How to interpret this response?

[Rising]

Hi everyone,

 

This is the response I received from one of my potential LOR writers. 

"Thanks for your mail. And great to hear that you have such ambitious plans for your master. However, I think you should approach a professor to add more weight to your application, as I am not playing a very important role in academia being a mere tutor."

She has PhD in the field I am applying for. Yes, she is a tutor but I believe tutors in Europe play slightly different role.  They provide small group tutorials to supplement the students' instruction from professors.

Is this a delicate way to say that she does not want to write a LOR for me or she really means it that I should find someone else (I didn't really plan a back-up plan for this)? Should I try to persuade her? 

[rising_star]

I would assume she's concerned that she can't say as much about you as a professor might. But, why not ask her why she thinks you should ask someone else? Seems like a better way to get an answer than asking a bunch of strangers on the internet.

[brown_eyed_girl]

It sounds like she's being honest that a letter from her won't mean much since she's not a professor. The status and name recognition of letter writers is important and she's acknowledging that she won't be able to contribute much. Can you ask for a letter from the professor associated with the class she tutored? 

[scientific]

Depending on school, i've heard that grad student letters may not carry any weight. The point of a LOR is for a professor to understand your capabilities as a graduate student, so the idea is that a professor is the best bet to gauging your abilities in grad school. 

[emmm]

Agreed -- she is being honest with you. Letters from full professors carry the most weight. That is how academia works. When I was applying, I had letters from community college instructors (and even 1 non-PhD adjunct). I was told my letters were one of the weak spots in my application package (as a non-trad, I had several). Still, I did get interviews and an acceptance, so these letters are not necessarily going to disqualify you in the eyes of ALL programs (but will from some).