Questions tagged [recommendation-letter]
Questions on recommendation or reference letters received from faculty members when applying for graduate schools or faculty positions.
1,049
questions
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1answer
33 views
Choosing which project advisor to ask recommendations from
I did a research project, in which I was advised by two researchers. Most of the time, it was a PhD student who defended and transitioned to post-doc during the project. But my official advisor, with ...
4
votes
4answers
1k views
Will the admission committee try to get in touch with the referees who wrote the recommendation letters? [Graduate admission]
I am currently in an institution wherein most of the academic body in my department (Electrical Engineering) have a rather poor (and that's putting mildly) mastery of English.
My concern is if I ...
3
votes
2answers
158 views
One of my profs did his PhD at the University I want to apply for my math PhD. Should I get a recommendation from him?
The prof is quite famous (lots of publications and even a Wiki page). His doctoral advisor is also quite famous (still is part of the faculty of the university that I want to apply to). Would a ...
1
vote
1answer
117 views
Advice on rejecting job offer from recommender
I worked for this professor last summer for free and am going to ask her to be recommender for PhD application. This year I asked to work with her again, however this time I need salary. So she ...
29
votes
2answers
5k views
Getting a letter of recommendation from a socially controversial PhD advisor
I am about to finish my PhD at a US university and am starting to apply for jobs and postdocs in physics and computer science. Throughout my PhD, I maintained a good relationship with my PhD ...
3
votes
1answer
119 views
My professor has left the university and his official email ID is no longer active
I will be applying for MS in Computer Science in the United States and I want to ask for a letter of recommendation from one of my professors, with whom I share a strong relationship. He has left the ...
1
vote
2answers
181 views
Worried about Ws (withdrawals) on transcript and letters of reccomendation for a masters program
Disclaimer: W stands for withdrawal, it’s when a student withdrawals from a course regardless of grades after a certain deadline for course changes.
I graduated from a Big10 Engineering school with a ...
4
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1answer
425 views
How can I minimize the damage of my PhD advisor's bad recommendation when applying for industry jobs?
I did not get along well with my former PhD advisor. I was able to defend and graduate; however, I have learned that my advisor was giving bad recommendation letters. No wonder why all of my ...
1
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2answers
100 views
Should I contact potential recommendation letter writers if I only have vague plans about applying for a PhD?
I might, or might not, need letters of recommendation for a PhD application in the future. My plans are vague, I am just finishing my master's and planning to work for a while before deciding.
There ...
7
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1answer
104 views
What's expected in a UK postgrad letter of recommendation
Note: This is specific to the UK. My experience of recruitment more generally is that it varies a lot internationally.
I've been asked to write a letter of recommendation for an undergrad applying ...
3
votes
3answers
96 views
How to proceed if email asking for a recommendation letter hasn't gotten a response after 3 weeks (during COVID-19 pandemic)?
I know this question has been asked before but here is the Covid-19 Pandemic Edition:
I emailed my professor asking if they would consider writing me a LOR almost a month ago and haven't gotten a ...
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1answer
281 views
How to Interpret This Response to a LOR Request [duplicate]
As I mentioned in my last post, I experienced a lot of stress during my last undergraduate semester as well as an episode of depression due to my professor's upcoming retirement. (I deeply admired her ...
1
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2answers
135 views
Recommendation letter for a short time collaboration
I have started my 1 year postdoc in math three months ago, of course after 1 month the university was closed and I have to work at home, due to Corona Virus. Recently, I want to apply for another ...
2
votes
1answer
138 views
Non-confidential student suppport letter for a teaching award
My home faculty announced a call of nominations for a teaching award. I am confident that my teaching contributions has been substantial and wish to be recognized. So I contacted the selection ...
3
votes
2answers
138 views
Research Fellow on Paper They Did Not Contribute- Solicited my Mentor
I am in a situation where I do not know how to tell my mentor I am not comfortable with a research fellow on our paper as an author. I came across a "call to submission" for a paper, in essence, there ...
0
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2answers
97 views
Can letters of recommendation be sent after application deadline in Politecnico di Milano? [closed]
I have just finished my initial proposal and I currently work on the motivation letter. The Politecnico di Milano deadline for Ph.D. is next Friday, May 29,2020. My referee and former supervisor is so ...
