Worth writing my own letter from a TA?

[brado]

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So I have the opportunity to write my own LOR from a TA/GSI. (I think she might have her PhD now. Will this affect the influence of the letter?)
It will be my 5th LOR. I also planned on giving this letter to my 4 other letter writers to aid in their writing.

Is it worth spending the time to do this, or will it probably be disregarded? I'm trying to study for the MCAT and finishing my personal statement, so it's kind of unneeded stress right now.

 

[apumic]

TA letters are kind of worthless. Get a letter from a professor.

 

[bravofleet4]

well the TA could get it co-signed by a professor. Ask if that could be arranged.

 

[mdbound1987]

ta letters are kind of worthless. Get a letter from a professor.

+1

 

[brado]

I already asked the professor to co-sign. He said he'd only write it himself. You really think it will be worthless if I write it myself? What if she now has her PhD?

 

[apumic]

I already asked the professor to co-sign. He said he'd only write it himself. You really think it will be worthless if I write it myself? What if she now has her PhD?

Yes. It's worthless. The prof's will be better to begin with. Why would you want to write it? If you're not going to accept the advice given you, don't ask for it. Ph.D. or not, a TA's letter holds far less weight. Period. You want someone who holds weight and has written 100s of LORs writing that letter.

 

[chickensandwich]

I already asked the professor to co-sign. He said he'd only write it himself. You really think it will be worthless if I write it myself? What if she now has her PhD?

if there *is* a professor for the course, a letter from just your ta/gsi is pretty useless because most schools that i checked with won't accept that as a sci/non-sci letter, regardless of phd/masters/whatever. since the "additional" letters are supposed to supplement things the sci/non-sci letters tell them, not cover the same areas, i'd think it wouldn't be very useful to submit it as an additional letter either.

 

[brado]

Yes. It's worthless. The prof's will be better to begin with. Why would you want to write it? If you're not going to accept the advice given you, don't ask for it. Ph.D. or not, a TA's letter holds far less weight. Period. You want someone who holds weight and has written 100s of LORs writing that letter.

Being able to write your own LOR is a blessing according to everyone on here, and it would seem so because I can write whatever I want that will make me look good. It would be a supplemental letter, however. I am accepting the advice, I just don't know if anyone considered that she has a PhD.