Non-science LOR from graduate student?

[kuzy]

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Hello everyone,
So I'm planning on applying this cycle and have started thinking about my letters of recommendation. I already will have one from my PI, my pchem professor and undergraduate adviser, an orthopedic surgeon I've been shadowing, and for the non-science letter I had planned on getting one from an English instructor I had for a technical writing class. I have kept in touch with him since having his class a couple years ago and after he offered to write a letter for me, I haven't really been focused on getting one from a non-science professor.

This is problematic because I just realized that he will still be finishing up his PhD and is considered an instructor/grad assistant rather than a professor. In fact, just about all the instructors for my non-science classes (3 psych, 2 soc, English, stats, speech, calc) have been mainly graduate students, and if they weren't, they did not have a PhD.

Would a non-science LOR from an English grad assistant be acceptable?

Thanks!

 

[BeddingfieldMD]

In general, you should avoid using teaching assistants and grad students for letters of recommendation--even though you may have a closer relationship with them than your actual professor.

Was there really no formal professor teaching your technical writing class? Most college classes will have an actual faculty member running the show, even if they are mostly behind the scenes with grad students doing most of the actual instruction. I would find out if this was the case at your school and contact your faculty. You could mention that you worked extensively with your teaching assistant, and your professor will likely communicate with that person for personal information to include in the letter.

Of course, if your school really has independently functioning grad students teaching classes and that's all you have available for non-science courses...well, you gotta do what you gotta do! Just make sure that's actually the case before going with a grad student for your LOR.

Good luck!


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