Terrified about asking for LOR, and can they be from faculty who aren't full time faculty/are postdocs?

[anthrostudentcyn]

Hi, so I am having huge trouble with LOR's for my upcoming December 1 deadlines. I have 2 recs down, but trouble coming up with a third. 

My options:

1. Professor who I've taken 3 classes with but who inexplicably gave me B+s two of those semesters, and an A in another

2. Post Doc fellow who I did really well in his class which was a PhD seminar as a junior undergrad-> he says it might damage my app to have not a full time faculty

 

What's a better option?

 

also how do you ask politely for recs when I feel like I'm annoying the hell out of them and hugely inconveniencing them? im not a veery assertive person 

Edited October 26, 2015 by anthrostudentcyn

[fuzzylogician]

The postdoc is right that all things being equal, it's better to have a letter from a full-time faculty member. The question is whether things are indeed otherwise equal. What will the letter from the professor be able to say about you, and what will the postdoc say? Were the classes you took with the prof advanced? Can the prof say anything about you other than that you attended their class and got XYZ grades? How about the postdoc? Also, are your other two letters from full-time faculty? If so, it makes it less important that the third one might not be. 

As for asking for the LOR, try to keep in mind that writing letters is part of the professor's job description. I know you still feel like you're inconveniencing them, but you need to not worry about it. If it helps, remember that they are where they are because others took the time to write letters for them. It's part of the process and now it's their turn to return the favor. One day down the line, you will do it for people who you supervise. I would suggest making an appointment and just asking. Make it as easy for them to write the letter as possible -- give them a list of the deadlines, and any materials they ask for (your SOP, writing sample, etc.). Some profs might want a list from you of things they should focus on. It's in your interest to provide it, because it's much more likely that you remember all of the relevant details about your interactions with them than that they do. So, be thankful and helpful, be respectful of their time, but don't be afraid to ask! 

[anthrostudentcyn]

I want the postdoc because he could say something about my academic growth: it was a five person PhD seminar (and I'm at an ivy), the first class I was terrified and told him I wanted to quit, he told me to stick it out, and by the end of the class my intellectual work greatly improved as well as my analytical thinking and reasoning in a grad-school like way, and in the comments on my final paper he gave me an A and said I quickly came to be the most insightful student in the course. 

 

the professor: embarassingly, I got a B+ in the 101 class in my major, a B+ in an advanced seminar in my major, and an A in a theory class in my major. i feel like he likes me, but im not a favorite of his. 

[fuzzylogician]

If your other two letters are from professors and you feel like the postdoc will write you a stronger letter, then in my opinion that should be fine. If you feel like you have a strong enough relationship with the postdoc, you could include him in this deliberation. Tell him what the other option is and what the other letter will look like, and ask for his opinion for which letter would be the better option. It sounds like the postdoc has your best interest at heart. 

[rising_star]

I just want to say one quick thing. I don't think a professor giving you a B+ has anything to do with whether or not the professor likes you. Students I don't like get As and students I do like get B-minuses. Why? Because their grades are a reflection of their work, not how I feel about them. BTW, that is also why you shouldn't say you "inexplicably" received a B+ in their class. I'm sure there's an explanation, even if you don't particularly like it.

If I were you, I would talk to that professor and see if they are willing/able to write you a strong recommendation letter for graduate school. You may be pleasantly surprised by their answer.

[sjoh197]

I just want to say one quick thing. I don't think a professor giving you a B+ has anything to do with whether or not the professor likes you. Students I don't like get As and students I do like get B-minuses. Why? Because their grades are a reflection of their work, not how I feel about them. BTW, that is also why you shouldn't say you "inexplicably" received a B+ in their class. I'm sure there's an explanation, even if you don't particularly like it.

I had a professor that was very good friends with my advisor, and often joined us for our weekly small group readings and discussions. While we talked quite a bit in these discussions and were quite friendly, I only ever took one class with him and I got a B. It was mostly graduate students and I was taking a full course load, doing research, and working part time for my advisor on a separate project. He was more than willing to write me a good letter of recommendation, despite my B.  

 

Not that my story should or will influence your decision....