Matters if rec letter writer worked at instituion for short vs. long time?

[riseNshine]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hi guys,

I need a non-science letter of rec and have the option between taking one of two different non-science courses this semester. One, relatively doable, professor has PhD but has only been teaching for a handful of years versus another course that is more difficult and demanding, but professor has been teaching over a longer period of time. Easier one is in the literature department and harder one is in the religions department. Would it really matter if I got one from a professor who has been teaching long-term versus the other one? Of course, the harder professor is more well-known since he's been teaching longer.


THanks

 

[sinombre]

I don't think the reputation (or lack thereof) of the professor will make any difference in this case. If I were you I'd take whatever class interested me more and make a point of getting to know the professor in the process.

 

[Microglia]

Hi guys,

I need a non-science letter of rec and have the option between taking one of two different non-science courses this semester. One, relatively doable, professor has PhD but has only been teaching for a handful of years versus another course that is more difficult and demanding, but professor has been teaching over a longer period of time. Easier one is in the literature department and harder one is in the religions department. Would it really matter if I got one from a professor who has been teaching long-term versus the other one? Of course, the harder professor is more well-known since he's been teaching longer.


THanks

I don't think length of tenure at an institution matters at all in a non-science req. This sort of thing really only comes to play if your research mentor was a nobel laureate or something. I also found that newer professors tend to be easier to get to know and write more specific and tailored (read: better) rec letters. Personally, I'd go with the newer one.