Professors vs. Associate Professors for LOR

[luvely]

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Hi guys, I was just wondering if for the letters of recommendation, when they refer to science teaching faculty, I'm assuming it's okay to ask an Associate Professor as opposed to a Professor? Probably the title of Professor might carry a bit more weight, but I'm just wondering what the extent to which the difference would make?

I only ask because I took a science course with both a Professor and an Associate Professor and I personally found the associate professor to be more approachable~

And also, it would be weird to get a letter of recommendation from both right? (from the same class) just throwing the idea out there 😳

thanks for reading 🙂

 

[Rinny]

I can't say for sure since I am not on an Admissions committee, but I don't think it would make any difference. In fact, I don't even know what "titles" my letter writers had (they all had PhDs in their field and taught at my undergrad but I don't know what positions they held). I would say go ahead and ask the Associate Professor since that is who you are most comfortable with.

If you are truly concerned, you could call the schools that you are interested in and ask them if it makes any difference.

 

[CaliOD25]

I can't say for sure since I am not on an Admissions committee, but I don't think it would make any difference. In fact, I don't even know what "titles" my letter writers had (they all had PhDs in their field and taught at my undergrad but I don't know what positions they held). I would say go ahead and ask the Associate Professor since that is who you are most comfortable with.

If you are truly concerned, you could call the schools that you are interested in and ask them if it makes any difference.

I second that. The only difference between the two professors is the employment track that they happen to be on with the university. It is not necessarily a measure of their credibility or authority, and certainly won't reflect on you in a LOR.

You should choose a professor who you feel comfortable with, and someone who will have the most meaningful things to say about you in a letter.

Good luck with the application process!

 

[luvely]

thank you guys! dually noted 😛

If I may just add one more question lest I make another thread is:

Is it okay to get my professor LOR's from one field of science? For example Biology courses alone? I only ask because I've always done best in my biology classes as compared to chemistry and physics 😱

 

[JennieJoy]

I got 4 letters of rec. One from my employer(oncampus), one from a Biology teacher I developed a strong relationship, one from my academic advisor, and one from an optometrist I shadowed. My academic advisor and I didn't have exactly the closest of relationships being I only saw him once a semester to register for classes for the next semester but he said schools like to see lor from advisors. He just had me send him my resume and a list of community service/extra currics so he could use it for the letter. My optometrist had me send her the same things.

 

[luvely]

I got 4 letters of rec. One from my employer(oncampus), one from a Biology teacher I developed a strong relationship, one from my academic advisor, and one from an optometrist I shadowed. My academic advisor and I didn't have exactly the closest of relationships being I only saw him once a semester to register for classes for the next semester but he said schools like to see lor from advisors. He just had me send him my resume and a list of community service/extra currics so he could use it for the letter. My optometrist had me send her the same things.

thank you for the info 🙂 I do wonder if the professors I asked so far would opt for a personal meeting or a resume would be enough, I'm waiting for their reply 😱

As for the optometrist you shadowed, can I ask you how long you shadowed for? I shadowed at four places but like a day each, I'm wondering if it's even a good idea to ask if they've only known me for a day. Or if I should ask an optometrist I am going to be working for in the summer after I graduate, (so far I've only shadowed that person for a day as well) Sorry for rambling

 

[Rinny]

To answer your second question, I think that it is okay if all of your science letters come from Biology. That was my major as well and those are the professors I knew the best, so that is who I asked for the science letters. I never heard the advisor thing (I'm not saying that it is not true, but I don't see why schools would want a letter from someone who you may have only seen when you registered for classes). I also had four letters: 2 science professors that I had multiple classes from (one I had also worked with), an optometrist that I shadowed for a semester, and an ophthalmologist that I worked with for a year. So, I second JennieJoy in saying that if you can get one from an employer, I think that looks good too.

About the optometrist question, I suggest that you wait and ask the optometrist that you are going to be working for. OptomCAS doesn't even open until mid-July so if you begin working for the optometrist after graduation (I'm assuming in May or even June) then you can work for at least a few weeks before even asking. That way, the optometrist will have a lot more things to say about you. I think I shadowed the optometrist that I asked about 4 or 5 times before asking. However, there are definitely applicants who ask optometrists who they've only shadowed once, so it can be done. I just don't think that it results in a super strong letter. Hope this helps!

 

[JennieJoy]

I shadowed my optometrist for a whole semester, about 80 hours. Though, when I asked her for my letter I had only shadowed about 25 hours at that time. It was for an internship required for graduation at my school.

 

[luvely]

Rinnie- thank you for the advice, you're quite right. I think it would be best to work for the optometrist a few weeks before I ask, especially because I'm sure they'd have something more personable to say about me, especially because they offered me the job😍

JeannieJoy- thank you for answering! it's awesome that you had such an internship experience~ i wish my school had something like that! 😎