Spanish LOR

[ToBeAnMD]

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Hey all,

I performed a search for the answer to this question but could not find any. So I have had it in my mind to get a recommendation from my spanish professor only recently I found out that she is a T.A. and not an actual professor. Has anyone ever had there spanish T.A. give an LOR? Should I go through with it? Please any feedback is much appreciated!

 

[akinetopsia]

At first I thought this thread was going to be about sending a LOR that was IN Spanish. What a disappointment!

I don't think there is a hard and fast rule, I think if you can get a good letter out of the TA, then go for it. Typically though, if there is a full professor that can write a letter, that's usually a more prudent option. If you have a good committee letter (if your institution offers it), then a letter from a not-a-professor/TA would not necessarily be a bad thing.

 

[J ROD]

Most places I know prefer LORs from science professors.

In fact, I think most require letters from them or admin com.

 

[ToBeAnMD]

Most places I know prefer LORs from science professors.

In fact, I think most require letters from them or admin com.

Yeah but the spanish LOR is for my non-science, I have my two science letters already. That was easy being that I was a bio major

 

[Long Dong]

I don't think to many peeps on the adcom can read spanish. 😉

 

[ToBeAnMD]

So...should i go through with the LOR from the spanish TA (it will be written in english)?

 

[Long Dong]

So...should i go through with the LOR from the spanish TA (it will be written in english)?

I don't think a TA letter is going to be as good as a professors.

 

[twelvetigers]

So it's not a requirement to have a LOR from a doctor or someone in the field?

I only ask because pre-vets need to have one LOR from a veterinarian (and a couple of places want two or more).

If it's not required, is it advantageous anyway? Or do most people just stick with science professors, employers, people they're doing research under, etc.?

To the OP: I wouldn't ask a TA for a LOR. Did the TA teach the class or something? Where's the professor?

 

[Long Dong]

So it's not a requirement to have a LOR from a doctor or someone in the field?

One should have a letter from a physician and a few from professors who have taught you.

 

[LizzyM]

It is pretty standard for allopathic schools to ask for a committee letter or letters from 2 science professors & one non-science professor. Exceptions are made for non-trads who have been in the workforce for years, etc.

With regard to TAs writing letters, what I've seen is a cosigned letter from the TA and professor or a letter from the professor that contains a letter from the TA within it. (TA gives her letter to the professor who uses that with attribution as the bulk of the body of his letter.)

I don't think to many peeps on the adcom can read spanish. 😉

Puedo.

 

[XRanger]

I got LOR from my spanish TA too when i was applying. I just asked the course director, which was a professor, to cosign it. I had no problem.

 

[pdehay]

Same here, most schools require GSIs to have the Course Directors to cosign, just make sure you tell them to! I have my spanish teacher sending one, mainly because i took it non-required, because i actually wanted to learn the language

 

[NotSur]

I've always heard that a letter from a TA is fine. If you can get a prof to cosign, even better.

 

[sustentacular]

I've always heard that a letter from a TA is fine. If you can get a prof to cosign, even better.

Does the TA have an advanced degree yet? At least a masters?

 

[LizzyM]

Does the TA have an advanced degree yet? At least a masters?

That isn't a big deal.... the TA is going to give his or her impressions of your class participation, preparation, curiousity, initiative, creativity, cooperation, deportment. It isn't something that requires an advanced degree although the more classroom experience one has the better one is able to judge a student on a continuum.

We accept letters from employers who do not have advanced degrees, too.

 

[ToBeAnMD]

When you take Spanish at my school you always take it under a TA (I thought mine was a professor). But I guess I can try and ask the course director to co-sign or something but I have no idea who that person is. Do you think the course director would do that?