LORs from TA

[JustinG]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I understand LORs from TAs (especially those with B.S/A at best) don't hold a lot of weight. But if you were in a TA-taught (for a PhD prof who doesn't personally teach class) class of under 25 students, and your TA can write you glowing comments, could this help your application?

Whats the procedure with getting dept. head cosign/stamp to make this TA LOR more valid?

Thanks!

 

[Catalystik]

A glowing, personal strongly-positive letter from a TA, cosigned by their prof is better than a impersonal, lukewarm letter from a prof who clearly scarsely recalls you and relied on his gradebook to provide some personal detail.

When all your lectures have 300 people in them, unless you take care to cultivate a relationship with a professor by attending office hours, you have little choice but to rely on a TA letter. Many have done just fine in the application process going this route, so it can't be an uncommon scenario.

Discuss the situation with the TA and be sure it's acceptable to plan on the cosignature. Make an appointment to speak to the professor about it only if the TA seems clueless.

 

[IHeartSleep]

I applied with a TA's LOR (who got her PhD earlier that year). She wrote glowing comments about me, as I found out through my interviews. I also used her LOR (modified) for some summer research programs and got in. No cosigning from the actual professor of the class.

I say it's fine, as it worked for me.

 

[UnfeatyOblation]

I think its a really good idea, especially if you go to a large school where it can be difficult to maintain a relationship with the professor. But you definitely want to get that thing co-signed to give it more weight.

 

[BlueElmo]

Try to have it co-signed by a prof, but I had a letter from a TA that was really good, and it helped me.

 

[JustinG]

Sounds good. Thanks!

Yes it's hard to get individual face time with profs, especially for bio classes with over 300 students, 40% of which want the same individual time with the prof. It makes sense that it would be easier for the TA to get to really get to know you, which really is what you should have before asking for a LOR.

 

[Morsetlis]

How many of your work supervisors are going to have an advanced degree?

😛