question about rec from TA

[fastfingers]

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I have a question.

I noticed that I need 2 letter of rec from science class (science faculty) and I find it very hard to know 2 faculty since it seems like professors always defer students to TAs.

My question is, can I ask a TA to write a letter of recommendation for me and have a professor cosign it? If yes, what would make the TA qualify enough to cosign (masters vs phd vs undergrad).

Also, since my committee letter require that I need 2 letters from science faculty, can I have my TA get the prof to cosign it and count it as a science faculty? If I do that, when it ask for information regarding my recommender, would I write down the name of my professor (who cosigned) or the name of the TA?

Thanks. Any answers would help.

 

[ShinyDome19]

I wouldnt suggest getting a letter from a TA. I would go to the professor and ask them for a letter of rec. If they say yes, then go tell your TA that the professor is going to write a letter for you and ask them if they can put a good word in for you.

 

[Catalystik]

It isn't unusual in huge schools that you have no contact with professors early on in your education. It's common to get an enthusiastic supportive letter from a TA cosigned by a professor. And it's far preferrable to get the TA letter-not cosigned, than a generic luke-warm prof letter from someone who doesn't know you at all, regardless of the letters after their name and departmental titles. In an ideal world, all these letters would come from high ranked faculty, but adcomms know the limited potential for this at huge schools. If you can, you might strategize to cultivate a professor by attending their office hours, raising your hand in class, and participating in discussions so you can get at least one letter from a so-called ideal letter writer.

 

[fastfingers]

would a cosigned letter count as a science faculty letter? a prof essentially said he could, but he doesn't remember me too well in a huge class.