Questions tagged [recommendation-letter]
Questions on recommendation or reference letters received from faculty members when applying for graduate schools or faculty positions.
1,427
questions
1
vote
3
answers
115
views
Can two people write one letter of recommendation?
I have two cofounders who I've worked with in a similar capacity. Can they write a joint letter of recommendation for me?
- 119
0
votes
2
answers
145
views
How do PhD letter of recommendations actually get sent?
Is there usually a person at the undergrad university that handles it? Or does my recommender have to fill it out for every single program? Or something else?
- 119
1
vote
2
answers
157
views
Getting letters of recommendation
I aspire to apply in the US for graduate studies. All universities require at least 3 letters of recommendation. I have secured all of them but one is from a lecturer that just served as my master ...
- 11
0
votes
1
answer
137
views
What if letters of reference is not strong enough for PhD schools, in spite of having achieved top-graded master thesis?
I am having a problem that is beyond my control and I do not know how to address:
having enough strong letters of reference to support my PhD candidature.
Situation
I have pursued a MSc later in my ...
- 233
0
votes
1
answer
87
views
Which letter of recommendation to use for graduate application?
I am currently studying in a CS Bachelor's program in the EU and applying for CS Master's programs next year. I have successfully asked 4 people for recommendation letters, but I don't know which one ...
- 1
1
vote
2
answers
229
views
sending good/bad rec letter without waiving my rights
Would a professor send a recommendation letter whether good or bad to the grad university or the research summer program I am applying to without my permission? if she did not like me in her lab for ...
- 65
3
votes
0
answers
111
views
Is It Appropriate to Provide a Professor's Assistant's Email in the Application System?
I'm currently in the process of applying to a graduate program and have a question regarding the submission of recommendation letters.
I have a professor who has agreed to provide a recommendation ...
1
vote
1
answer
165
views
Do recommenders see your application materials (SOP, CV, etc)?
I'm currently applying for PhD programs. Are recommenders able to see other parts of my application, like the Statement of Purpose (SOP), transcripts, or CV, when they submit their recommendation ...
- 151
7
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Should I Read a Draft of a Recommendation Letter?
A professor writing a letter of recommendation for me sent a draft to my email and asked for my input. For context, I'm applying to graduate humanities programs in the US and already officially waived ...
- 83
-1
votes
1
answer
225
views
When Masters advisor said she will not gonna write a favorable rec letter to ph.d
I graduated from a Master's program in the US a couple of years ago.
I had a conflict with my toxic advisor.
It was a really really hard time for me.
I came back to my own country
and currently, I am ...
- 461
1
vote
0
answers
108
views
How to decide about the university to stay for the future after facing some troubles
In our country working in a state university is regarded as a priviledge. Even when we consider the degrees offered, people accept the state university degrees more. Usually first preference is given ...
- 119
1
vote
1
answer
1k
views
Do all 3 recommendation letters carry equal weight? [closed]
In most of the universities in the USA/Canada, they want 3 letters of recommendation (LOR). I am curious to know do the admission committee reads or reviews all 3 LORs equally or do they give more ...
5
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Is it mandatory to give four references in post-doctoral positions?
I have just started applying for a few postdoctoral positions in mathematics. Sometimes through a particular university portal and sometimes through the job portal mathjobs.
But the problem is that ...
- 2,850
1
vote
1
answer
100
views
How important it is to mention future research interests to a supervisor when asking for a LOR?
I saw this answer and thought I shot myself in the foot by messing up my meeting with my supervisor when asking for a letter of recommendation and not clearly mentioning what I am interested in. I did ...
4
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Can productivity out weigh a bad reference and or relationship with a postdoc advisor? What to do when a relationship sours?
I wanted to do a pivot and go in a different direction due to interest and better funding prospects down the road IMHO by going more translational. I was the first grad student and covid hampered ...
- 762
1
vote
1
answer
176
views
Number of recommendation letters while applying through Mathjobs
I am applying for postdoc positions in math. In MathJobs, I can add 5 recommendation letters (4 for research and 1 for teaching) for any position even if the position specifically asks for 4 letters. ...
- 111
2
votes
3
answers
281
views
Should I exclude my supervisor as a reference when applying for academic jobs outside my PhD area?
I completed my PhD earlier this year and I will be applying for postdocs and faculty positions.
My thesis is quite different to the field I'm applying to. Additionally, my relationship with my advisor ...
