Which one of these prof you would ask for recommendation?

[HappyCat13]

I have confirmed my first and second letter writers and am now hesitant in looking for the third recommendation writer. If you were me, which one of the following professors you would go to ask for recommendation letters?

Please share me your opinions. Thanks very much.

1. Professor A, who taught me two senior level classes and I got perfect grades in both of them. I believe that he has very good expertise in his field and was known by some good universities in US. However, he cannot remember my face because the classes he taught is big lecturing classes. He also has some quirky temperament and is not very approachable.
   
   
2. Professor B, who taught me one senior level class and I got good grade in it. That class has some projects. I stepped into his office and he said he is willing to help me write letters. However, he hinted me that I should seek out professors who know me better, because he thinks that his letters would be quite weak as he cannot write anything beyond my transcript and that class he taught.
   
   
3. Professor C, who is friendly and loved by many students. He taught me one junior level class and I got perfect grade. In addition, I also helped him tutor his students in small classes. At that time, I met him almost every week to report the study progress of his students. He knows me very well and we were even Facebook friends. However, he does not know much about my grades.
   
   
4. Professor D, I helped her done a lot of research projects and student works. Initially she was my ideal letter writer. However, I sent her three emails, each per month, to ask for letters but get no replies. She never replied me. I also left a message on her office door, she also never replied. I believe that due to some unknown reasons, she do not want to write letters for me.
   
   
5. Professor E, I have helped him done a research project very long time ago in my junior years. But I personal was not very satisfied with that research. During that time I seemed to be young and lazy. I am totally not sure whether he likes my research outcome. Moreover, one of my other letter writers is willing to help me talk about that project.
   

I think it is very subjective to choose...I initially do not come up with such a list. Because I straight away go to look for Professor B because in his emails he seems very concerned about my real learning benefits. However, in his office I felt so awkward and nervous that he kept on asking me questions on whether I have tried other professors before reaching out to him.

P.S.: I am applying PHD or thesis-based master. I need funding to go.

Edited October 10, 2012 by erencie

[fuzzylogician]

Definitely not anyone who doesn't want to write you a letter, so Professor D is out. (But try and schedule a meeting and ask her in person, before you decide she is avoiding you.)

Probably not the professor who you think views you as young and immature and may not like your research output (but again you may want to ask in person before you decide what people think for them).

Also not professors who can't say anything about you beyond the grade you got in their class. That information is on your transcript, so it'll be a completely useless letter.

That leaves mostly Processor C, in my opinion. It's not very important that he/she can talk about your grades. Instead, you want letter writers to be able to say something beyond what the adcom can just read in your transcript - be it your enthusiasm, devotion to research, teaching ability, etc.

[alf10087]

I agree with Professor C, right after meeting in person with D and discarding the unlikely event that she hasn't seen any of your requests.

[HappyCat13]

Definitely not anyone who doesn't want to write you a letter, so Professor D is out. (But try and schedule a meeting and ask her in person, before you decide she is avoiding you.)

Probably not the professor who you think views you as young and immature and may not like your research output (but again you may want to ask in person before you decide what people think for them).

Also not professors who can't say anything about you beyond the grade you got in their class. That information is on your transcript, so it'll be a completely useless letter.

That leaves mostly Processor C, in my opinion. It's not very important that he/she can talk about your grades. Instead, you want letter writers to be able to say something beyond what the adcom can just read in your transcript - be it your enthusiasm, devotion to research, teaching ability, etc.

I agree with Professor C, right after meeting in person with D and discarding the unlikely event that she hasn't seen any of your requests.

Thanks a lot for the quick and useful responses:)

The reason that I believe professor D is not willing to write is because:

1) I wrote her three emails, using three different email address (this excludes the possibility of one email address accidentally falls into junk mailbox).

2) I left her message on office door and I know from the office lady that she was not on any holidays leave.

3) A few days after I sent the last email to her, I saw a mass email from her to the whole cohort talking about some summer programme. So I'm sure she is using emails.

I did have joyful interaction with her before and helped her done many projects as well. But after these events I was very discouraged to approach her again, although I really couldn't recall how I offended her.

I think I would look for Prof C. Thanks fuzzylogician and alf10087 for your opinions.

[fuzzylogician]

Thanks a lot for the quick and useful responses:)

The reason that I believe professor D is not willing to write is because:

1) I wrote her three emails, using three different email address (this excludes the possibility of one email address accidentally falls into junk mailbox).

2) I left her message on office door and I know from the office lady that she was not on any holidays leave.

3) A few days after I sent the last email to her, I saw a mass email from her to the whole cohort talking about some summer programme. So I'm sure she is using emails.

I did have joyful interaction with her before and helped her done many projects as well. But after these events I was very discouraged to approach her again, although I really couldn't recall how I offended her.

I think I would look for Prof C. Thanks fuzzylogician and alf10087 for your opinions.

Before you give up on what sounds like a very good potential letter, try and schedule a meeting with this professor and see how the conversation develops in person. Some people are very bad with email and sometimes professors can get busy or distracted and forget about things. That doesn't mean she won't write you a very strong letter, if she agrees to do so (though it could mean she'll end up flaking out and leaving you stuck at the last minute). In any event, whatever you decide, I think it is good practice to follow through and not make decisions that are based on less than the most detailed information you can obtain.

[alf10087]

Agreed, do not discard her. Ask her directly ! Try to find her in the hallways or something.

I am currently in the application process, and sometimes by trying to be very polite or proper, one ends up wasting many opportunities. You have nothing to lose and a lot to gain.

Be agressive. Many people see that as a good sign that you will actually fight for what you want.

[rockbender]

Wow, I completely disagree with the above commenters who suggest talking to Professor D. I say forget Professor D. She may be a very nice person who could write you a great rec, but you need someone who is going to be reliable. The last thing you want is to be constantly worried about whether or not she will complete and upload the letter by the deadline. Considering that you have made so many attempts to contact her and she has not responded, I think she has already established that she is flaky and/or disorganized, neither of which are qualities you want in a recommender. Talking to her in person may just make her feel guilty/obliged to promise something that she will ultimately not follow through on. I think it would be a big risk on your part to pursue her as a letter writer.

That said - DON'T take it personally! I doubt that she doesn't want to write you a rec. She is probably just lost in her professorial disorder (as many of them are!)

I would ask Professor C. It doesn't matter that he doesn't know your grades, as your transcript will provide that information.