Questions tagged [recommendation-letter]
Questions on recommendation or reference letters received from faculty members when applying for graduate schools or faculty positions.
1,168
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Need advice on options for strong recommendations to Top CS programs
I am considering applying to competitive PhD programs this year, but I am not certain who/how to ask for strong recommendation letters. I am not even sure the following experiences will yield strong ...
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1answer
96 views
What if the school asks the students to submit the letters themselves?
I have been applying to a bunch of grad programs recently and I have noticed that some schools, specially those based in the UK, ask students to upload the reference letters themselves to the ...
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8answers
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I may have to write a bad recommendation for an underperforming student researcher in the Fall. How to avoid this without being exploitative?
TLDR: PhD student mentoring an undergrad in super competitive field. Undergrad has an amazing non-research CV, but no research experience. He says he's motivated but got very little done in 8 months. ...
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1answer
66 views
Do LOR writers need to be someone who's taught you a class?
Background: (Undergrad applying For PhD in the US)
I need to submit 3 LOR's. I have one in mind from my personal university and 2 from other universities (with whom I have done extensive research with)...
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1answer
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Coursera and related readings to fill gaps when transitioning careers/studies/backgrounds
I've always had an interest in applying tech skills to improve the educational landscape. To do this, I've been building a video game to teach foreign languages as a side project. I've had positive ...
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30 views
Recommendation letters: how old can experiences be, and what happens if you don't have particular recommenders for the field
I'm applying to a Master's program in Cognitive Science in Education. My undergrad was in Business, Computer Science, and Chinese, and my career has been in business and software engineering. I've ...
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1answer
131 views
Letter of recommendations from computer science professor for humanities?
I am trying to apply for humanities (PhD is pure humanities) graduate school in USA next year. I am going to graduate with a bachelor in computer science. The application requires three letters of ...
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1answer
223 views
On obtaining references from people who don't know me in person but have cited my work
I'll be applying for a few academic positions (both postdoc and permanent positions in Western Europe.) I've done my PhD in pure math (from the US) and subsequent postdocs mainly in use of machine ...
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2answers
4k views
Writing a recommendation letter for student with low GPA
I have an undergraduate student who has been working in my lab for quite some time, doing relatively advanced work and has even been able to mentor other students in getting up to speed in the ...
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7answers
7k views
Have I offended my professor by applying to summer research at other universities?
Yesterday I applied to a bunch of internships and sent my professor a request for a recommendation letter. He denied me the request, and sent my request email, along with his reply, to everyone in the ...
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1answer
93 views
Advice on who to ask for a letter of recommendation for phd applications?
I am currently in the process of looking for a phd position (in math). Almost all universities require three recommendation letters (some only require two, but ideally I'd have three) from professors. ...
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4answers
354 views
Should I tell my recommendation writers about my self-studying since graduating? Should I also mention my illness and depression?
I completed my masters in mathematics in my home country in June 2020. I didn't had success in 4th semester of my masters with PhD Applications. So, I thought I would try next year in both my home ...
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3answers
2k views
Handling possibly unethical disclosures in letter of recommendation
While reviewing applicants for a position, I noticed a disclosure in a letter of recommendation that is potentially unethical. I'm sure this happens from time to time - something like "Jane Doe's ...
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My referees are in their Ph.D. final year, can they recommend me for Ph.D. Admission? [duplicate]
Please I need orientation on this issue. All my undergraduate lecturers that know much about me are in their Ph.D. final year, but they all have been in the system since 16years ago with MSc degree. ...
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1answer
96 views
What should I do when the recommender is not replying?
I am applying for Ph.D. in US universities. I already applied in some places and suggested my recommenders name as well. Now one of my recommender (who previously wrote a recommendation letter for me) ...
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1answer
94 views
Is a letter of recommendation from undergraduate professor different from the major I am applying to OK?
I am a recent electrical and electronics engineering graduate. Although an engineering graduate, the major I am applying to is International Studies. Is it okay to get a recommendation letter from ...