- 21
0
votes
1
answer
148
views
Asking research supervisor for a reference, when I should have replied to an email from them a few weeks ago
Last year, I received a grant to do undergraduate research with a professor at an institution different from my home institution. I worked on a project with them, essentially full time, from September ...
0
votes
0
answers
50
views
Seeking a Reference from an Instructor [duplicate]
I took a course with Professor X some semesters ago and enjoyed their teaching. I interacted with them outside of class but after that did not reach out to them. I am applying for a scholarship that ...
- 157
13
votes
1
answer
7k
views
Can only get "did well in class" recommendation letters, how can I make the best of it?
I am applying to a master's program, and I had two professors that knew me well that agreed to recommend me. Both have expertise in the field I'm applying to. I took all their relevant elective ...
- 133
14
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Recommendation Letter Advice and Examples
Are there examples of recommendations for first-time recommendation writers?
I've been asked to write a recommendation letter for a student applying to graduate school. I understand the general ...
- 257
7
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Do recommendation letters need to be strictly from professors at universities?
I am pursuing a Masters degree in pure math, and will be applying to grad schools in the USA and Europe (and some other places) for a PhD. I have one letter confirmed from my thesis work, which I ...
- 73
0
votes
0
answers
183
views
Is it possible to apply for a Ph.D. position as an international student without all recommendation letters in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand?
I have been working with my supervisor for years. Now, when I submit applications to universities abroad, most of them require two professor recommendation letters. When I informed my former ...
- 823
12
votes
6
answers
12k
views
Do universities check if the PDF of Letter of Recommendation has been edited?
I am applying for masters and I would like to know this as my professor has completely altered the phrasing of my paragraphs and also made a spelling mistake. I had to correct them, so the metadata ...
7
votes
4
answers
9k
views
Top 3% in Reference Letter when applying to Yale
I am applying for a master's program at Yale university. My advisor has given me a draft of his reference letter for me. Overall it is a very nice letter, and finishes "[name] always shows great ...
- 87
1
vote
2
answers
1k
views
Is it acceptable to ask a professor for a recommendation letter if I am also looking for jobs in their lab?
I am currently considering my job options:
I could potentially apply for Professor X's lab; however, I do not know if he will have positions available
I could also apply for other research positions, ...
- 827
3
votes
1
answer
278
views
What to do if a professor with whom I have worked with for a long time is unable to provide a letter of recommendation for medical reasons?
I have been working with a professor for almost 2 years of my undergraduate degree and shared a nice bond with them. The work done under this professor is the soul of my Statement of Purpose and how ...
- 145
12
votes
3
answers
8k
views
Is there a reasonable explanation for why my professor submitted my recommendation letter months early?
I am a physics student applying to graduate school this fall for the 2024 fall cycle. This summer, I asked my recommenders in advance if they would write a recommendation for me. In particular, one ...
-1
votes
1
answer
347
views
Got a terrible letter from my PI instead of a promised good letter. Is not including it a lot better than incluidng it? Should I work for a while? [duplicate]
I posted earlier about my situation. I'm changing PhD programs, and I got a terrible recomendation letter form my advisor. I found out by accident. What do I do now? I'm shocked
To recap: I'm ...
- 313
0
votes
1
answer
109
views
How to get recommendation letters from professors when you have only worked with PhDs?
I did my masters in Germany and there we rarely work with professors directly.
Now I am applying for a PhD and need recommendation letters from professors.
How should proceed here? I already asked a ...
- 307
29
votes
3
answers
16k
views
I'm changing PhD programs, and I got a terrible recomendation letter form my advisor. I found out by accident. What do I do now? I'm shocked
I’ll try to not be too specific for the sake of anonymity. I’m a STEM PhD student at one of the top-15 universities in the US. My own advisor said that I did great academically and made good progress ...
- 313
3
votes
1
answer
216
views
Asking reference to Y without letting colleague X know
Faculty member X offered me a PhD position, spontaneously. I have also been interviewing for a job. The company asks me now for a reference, and I clearly cannot provide X. I want to provide faculty ...
- 377
1
vote
2
answers
1k
views
Should I ask for reference letters when soliciting applications for a postdoc?
The norm in my field is for every job advert to require 3 letters of reference.
From my point of view, this is a massive waste of effort.
I am going to put out my first ad for a postdoc, and I am ...
