LOR Writer's Title

[rainy_day]

One of my letter writers was an Assistant Professor during my time in college. He left my senior year, and is a freelance writer and stay-at-home dad. No real title and no institution to which he belongs. I've been writing Formerly: Assistant Prof, Formerly: Undergrad Institution. Does that seem like a good stand-in?

We also have the same last name, so I want it to be very clear that he was my instructor, and I'm not having my brother write me a letter of recommendation.

[RedPotato]

One of my letter writers was an Assistant Professor during my time in college. He left my senior year, and is a freelance writer and stay-at-home dad. No real title and no institution to which he belongs. I've been writing Formerly: Assistant Prof, Formerly: Undergrad Institution. Does that seem like a good stand-in?

We also have the same last name, so I want it to be very clear that he was my instructor, and I'm not having my brother write me a letter of recommendation.

Imho, once a professor, always a professor. Adding formerly creates doubt as to why isnt he there anymore (fired? quit? or an entirely legit and respected reason). Perhaps "Professor XYZ, formerly of University X" or "Professor of Insert-topic-here".

[tarski]

I think "formerly" is good- his relationship to you was "professor", but he does not actually have an official rank anymore.

As for the last name issue, that's an awkward coincidence. Some applications have a space where you specify the relationship you have with the writer, which would deal with this, but if they don't... perhaps use the "additional information" page to specify your relationship with the letter writers? (Thesis advisor, prof for 2 courses, etc.) But then, not all of them have an additional information page, either.

Just blindly guessing .

[jlee306]

I had the former director at the place I volunteer at write me a LOR. On all of my applications, no where did it ask me to say what her position is/was. I am a little worried b/c when she signs her name on the LOR, she will not have a title by it as she is not working now. We will see how that turns out.

[rainy_day]

@tarski, He is going to include something in the letter, about us not being related, thankfully. I know he'll write a great letter, so it's worth it, but the name + not being a professor anymore details are a bit awkward. Thank you for your advice.

[mudlark]

Ex-profs aren't professors, but they are still PhDs. That's their title.

Did he leave voluntarily, or did he fail tenure review? Great letter or not, it might be better to find someone who's still working.

[rogue]

One of my LOR writers quit his job two days before handing me my packet of letters. He still signed them with his old title and old company name, and that's the information I used when listing him as a recommender on applications. (However, he provided his personal cell phone number and email address as contact info, rather than his former employer's info.) I'm not too worried about it; people move around sometimes and I think ad coms understand this. I can't imagine this will have any effect whatsoever on my admissions chances.

[gazelle]

Curious what you think of these titles:

--One LOR writer was and still is an associate professor of chemical engineering (my undergraduate focus), so nothing new there.

--One of them is a history PhD, but has since left academia to start his own successful triathlon coaching business (he was a supervisor of mine so I really lucked out having a PhD supervisor)

--One of them is a Cornell PhD in East Asian Studies (IIRC) and was an East Asian Studies professor of mine, though I think she was assistant/adjunct, as her main title is Director of Programs at a think tank and she is no longer at the university (to my knowledge)

I'm curious about how important title is to the admissions committees. I like that my writers all have different titles, but does it really matter that they are all strictly current professors/supervisors? Do admissions committees care where an LOR went to school, or weigh a letter from an Ivy grad more heavily when a student is applying for an Ivy school?

Or does it generally not matter, and only weigh more heavily in the case that the LOR writer did their PhD in the same field the applicant intends to study (none of mine are)?

It's gonna be a loooong 2-3 months.

[rogue]

Curious what you think of these titles:

--One LOR writer was and still is an associate professor of chemical engineering (my undergraduate focus), so nothing new there.

--One of them is a history PhD, but has since left academia to start his own successful triathlon coaching business (he was a supervisor of mine so I really lucked out having a PhD supervisor)

--One of them is a Cornell PhD in East Asian Studies (IIRC) and was an East Asian Studies professor of mine, though I think she was assistant/adjunct, as her main title is Director of Programs at a think tank and she is no longer at the university (to my knowledge)

I'm curious about how important title is to the admissions committees. I like that my writers all have different titles, but does it really matter that they are all strictly current professors/supervisors? Do admissions committees care where an LOR went to school, or weigh a letter from an Ivy grad more heavily when a student is applying for an Ivy school?

Or does it generally not matter, and only weigh more heavily in the case that the LOR writer did their PhD in the same field the applicant intends to study (none of mine are)?

It's gonna be a loooong 2-3 months.

The main point of LORs is to attest to your ability to perform well in grad school. So, the writers should be familiar with A.) your academic performance/potential and B.) the type of work done in graduate school. I've heard all kinds of arguments about whether so-and-so is qualified to write a LOR with such-and-such credentials/title, but I think in the end, this is what it boils down to. Just my 2 cents.

Edited January 5, 2010 by rogue