LOR

[windypoplars]

For PhD admissions, is it better to get a LOR from a professor whose class you did exceptionally well in, but is not that well known in the field, or from a lab PI who only saw you do basic RA work (i.e. just implement experiments, and minimal analysis), but is well known in the field? Both do not know me well on a personal level. 

Edited July 28, 2013 by windypoplars

[lewin]

My impression is that the RA letter will be better because it should be more detailed. Unless the class was a small-group seminar with lots of contact, what is the professor going to write? I've seen those letters and they're basically: "I had X in my class and he/she obtained a mark of X, which is above/below the class average. Although I did not interact with X outside of class, he/she seemed dedicated and bright, and asked insightful questions during lecture." With a class-based letter, that's the best you can hope for.

[MsDarjeeling]

Well it depends on who knows you better and can speak to your character and ability to succeed in a phd program.  That's not really knowing you personally, but knowing you academically and professionally.  Pondering both of your options.....

 

Does the professor only know you from class?  If so that isn't going to be a strong letter.  Some professors refuse to write letters unless the student worked with them on a project or research outside of class because they feel like they don't know them very well.  Sure you did well in their class, but they generally know nothing of your goals or research interests and can really only go on what you *tell* them.  Now a professor that you worked with on a research project?  They've worked with you one on one and observed how quickly (or not so quickly) you learned new skills, if you were proactive, your time management skills, your ability to weather challenges (unexpected results), etc.

 

Did the lab PI observe you working on independent research projects or collaborative projects?  Even if the tasks you conducted were basic those skills are still needed in order to take on more phd level research projects.  When you say the lab PI observed you working do you mean they worked with you one on one, mentored you, and reviewed your results?  If so that would provide them with a lot of information about your ability to handle more research, especially if you've been talking to them about your research interests and goals.