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1answer
96 views
What to do for letters of reference if you want to apply to grad school but you've been self employed?
Similar to this question How to secure recommendations and apply for PhD after having worked outside of academia for two years? but more specifically if you've been out of school and self-employed for ...
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2answers
222 views
Only one supervisor but two reference letters required
I am in the last year of my Master in Physics, I am writing the Master Thesis and I am looking around for some PhD positions. It is something totally new for me. I have seen that people in general ...
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Undergraduate and Job Reference Letter for PhD Program?
So I did my masters in the UK, but I didn't build any relationships with my professors (I wasn't thinking I would be wanting to do a PhD later on). I only saw my thesis tutor once during my whole ...
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1answer
77 views
Should I apply with a non-subject LoR to a university?
I am applying for a master’s program in computer science. I am using two letters of recommendation from the computer science field and one LoR from the language department where I learned a foreign ...
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2answers
310 views
Is ever answering “No Basis for Judgement” on a reference request a red-flag
I am filling out a reference form for a student I supervised on a medium sized project who is applying for graduate studies.
The student is great, of all that I have supervised in this way they are ...
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2answers
2k views
A number of students requesting a number of reference letters. What to do?
I teach two medium size groups (~100 each), supervise BSc and MSc dissertations, and have ~35 tutees. When applications to postgraduate programmes open, I tend to receive a number of requests for ...
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1answer
77 views
Does a late reference letter to UWaterloo accepted? [duplicate]
One of my referees had to take an emergency leave because of a family death and because of that she would not be able to complete the recommendation to University of Waterloo(for MDSAI program) by end ...
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1answer
207 views
What happens if letter of recommendation to a university contains a wrong fact?
My teacher recently uploaded some letter of recommendations for post graduate applications but the letter was a generic one she typed for me and in the last paragraph, she wrote "applicant wants ...
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130 views
A problem with reference letters for faculty position
I have applied for a faculty position through mathjobs.org. I talked with my references and informed them about my application one month ago, then by using mathjobs I sent them request emails for ...
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3answers
5k views
My main research advisor refuses to give me a letter (to help for apply US physics program). What should I do?
By "main" research advisor I mean: with him, I got my most valuable research experience, greatest results and of course I invested most of my research time. Our field is Physics and I am ...
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82 views
What are my odds of being accepted for a PhD in Computer Science (distributed systems) at a decent US (or EU as plan B) University? [duplicate]
I have a BSc and MSc in CompEng from a normal EU university, both with highest degrees and honors. But I had a bad relationship with my MSc supervisor and I doubt he’ll write a presentation letter (...
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1answer
42 views
Should I ask for a Letter of Rec from a Newer or Older Colleague?
I want to apply for a program where I will be doing research in a particular area for roughly 6 months. This is an area of research I'm very deeply interested in, but I don't have any experience yet. ...
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5answers
2k views
Can I request to see a reference about me?
From USA universities, Can I request to see a reference about me?
Do they offer the Right to Information and request the information provided in a referee report about me to release?
I can have this ...
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1answer
113 views
Can I use these letters of reference later?
I was working with some startups as their tech advisory and with some others as tech lead. But now I want to concentrate on my main goal, that is research. That requires me to work with researchers ...
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1answer
113 views
Which letter of reference would be better: from a teacher who knows me well or from one in the same institution I am applying for who doesn't know me?
I am applying for a second masters degree at the same institution I am currently at.
I have requested my current course teacher to write me an LoR (letter of reference). However, I am facing the ...
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2answers
2k views
Enthusiasm in Reference Letter
I have written a few reference letters to students for US universities in this recruiting season, and just got an email from a colleague in a university a student of mine was applying to, asking why ...
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1answer
112 views
Asking for a letter of recommendation after only some days of collaboration
I plan to apply for a Master's degree at a new university, and I require three letters of recommendation to do so. At my current university, there are two professors I did seminars/my bachelor thesis ...
