Have you ever alienated a professor after more than a year of research with him?

[InquilineKea]

And if so, how did it happen? And what did you do? Did you still mention the research you did in your personal statement, or did you have to entirely leave it out?

[BlueRose]

And if so, how did it happen? And what did you do? Did you still mention the research you did in your personal statement, or did you have to entirely leave it out?

Yes. How it happened: I proposed a half-baked idea at lab meeting. By the next day, I had run a few calculations; the laws of physics weren't in my favor. Unfortunately the lab head absolutely loved the idea. This didn't end well, and I wound up quitting the lab in disgust.

I wasn't going to leave it off; I had publications to explain. But I certainly didn't ask this person for a letter, either.

[InquilineKea]

Oh ok. Does it sort of look sketchy if you have publications without the recs? Or did you precisely explain what happened in your PS?

[fuzzylogician]

Oh ok. Does it sort of look sketchy if you have publications without the recs? Or did you precisely explain what happened in your PS?

I wouldn't waste space in the SOP explaining a falling out with a professor, only your joint work. It may look odd if you don't provide a letter from this professor, especially if you have a hard time coming up with three good letters without this one, but highlighting a conflict like that won't do you any favors. People will guess on their own that something went wrong if you don't provide a letter from this professor. Even if the falling out is entirely the prof's fault, I just wouldn't go there. Let the adcom wonder, and ask you in an interview if they are really interested. If you have another professor or mentor who knew you while you were working with this prof and saw how that project evolved, maybe you could have them mention that in their LOR? That would be a way around this problem, even though another prof would obviously be able to provide less accurate details about the project.