1
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0answers
95 views
What should I do if I'm trying to go into academic from a mostly non-academic background?
I have finished an undergraduate programme in Biology, and went on to do a Masters in Global Health.
The problem is that I don't really have any articles of thesis to show. My undergraduate ...
3
votes
1answer
136 views
Ask for a letter of recommendation after 11-year hiatus?
Is it unusual to ask for a letter of recommendation from an advisor who sat on my thesis committee a decade ago? I received my MA in (human) geography in 2009. One of my committee advisors was a ...
7
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3answers
5k views
Did I anger my PI by not sending my data/notes after leaving their lab?
Last year I was informed by my PI that the lab was too busy to take on undergrad students. I said that I understood and found another lab that I was interested in to join.
However, I had been ...
2
votes
1answer
195 views
Would it look bad if I don't have a letter of recommendation from my advisor (out of personal choice)?
I've done some reading about recommendation letters and graduate admissions, but I had a question of my own.
I'm currently a master's student who's looking to apply for PhD programs soon, and have ...
3
votes
2answers
221 views
From computational mathematics to abstract mathematics
I graduated with a bachelor in math/physics with a cgpa of 2.74/4.00
but didn't study many courses of abstract mathematics mostly computational math . I applied for a master's in the same Uni. and ...
5
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1answer
219 views
Too many people writing a letter of recommendation
I am an undergraduate student applying for a study abroad program that requires I submit two letters of recommendation. I just received the notice that the deadline for submission is in two weeks and ...
0
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1answer
59 views
How to ask for a letter of rec from a first semester professor in a masters' program?
How to ask for a letter of rec to apply for PhD prospectively from a first semester professor in a masters' program who I won't take any future courses with?
Assume I receive an A but I'll never take ...
0
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1answer
117 views
Asking for a recommendation letter (Post-Doc) when you have Bipolar Disorder
I'll be defending my PhD soon and I want to ask two professors for a letter of recommendation. They both know that I've been responsible with my work lately and I've made an impressive progress. The ...
4
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0answers
165 views
Should I do another MSc to get LOR for PhD applications?
I'm sorry to bother you here with this, I just don't know who else to ask nor what to do with my life.
I've been an excellent student, I've always had the best grades. The thing is, I had personal ...
1
vote
1answer
95 views
What do postdoc advisors/hiring committee typically look for in a potential theoretical high energy physics postdoc candidate? [closed]
I want to get a rough idea of how much post-doc advisors/hiring committee give weightage to the following factors in a potential postdoc hire. If I have missed out some factor(s), please mention them ...
2
votes
1answer
72 views
Department member writing reference letter for job applicant for a position in that dept
The applicant has asked me for a reference letter for a position in my department. (I can give a positive recommendation.) The applicant is not related to me. Would it be appropriate for me to do so? ...
3
votes
1answer
105 views
I sent an email asking for a letter of request almost a week ago and have not received a response, thoughts on how to proceed during COVID?
I asked my two of my current Med school faculty for a LOR almost a week ago and I have got no response yet from either. It is making me pretty nervous and I am not sure what I should do now. I wouldn'...
3
votes
1answer
183 views
Underrating and overrating of student in recommendation letter for post-doc: Balancing approach
Many times in our professional career, we come across students, who had either taken our courses or were part of our research group, asking for recommendation letters for post-doc or graduate program (...
0
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1answer
79 views
postdoc position does not require letter of recommendation only contact details of referees. Should I still provide the letters?
I'm applying for a postdoc position at ETH Zurich.
For the application, the following requirements are listed:
Letter of motivation
CV and list of publications
Electronic copies of university ...
0
votes
1answer
72 views
Getting Letter of recommendation with letter head
So I did my engineering back in 2010. I do know few of my teachers but none of them are now in the same university.
I want to get an academic reference letter for admission on postgraduate level in ...
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1answer
74 views
What are the best answers to these questions appear on recommendation letter
The following questions that i am kinda unsure :
"During which period of time have you had the most frequent contact with the appliacant?
From _ to _ ."
What am i supposed to answer? Date, days, ...
2
votes
1answer
143 views
How to give opinion to my professor about writing LoR?
I have been applying to PhD positions (got offers already, thanks god) and surely I asked my master thesis supervisor as one of my letter writers.
He is quite new as a PI. He told me that it is his ...