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1answer
195 views
Professor submitted my letter of recommendation after I removed him
I had sent a reminder to the professor for submitting my letter of recommendation about two days before the deadline, but he didn't reply to me. He was highly unresponsive after initially agreeing. As ...
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6answers
14k views
A student who asked me to write a rec letter seems to have committed academic dishonesty in my class, what do I do?
A student (let's call them A) in my class that I just finished teaching asked me to write them a recommendation letter. I said yes, and the first deadline is Dec 15, as they often are (FYI, I'm ...
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0answers
135 views
I want to go to grad school but don't have personal relationships with any of my online professors. What do I do about the LOR requirements?
I am an undergraduate student expecting to graduate next spring, but i've attended online classes for the past 2-3 years and don't normally have much contact with my online professors. I want to apply ...
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1answer
112 views
Relationship between PhD applicant and recommender
I am applying for PhD programs and most of them ask for my relationship to my recommenders. Two of my recommenders are my undergrad thesis research advisors, so I just put "thesis research ...
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2answers
247 views
How do I sign a letter of recommendation, if I've left academia?
I recently left academia. A former student of mine asked for a letter of recommendation for graduate school applications. I've typically seen references sign with their title, to provide context. ...
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65 views
Is it a bad thing to ask for an extra recommendation letter?
My professors have written and submitted the letter to all schools that I applied. However, I was thinking about applying to 1 more school. Does it reflect badly on me?
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1answer
136 views
Recommenders for grad school applications have not submitted and deadline is imminent
The application deadlines for several programs I am applying to are December 1st and two of my recommenders haven't submitted their letters yet. (Admittedly probably should've asked this question ...
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0answers
54 views
At what stage of the selection process for a faculty position should I ask for references from colleagues?
I'm second year faculty in my first position (practitioner/accounting). It is in a small business school. I am treated very well. However, a position has opened up at my alma mater. I am qualified, ...
0
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1answer
111 views
Which is a better combination for PhD recommendation letters?
My field is language-related and I have been conducting research in it with two professors in the past couple of years. Is it better for me to request recommendation letters from these two professors ...
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4answers
1k views
Post-tenure move: Reference letter from institution to which I'm applying
I'm a tenured faculty member and am applying for a lateral, mid-career move at University of X. Unlike a normal search that would be handled by a department, it is for a prestigious research position ...
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1answer
92 views
Recommendation Letter Submission
I am PhD applicant in mathematics.
One of my recommender refuses to make an account on webpage for recommendation submission and he wants me to find a way to submit it via email.
Is this okay and ...
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2answers
185 views
Should I send a second reminder for recommendation letter?
I already sent one 5 days ago and she said she was working on it. However the deadline is really close now (30/11). Should I send a second reminder now?
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2answers
4k views
It may not be in my best interest to ask a professor I have done research with for recommendation letters. Can this seem suspicious in my application?
I am not from the US and my field is in the social sciences. A while back, I started collaborating with a foreign professor on a research project which is now under review and another one which is ...
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192 views
Why forbid previous employers as references?
Very rarely I have seen in faculty job application forms:
Please list below names, addresses, and telephone numbers of references. Do not list the names of relatives or previous employers.
Why would ...
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2answers
126 views
Getting reference letter from professors whom I took their class-should I make any impression except my grade?
I am a master (international)student in Germany, I will apply Phd in Canada or US. There will be a gap year between my graduation year and entrance year.
Now my plan to get reference letter is as ...
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1answer
162 views
Asking recommender to avoid talking about a project that was abandoned
I'm applying to grad school and have requested a professor to write a recommendation letter. He said he'd be happy to write one for me. I had worked on two projects with him. While working on the ...
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2answers
179 views
Will reference letters from a researcher who does not have a Ph.D be valid?
I'm applying to Ph.D. programs in the biomedical field in the US but I have a question regarding reference letters:
Can I request a reference letter from a co-worker that has no Ph.D. (instead has ...
