teaching credit. I TA'd and got a letter from a non-professor of mine, but the TA'ing was registered under the professor. 1 credit of extra tuition was worth a good recommendation.


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[DentalAptitude]

I know this has been asked before, but I haven't really been able to find a solid answer. If I'm taking a "research" 3 credit class with my PI and receive an actual letter grade for it, would it be a good idea to use it as a science LOR? The class is labeled as a biochemistry course, and my PI is an associate professor in the molecular biology department at my school. I really want to use it since I know it'll definitely be strong, but since it's not technically a lecture based course, I'm not too sure if planning to use it as one of my 4 LORs would be risky...

Seems perfectly reasonable, and I have friends who have done exactly this, although I'd still contact specific schools you are worried about.


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[Meeza]

I know this has been asked before, but I haven't really been able to find a solid answer. If I'm taking a "research" 3 credit class with my PI and receive an actual letter grade for it, would it be a good idea to use it as a science LOR? The class is labeled as a biochemistry course, and my PI is an associate professor in the molecular biology department at my school. I really want to use it since I know it'll definitely be strong, but since it's not technically a lecture based course, I'm not too sure if planning to use it as one of my 4 LORs would be risky...

I agree with the above posters. You'll have to read fine print at each school you apply to, but that qualifies as a science course in the eyes of most people. It's when people do research for a professor without getting a letter grade from them at some point that it may fail to meet the requirements. 🙂

 

[deleted678432]

Solution: register for a teaching credit. I TA'd and got a letter from a non-professor of mine, but the TA'ing was registered under the professor. 1 credit of extra tuition was worth a good recommendation.


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Thats how mine is. Mine will be called "supervised college teaching", so I guess I am technically taking a class and he will be giving me a grade..... technically

 

[DentalAptitude]

Thats how mine is. Mine will be called "supervised college teaching", so I guess I am technically taking a class and he will be giving me a grade..... technically

Not technically! That's exactly what it is, and it's what I've done as well as many others. I wouldn't bat an eyelash.

Edit: except for contacting schools and double checking 🙂

 

[deleted678432]

Not technically! That's exactly what it is, and it's what I've done as well as many others. I wouldn't bat an eyelash.

Edit: except for contacting schools and double checking 🙂

Since my TA job for ochem would be technically a class, is it therefore not an EC?


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[DentalAptitude]

Since my TA job for ochem would be technically a class, is it therefore not an EC?


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I included it (I had the same position, and it was also registered) when I applied as an EC. It's outside the scope of your regular education, which I would consider "extra-curricular"