Science LOR from Lab Instructor?

[pinay58]

I am getting a LOR from my lab instructor who I took many labs with since she is one of the main faculty of my major (Medical Laboratory Science). I was wondering if her letter would count towards the science professor requirement. She was in charge of grading me in these courses, she's just not a PhD.

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[AlteredScale]

I am getting a LOR from my lab instructor who I took many labs with since she is one of the main faculty of my major (Medical Laboratory Science). I was wondering if her letter would count towards the science professor requirement. She was in charge of grading me in these courses, she's just not a PhD.

Should be fine. I got a science LOR from a faculty member who only had her MS but had been teaching for 12 years.


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[kanda1o]

I was always told to stick with PhD's. I've asked multiple lab instructors in the past and they all declined stating that I would be better suited for the actual professor to write one. All the more reason to develop close relationships with professors on Day 1 of lecture, each semester. I think the bottom line is that the author of your letter must be able to write a STRONG letter. If they can't write a strong one, don't bother.

 

[pinay58]

I was always told to stick with PhD's. I've asked multiple lab instructors in the past and they all declined stating that I would be better suited for the actual professor to write one. All the more reason to develop close relationships with professors on Day 1 of lecture, each semester. I think the bottom line is that the author of your letter must be able to write a STRONG letter. If they can't write a strong one, don't bother.

She'll be writing a strong letter for sure. She was my lab instructor for a year full of labs.

 

[OrdinaryDO]

As long as she is an instructor and not a TA.

 

[yeasureyoubetcha]

Lab instructor should be fine. I'm 4.5yr out of undergrad. I got one from a Director of our Biochem labs. Took upper level Biochem lab with him, then TA'ed for a full year for him. He also asked me to write a tenure review letter for him when I was TA'ing. We stayed in touch over the years. Keep solid relationships with your profs people...

 

[DrMikeP]

I am getting a LOR from my lab instructor who I took many labs with since she is one of the main faculty of my major (Medical Laboratory Science). I was wondering if her letter would count towards the science professor requirement. She was in charge of grading me in these courses, she's just not a PhD.

Quite a few med schools specify they want letters from science professors (not instructors). There is a difference as one is most always a doctor and the other might not be. If the person had a doctorate then it would be fine, but no doctorate can spell trouble for some schools. The rec is fine as an extra but may not work everywhere, so don't depend on it.

You want the strongest application possible and NO holes, as holes = wait list or delays = lower risk of acceptance. It's just not worth the risk!