Is a letter of recommendation from a TA good?

Is a letter of recommendation from a TA good?

While a letter from a TA is not helpful, a TA might provide information and details to inform a professor’s letter. The TA may know you better than a professor in charge of the course, but is the professor’s word that has more merit. Speak with the TA and the professor to request a letter signed by both.

Do letters of recommendations have to be from professors?

Sometimes universities explicitly ask recommendation letters only from professors, or from both professors and employers. When asking someone for a recommendation letter it is crucial that you pick the right person. Ideally, you should have known that person for at least six months before asking them for a letter.

Can I ask a PHD student to write a letter of recommendation?

It’s totally OK to ask a graduate student or recent graduate for a letter of recommendation when applying to graduate student school. Just make sure you ask for one from faculty as well.

Are graduate assistants considered faculty?

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB or Board) has ruled that graduate teaching assistants, i.e. graduate students who provide instruction and assist faculty with research as part of their own post-graduate education are “employees” within the meaning of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA or Act), and thus have …

Can retired professors write letters of recommendation?

Yes, it’s a plus if you can get letters from people who are well known, but the most important thing is to get letters from people who know you best, so I don’t see a serious concern from what you’ve told us. (Though now that he’s retired, it’s possible he is harder to contact or less inclined to write letters.)

Is recommendation letter important for PhD?

PhD application usually requires at least two recommendation letters. This gives the admission committee an opportunity to know the applicants as a people with skills which would otherwise be difficult to know from their resume, transcripts and SOP.

Who should write your PhD recommendation letter?

It is important that a recommendation letter be written by someone who knows you well academically. Faculty members most commonly write letters of recommendation; however, other professionals who know you well and have supervised your work in academia or research may also be appropriate choices.

Can a friend write a letter of recommendation for grad school?

Your Best Friend (Unless It’s a Peer Recommendation) Even though the team captain of your favorite club may be able to concretely highlight how you’ve been an asset to the squad, if they are your peer, they should absolutely not be writing your college letter of recommendation.

Can a TA write a recommendation letter for college?

In addition, some faculty and admissions committees hold a negative view of recommendation letters from TAs. A recommendation letter from a teaching assistant might damage your application and reduce your odds of acceptance. While a letter from a TA is not helpful, a TA might provide information and details to inform a professor’s letter.

Can a teaching assistant write a recommendation letter for a professor?

A recommendation letter from a teaching assistant might damage your application and reduce your odds of acceptance. Consider a Collaborative Letter While a letter from a TA is not helpful, a TA might provide information and details to inform a professor’s letter.

Can a TA write on behalf of a student?

At many universities, students have lots of contact with TA’s but not as much as faculty members. Because of this, many applicants feel that a TA knows them best and is able to write on their behalf. Is it a good idea to request a recommendation letter from a teaching assistant?

Should you customize your letter of recommendation?

Just as a job seeker should customize their cover letter to each job they apply to, so too should you customize your letter of recommendation to the job at hand. If you send off a general letter without mentioning what job the candidate is applying for, it will look weak compared to one that was written specifically for the role.