When to ask for LOR.. prof getting fired?!

[elitehacker1337]

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So I think this topic has been covered before but..

I was planning on asking for LORs closer to when I apply since at that time, I will be more complete in developing my resume and experiences to which I will present to the LOR writer. But, I know of a prof who may be fired or leave the school.

Basically, should I ask for a LOR now before he goes? I can't really give him my resume or CV now since it's crap but I can give him a resume of what I plan to do as if I had already done it, if that makes sense. I want him to write my LOR because he's the only professor I have somewhat of a meaningful relationship with.

Would appreciate input on this.
Also, I am not going to apply for another at least 2 years or so. I am a Junior.

 

[Kisangani]

I'm not sure I would ask for a recommendation from a professor who is on the verge of being fired, especially if it is for something criminal in nature. You never know how far an admission committee will go to verify the qualifications of whoever rights your LORs. It would not look good if upon investigation it turns up that you guy is a convicted felon, sex offender, etc.

 

[elitehacker1337]

I'm not sure I would ask for a recommendation from a professor who is on the verge of being fired, especially if it is for something criminal in nature. You never know how far an admission committee will go to verify the qualifications of whoever rights your LORs. It would not look good if upon investigation it turns up that you guy is a convicted felon, sex offender, etc.

To my knowledge, he hasn't been involved in criminal activity.

Good point though, do you guys think a LOR from a professor who left the school is credible?

I talked with him and he seems to have a bad reputation with the school board since he fails a bunch of people and doesn't curve much.

 

[Kisangani]

To my knowledge, he hasn't been involved in criminal activity.

Good point though, do you guys think a LOR from a professor who left the school is credible?

I talked with him and he seems to have a bad reputation with the school board since he fails a bunch of people and doesn't curve much.

I would say use your best judgement. If he left/got fired from the school for something relatively minor that wouldn't likely turn up in a brief search, then it is probably fine. His reputation with the school won't matter much so long as you are sure he will write you a positive letter. That should come before anything else.

 

[DameJulie]

I would say wait until the school has decided to keep the professor or not. But still keep in touch with him/her so he/she doesn't forget you.

 

[ReapPremed]

You could get the letter written now and saved to interfolio. That way its on institutional letterhead, and written at a time when he still a professor at your college. The longer you wait the more likely it is he'll forget you. Then again he might not be in a very charitable state of mind right now.

All you know is he is leaving, yes? You have no idea of the circumstances, his reputation, or if it's on bad terms? There is a different between "Dr. Professor left to 'spend more time with his family', and has taken a job at Stanford" and "Dr. Professor has decided to drive for Uber and they are still cleaning the dean's carpet." See where he ends up in two years. It might be unwise to include with a committee packet from your school.

You have two years until you apply when you will no doubt mature, and accomplish cool things. Hopefully you'll impress other professors during that time. Keep the letter if you really need it for that one school where they want a specific requirement he might fulfill, but be on the lookout for others.

Also: sending him a resume of planned accomplishments seems silly. You want the writer to comment on things they've seen you achieve.

 

[Soccer171983]

Logically I would say not to do it. When reviewing applicants at our fellowship it looks nice to see solid letters from solid figure heads. IF you by chance see a letter that looks suspect either from content or person writing it, it does draw up some red flags.

 

[elitehacker1337]

Logically I would say not to do it. When reviewing applicants at our fellowship it looks nice to see solid letters from solid figure heads. IF you by chance see a letter that looks suspect either from content or person writing it, it does draw up some red flags.

I agree but this is UG. My school is not big and I doubt adcoms will recognize profs in (blank) departments. He doesn't do research either, just lecturer. From what I understand, adcoms just want to see a letter showing some good words about the student. Sure it helps if the writer won the nobel piece prize but for the rest of us, whoever writes it, just make sure it's half decent and says some good things about the student. Thoughts on this? @Goro

 

[Goro]

Logically I would say not to do it. When reviewing applicants at our fellowship it looks nice to see solid letters from solid figure heads. IF you by chance see a letter that looks suspect either from content or person writing it, it does draw up some red flags.

In understand your logic, but the med school app process casts a wider net from a much larger pool of applicants. In GME, people know each other and programs. We don't have that luxury from an Adcom status, and neither do pre-meds.

Not everyone can have classes taught by Dept; Chairs....but then again, we don't give more credence to a LOR written by Chair or a PI, even if the PI is a "name", because if you receive a letter, from, say Paul Sereno extolling his student at the U of Chicago, are you really going to know that this is one of the world's top paleontologists???

 

[nightrider]

So I think this topic has been covered before but..

I was planning on asking for LORs closer to when I apply since at that time, I will be more complete in developing my resume and experiences to which I will present to the LOR writer. But, I know of a prof who may be fired or leave the school.

Basically, should I ask for a LOR now before he goes? I can't really give him my resume or CV now since it's crap but I can give him a resume of what I plan to do as if I had already done it, if that makes sense. I want him to write my LOR because he's the only professor I have somewhat of a meaningful relationship with.

Would appreciate input on this.
Also, I am not going to apply for another at least 2 years or so. I am a Junior.

If you believe you will get something meaningful from him, then ask him for one. If your application time horizon is 2 years, it seems likely you will have others whom you can also get lor, and then you can decide if his letter should be included in your app.

 

[elitehacker1337]

A similar thing happened to me. The professor in question was the department chair. He was asked to leave and nothing was ever publicized in the media. I asked for a LOR after he left (I took two of his classes and did research in his lab). So far, I have been lucky to get many interviews this cycle

how did you contact him? his edu email must've been shut down?
That's my main concern.
I would ask him after he leaves to but I can't imagine it would be easy to contact him and him being reluctant to write a letter for a kid at a school that he did not have good relations with

 

[ReapPremed]

how did you contact him? his edu email must've been shut down?
That's my main concern.
I would ask him after he leaves to but I can't imagine it would be easy to contact him and him being reluctant to write a letter for a kid at a school that he did not have good relations with

That's why I suggested interfolio. It will hold the letter, in confidence, "forever." Also if he gets a new academic job he won't be hard to track down.

And look at it this way: he's not writing the letter on behalf of the school, but for you, his student. It seems hard to believe he's bare you ill will. Ask him in person and see how you feel about the interaction.