Is letter of recommendation important? Forum

(Applications Advice, Letters of Recommendation . . . )
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HelloThere!

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Is letter of recommendation important?

Post by HelloThere! » Fri May 31, 2013 7:56 pm

I just got off of my university and will be working for a couple of years. I don't have a professor that I keep in touch with currently. I'll be asking for one later, but I'm pretty sure I won't get a fantastic review from them.
So my question is, how important is the LOR in terms of my chances?
Also, any tips on contacting professors you got an A in class, but s/he doesn't know you?

Thanks.

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Nova

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Re: Is letter of recommendation important?

Post by Nova » Fri May 31, 2013 8:04 pm

Marginally

FAQ: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 22&t=79766
Guide: http://www.top-law-schools.com/letters- ... ation.html
4. What if I don’t know any professors very well?
If you don’t know professors well, and you are still a student, then it’s time to start talking to them! Get to know a professor that you like, and seek out a letter from that person. If that isn’t an option, think about classes where you got an A or a certain professor that always seemed friendly and approachable. Asking a graduate teaching assistant or lecturer is fine as well.

5. I have been out of school for years, and I don’t remember any of my professors. What should I do?
If you are out of school and have been working, it’s also okay to ask your employer or supervisor to write a letter for you. It is better if you can find at least one academic letter, so see if any of your old professors are still teaching and try to contact them. If you refresh their memory as to who you are, they may be willing to write for you.
http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 2&t=178104
Their significance tends to be greater the worse they are. Great letters of recommendation, I suspect, are the norm, and so probably do very little to boost your candidacy (the exception being, I imagine, letters from very prominent professors/employers or individuals with relevant connections to the law school). Poor or mediocre letters can sink you. So, it's not accurate to say that letters are merely a 'formality,' but letters that gush over how amazing a student/employee you are/were don't do much work for you since it's likely most applicants have them. Adcoms are interested, I assume, in eliminating candidates who cannot secure decent recommendations.
http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 2&t=210324
Last edited by Nova on Fri May 31, 2013 8:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.

PourMeTea

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Post removed.

Post by PourMeTea » Fri May 31, 2013 8:07 pm

Post removed.
Last edited by PourMeTea on Fri May 08, 2015 12:24 am, edited 1 time in total.

HelloThere!

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Re: Is letter of recommendation important?

Post by HelloThere! » Fri May 31, 2013 8:11 pm

Nova wrote:Marginally

FAQ: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 22&t=79766
Guide: http://www.top-law-schools.com/letters- ... ation.html
4. What if I don’t know any professors very well?
If you don’t know professors well, and you are still a student, then it’s time to start talking to them! Get to know a professor that you like, and seek out a letter from that person. If that isn’t an option, think about classes where you got an A or a certain professor that always seemed friendly and approachable. Asking a graduate teaching assistant or lecturer is fine as well.

5. I have been out of school for years, and I don’t remember any of my professors. What should I do?
If you are out of school and have been working, it’s also okay to ask your employer or supervisor to write a letter for you. It is better if you can find at least one academic letter, so see if any of your old professors are still teaching and try to contact them. If you refresh their memory as to who you are, they may be willing to write for you.
http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 2&t=178104
Their significance tends to be greater the worse they are. Great letters of recommendation, I suspect, are the norm, and so probably do very little to boost your candidacy (the exception being, I imagine, letters from very prominent professors/employers or individuals with relevant connections to the law school). Poor or mediocre letters can sink you. So, it's not accurate to say that letters are merely a 'formality,' but letters that gush over how amazing a student/employee you are/were don't do much work for you since it's likely most applicants have them. Adcoms are interested, I assume, in eliminating candidates who cannot secure decent recommendations.
http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 2&t=210324
Thanks man! This was what I was looking for!

HelloThere!

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Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2011 4:34 am

Re: Is letter of recommendation important?

Post by HelloThere! » Fri May 31, 2013 8:13 pm

PourMeTea wrote:
HelloThere! wrote:I just got off of my university and will be working for a couple of years. I don't have a professor that I keep in touch with currently. I'll be asking for one later, but I'm pretty sure I won't get a fantastic review from them.
So my question is, how important is the LOR in terms of my chances?
Also, any tips on contacting professors you got an A in class, but s/he doesn't know you?

Thanks.
Is there another professor you could ask that knows you better? A LOR from a professor who doesn't know you will probably be lukewarm at best.
I have one professor that gave me an A, but I never talked to him in person. But funny thing is I added him on Facebook and we chatted on it a few times. He recognizes me on the streets too! Does this count??

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Cicero76

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Re: Is letter of recommendation important?

Post by Cicero76 » Sat Jun 01, 2013 10:05 am

Flow chart for LORs:

Are you applying to Y? -----> LOR Vitally important.

Are you applying to HS? ------> LOR important

Are you applying to T14? ----> LOR somewhat meaningful

Are you applying to T30? ------> LOR marginal

Are you applying to T1? --------LOR Marginal at the most

Are you applying anywhere else? ------LOR could be a watercolor painting of your dog, who cares.

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