- 1,391
0
votes
0
answers
36
views
Second teaching letter vs. letter from a co-advisor from a secondary department for a math positions in LAC
When applying for tenure-track positions in mathematics at SLACs, one typically includes one recommendation letter from the math advisor and another as a math teaching letter. However, for the third ...
- 41
0
votes
1
answer
86
views
Previous Masters Advisor LOR
I requested a LOR from my old MA advisor with whom I did an independent research seminar. They asked me to send them my SOP, which I stated was a rough draft. I received an email back saying that I ...
0
votes
0
answers
59
views
To whom should I request a recommendation letters if I am currently employed but applying to a different university?
I'm 5 years into my current position. But really want to leave. I'm planning to apply to 6 positions this year. I lost contact with my "official" letter writers (postdoc boss, PhD advisor) ...
- 1,884
0
votes
1
answer
216
views
Choosing Recommendation Letter Writers: Relevance vs. Strength
I'm applying to graduate programs in mathematical finance, after finishing my undergrad degree in applied maths. I'm conflicted about who would be the best choice to write my recommendation letters: ...
1
vote
1
answer
176
views
Requesting Letter of Recommendation From Search Committee Member From Past Job Search?
This may sound like a strange question, BUT - last January I was personally invited/recruited by a department chair to apply for a position in a newly formed unit at an Ivy. During the search, I was ...
0
votes
0
answers
21
views
When to contact the faculty after a postdoc interview [duplicate]
I recently had a postdoc interview in which the professor said would contact me by next week. Later on, I got an email from the professor saying recommendation letters would be requested from my ...
- 1
0
votes
1
answer
137
views
How should I mention to my supervisor that I have emailed his collaborator for a PhD position and would like him to write a reference letter directly
I intend to apply for a PhD in my summer research supervisor's collaborator's lab. I've informed my supervisor about this, and he's willing to reach out to his collaborator to directly recommend me to ...
- 3
1
vote
1
answer
207
views
Professor is responding to research-related emails but not reference request
I realise this is a common question, but my situation is complicated by the work-related responses without a response to my reference request. I requested a reference letter from my professor a week ...
- 113
2
votes
1
answer
110
views
How to look for external reviewers (NTT)?
To be promoted in my school as an NTT, one needs external letters of recommendation. The requirements are similar to the tenure promotion recommenders (basically, the recommenders cannot be your ...
- 803
1
vote
2
answers
248
views
Is it worth doing a second master's to get better letters of recommendation?
A few years ago, I graduated with both a master's and bachelor's degree from a globally ranked top-10 university. My overall classification was an average upper-second class (UK) - which is around a 3....
- 419
1
vote
0
answers
82
views
Picking advisor that you will also ask letters from to transfer
I am wondering whether it is worth asking your advisor for a recommendation letter to transfer right away (*).
Background: I just finished the 1st year of my math PhD and will reapply to transfer to a ...
- 135
0
votes
1
answer
728
views
I want to quit my PhD in year 4 because I'm depressed and unhealthy. How to do it nicely? [closed]
I'm an international student doing a PhD in California (UCR) for the past 4 years. This period of time has been nothing but nightmares. At least I got my masters last year, but immediately after I ...
- 39
1
vote
1
answer
77
views
Asking for academic reference
When it comes to asking for academic reference, let's say for a graduate application, must I wait until I'm done with my final exams or until the semester ends before I email my professor to write me ...
- 113
0
votes
0
answers
139
views
Import of Recommendation letter from a previously submitted graduate application
I got accepted to some graduate program in USA as an international student. For some reason I can not start my program this Fall semester. So I have two options now : defer my admission or submit new ...
- 431
1
vote
2
answers
213
views
Value of an arxived paper under review at a journal in graduate applications [duplicate]
I am an Indian physics student who will apply for graduate school in the US around December this year. Along with a European professor I have been working with for one year, I am currently writing a ...
- 1,320
4
votes
3
answers
332
views
Seeking Advice on Obtaining a Recommendation Letter for PhD Applications
I am currently in the process of preparing my PhD applications in mathematics, with a particular interest in Additive Combinatorics or Elliptic Curves. As I embark on this journey, I have encountered ...
user172089
19
votes
5
answers
10k
views
Contradictory references from my two PhD supervisors
I got interviewed for a research position in statistical epidemiology in a London uni last month. It went well and I got the conditional offer at the end of the interview. I got in touch with my PhD ...
- 201