Thoughts on TA LoRs that are cosigned?

[Hemiacetal]

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Since some schools have a maximum number of LoR's they allow, how did you all choose which ones to include?

I'm having difficulty choosing 3 of my 5. I've heard that it's good to include letters discussing your most meaningful activities, but one of the letters about my MME is written by a TA. The TA is now a PhD, so she can sign as a Dr. haha. Also, I've read the letter and it's very strong. How does a very strong TA LoR compare to an unknown science letter or English letter?

Anyone else have this same experience?

 

[HouseJC]

Speaking as a TA (and current PhD student), I've been asked by students to write them LoRs before. I give them the following advice, so will give you the same. But, for full disclosure, my perspective is as a lab TA, where the TA guides a room of 25 to 30 undergraduates to perform an experiment, mark laboratory reports etc. I'm also attending university in Canada.

1. It depends on what the LoR is to comment about. If the letter is to discuss your OVERALL character (i.e. personal attributes, grades, potential etc.), a professor's letter will hold much more weight. If the LoR is to comment about day-to-day attributes as a lab partner, performance on lab reports, an improvement over the semester etc, then the TA is better in that regard.
2. Especially in a large course, if the professor agrees to write the letter, the professor will likely ask the TA for an assessment of the student anyways.
2. Some Adcoms will view the professor's letter with greater weight based on credentials and experience, so be sure to know the risk involved.
3. Some schools and programs explicitly state that TA's cannot write LoRs. I do not mean to second guess you, as I assume you've clearly read the instructions and guidelines.

Just my .02 🙂 good luck!

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Don't risk it... have the PhD (former) student co-sign with the professor. The PhD (former) student doesn't have a faculty title.

 

[eigen]

For what it's worth, when I was in grad school I told students I would not write for them as a TA, but would be happy to contribute information and anecdotes that a faculty member could use for a letter. I feel like that is still good advice.

Co-signing also works, but it usually was just a "the letter is from the faculty member but largely drafted by the TA/graduate student", from my experience.

The chances that someone sees the letter is written by someone without a faculty title and doesn't take it as seriously is too high to be worth the risk.

 

[Hemiacetal]

Don't risk it... have the PhD (former) student co-sign with the professor. The PhD (former) student doesn't have a faculty title.

Yes, the letter is co-signed! Does this make it okay?