LOR question

[honeybee87]

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If you ask a professor to write you a strong LOR and she says yes, what are the chances she would actually write a bad one? I’m a little nervous because she has been known to bad mouth a few students behind their back and still write them a LOR (when asked about this she said that it’s not gonna be a strong LOR like mine). Has this ever happened to anyone before? I think I’ve developed a solid relationship with this professor, but at the same time she has also seen me arguing a few times with students so I’m not sure if I should take this LOR seriously. I’m also a little nervous cuz she just asked me today as I was meeting with her if I would be able to see the contents of the LOR in AMCAS. Reason why I don’t throw it out outright is cuz I’m low on LOR.

 

[honeybee87]

Bump

 

[Moko]

Hard for us to say since we don't know this professor or your interactions with her. However, if she does mention your arguing with other students, that would be a major red flag. Are there any other writers who you could use to satisfy the letter requirement? Based on what you're telling us, I do hesitate to even use her as an absolute last resort. A possible out (if you have no other letter writers) would be to take a gap year, but this would be a drastic step to take. Will your school's committee see their letter of recommendation when drafting the committee letter? Will they be able to hint whether the letter contains red flags?

For what it's worth, when I was applying for med school many years back, I had some reservations about asking my PI for a letter as she also had a reputation for being overly critical and negative. I only ended up using her letter after one of the MSc's in the lab reassured me that she actually did like me. Good luck to you. Tough situation to be in.

 

[honeybee87]

She has mentioned me arguing a few times with students, though it seemed more like a joke. For what it’s worth, this Professor has also written LOR for me in the past which has helped me gain multiple scholarships.

 

[Moko]

For what it’s worth, this Professor has also written LOR for me in the past which has helped me gain multiple scholarships.

Well that does change some things haha . Like I said before, it's tough for us to give you a simple yes or no answer. You'll need to trust your gut here. I would still ask about the committee's ability to see their LOR, as that could give you the reassurance you need. Best of luck to you.

 

[honeybee87]

Anyway I can call a school that rejected me and ask? That way I can at least get a better idea for the future?

 

[honeybee87]

Basically I’m debating because it’s either gonna be a really strong LOR (known professor for a while) or one with red flags. Rest of my app is above matriculated average. Should I take the gamble or should I use a LOR that will most likely be weak/generic but still supporting me with no red flags

 

[Moko]

Anyway I can call a school that rejected me and ask? That way I can at least get a better idea for the future?

Schools may or may not be forthcoming with this information, especially when it essentially is 'outing' a professor for writing a sh*tty LOR. Doesn't hurt to try. The fact that her letters have not precluded you from multiple scholarships and she has continued to interact and follow up with you makes me think that her letter won't be a train-wreck. Of course, trust your gut on this matter, with the understanding though that this application process has a tendency to make folks paranoid and neurotic (sometimes appropriately so), so keep that in mind when doing your gut check. You also get to decide which schools see which letters, and I've heard of some folks hedging by sending out one LOR to 1/2 the programs, and another 'safer' LOR to the other 1/2. Something that you can consider.