0
votes
1answer
84 views
Asking a community college professor for a letter of recommendation
I am applying for a master’s program and required to obtain two letters of recommendation. Originally, I asked two teachers from the private college where I got my BA, even though I did not know them ...
2
votes
2answers
150 views
Potential Supervisor Said She Will Contact References- No Response
So I met with a potential supervisor at an Open day and she seemed very excited at my research interest as it aligns with hers. She said she is recruiting students for Fall 2020 and she would want me ...
2
votes
2answers
217 views
What to do when you're not confident your advisor will be able to write you a strong LoR?
The title is pretty self-explanatory, but let me explain.
The lab I'm at right now is very big. It's around 30-40 people. I'm a master's student that just finished his first semester and am looking ...
-1
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1answer
50 views
Question about asking letter of recommendation to non faculty researcher
I know similar questions have been asked before in here, but this is slightly different direction of question.
I'm applying for tenure-track assistant faculty position in my field. But one position ...
3
votes
4answers
154 views
I have an issue with one of my teachers and a chance to address it, but they're writing me a letter of rec. Should I address it?
I'm trying to transfer, I'm a good student and one of my teachers is writing me what I assume will be a fantastic letter.
I am in an upper undergrad level (200+) CS course with this teacher. We had a ...
22
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6answers
3k views
How to find a job without recommendation letters? [closed]
I am currently almost homeless and without job. Can someone please help me in right direction of finding an academic or non-academic job? Minimum salary will be acceptable.
I hold a PhD in ...
0
votes
1answer
103 views
PhD.-Application; How to deal with reference-letter requests when being out of academia for 2 years?
Two years ago I did a M.Sc. in cognitive Neuroscience and then started working as a DL / ML-Engineer up until now. Back then I got two positive reference letters for a specific graduate program from ...
1
vote
1answer
119 views
What to Do About Inaccurate Dates on Letters of Recommendation?
As part of the application for a fellowship at an university, I acquired two letters of recommendation.
Apart from a factual inaccuracy in the body of one letter, which I am going to mention in the ...
0
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1answer
95 views
Professor wrote me a recommendation; I need another one with short notice but he hasn't replied
About a month ago I asked a professor for a letter of recommendation with 2 weeks notice, he agreed and wrote it. I found out about another opportunity but the deadline is tomorrow; I sent him an ...
9
votes
3answers
497 views
Advisor's Negativity
How do you deal with the constant flow negativity from an advisor? Examples:
How worthless I am, how I am the worst student he ever had. Absolutely good for nothing.
Whatever I am doing is ...
1
vote
2answers
335 views
How to leave a postdoc after just few months without compromising my future career opportunities in academia?
I started my postdoc 5 mounts ago and I am totally unsatisfied about it. To be honest, since the first weeks I understood that I was going to be unhappy here and I had immediately the temptation to ...
0
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2answers
122 views
For Master's admissions, are recommendations from academics preferred?
In making an application to a Master's program, would I be wise to seek recommendations from academics, practitioners, or both in balance? Or would any credible letter meet the required threshold? Or ...
0
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2answers
268 views
Giving a Professor a Gift After They Inadvertently Suggested I Do So
I know it has been asked several times on here whether giving a professor a gift is appropriate or not. The general consensus seems to be that it is unethical to both give and receive the gift [1] [2] ...
0
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0answers
57 views
Still haven't received a reference letter from a professor even though I've reminded them twice about it already [duplicate]
I'm applying for a PhD program and I need to submit some reference letters. In December before the holidays I asked a professor I used to work with during my BSc to write one for me and she agreed to ...
1
vote
1answer
133 views
How to deal with (ex-) supervisor not meeting promise to write reference letter
Before actually submitting anything, I contacted one of my ex-supervisors and he agreed to write a reference letter for me. That was almost a month ago. Then, the first time he received the invitation ...
2
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2answers
282 views
How important are reference letters when it comes to postdoc hiring decision? At what stage in the hiring process are they considered? [closed]
Context: I am planning to apply to a US lab.
0
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1answer
148 views
Is getting a GPA 7/10 worth asking a recommendation letter?
I had taken a course in mathematics previously and scored a GPA of 7 in 10. Presently I would like to take a summer research internship related to that subject and was wondering whether it was wise ...
