Who Should I Ask?

[purplesmoke]

I will be applying to grad schools come this fall, and I'm starting to think about the whole process. I'm wondering who I should ask for my letters. How advisable is it to ask for letters from:

• People I've worked with during summer internships/REUs
  
• Professor I've done research with, but who haven't had much input on the project in about a year. This started off as a research project sophmore year, this year he really isn't around much. Our research project now is kind of like a club in that its mostly student run.
  
• Professor I TAed for and took a class with sophomore year, but haven't had much academic interaction with otherwise. I know him well in a social context however.
  
• Professor I took a few classes with freshman and sophomore year and with whom I am currently pursuing an independent project, in addition to another student (we meet weekly to go over our progress, and he provides input and suggestions).
  

And as a general question, is it common for UG research advisors to not meet very often with their students (~1/2 - 1 hours weekly)? Or am I worrying about nothing?

Thanks!

[ScreamingHairyArmadillo]

The only one I would suggest you do not ask for a letter is the 3rd one. Otherwise, I think all of the others would have a good enough insight of your academic motivation/level to write a great letter.

Also, I meet with my UG research advisor much less often than you do! But he wrote me an excellent letter - when we do meet I tell him all he wants/needs to know. He doesn't prefer to have "control" over UG projects anyway, unless he thinks the students need it. I take it as a compliment that he isn't always over my shoulder.

Edited March 17, 2010 by ScreamingHairyArmadillo

[Jae B.]

I will be applying to grad schools come this fall, and I'm starting to think about the whole process. I'm wondering who I should ask for my letters. How advisable is it to ask for letters from:

• People I've worked with during summer internships/REUs
• Professor I've done research with, but who haven't had much input on the project in about a year. This started off as a research project sophmore year, this year he really isn't around much. Our research project now is kind of like a club in that its mostly student run.
• Professor I TAed for and took a class with sophomore year, but haven't had much academic interaction with otherwise. I know him well in a social context however.
• Professor I took a few classes with freshman and sophomore year and with whom I am currently pursuing an independent project, in addition to another student (we meet weekly to go over our progress, and he provides input and suggestions).

And as a general question, is it common for UG research advisors to not meet very often with their students (~1/2 - 1 hours weekly)? Or am I worrying about nothing?

Thanks!

Summer internship supervisors are excellent for letters.

I think a good balance for you would be one purely academic letter, one academic / project letter, and one internship / work letter.

I agree that #3 might not be the best idea, unless this person has something really unique and special to say about you. I especially wouldn't request a letter from that person if you are also getting a letter from your internship supervisor, because that'd make two letters mainly about your work and not academics.

Since it doesn't sound like #2 is someone you took classes with (?), it might be in your interest to find another professor, someone who can talk about you as a student.

#4 is a great idea, because that professor can speak about your academics and your work ethic. Nice!