Does professor rank matter for LORs Forum

[harveyspecter993]

Hi,

Specifically for HYS, does it make a difference if one's LORs are written by distinguished/emeriti profs as opposed to assistant, adjunct or associate profs.

Secondly, it is advisable to ask postdoctoral fellows who taught classes you took for LORs.

Thanks

[Cradle6]

Prevailing logic is to ask the person who knows the you best and can best attest to your work ethic, talent, etc.

Asking someone high profile but knows nothing about you won't impress anyone.

It's like when people get governors to write letters for undergrad: usually not the best idea.

[sunbai1029]

The above poster is mainly right, however there is no need to pretend as if LoR's from well-known figures are unimportant. HY especially is a haven for the elite and if you're "one of them" so to speak it will go along way. Connections, as minimal as they may be, can boost an applicant. At the least, it won't hurt. But a professor who has a Doctorate as opposed to just a masters, for example, is probably not going to mean much.

[Cicero76]

not really

[Cradle6]

The above poster is mainly right, however there is no need to pretend as if LoR's from well-known figures are unimportant. HY especially is a haven for the elite and if you're "one of them" so to speak it will go along way. Connections, as minimal as they may be, can boost an applicant. At the least, it won't hurt. But a professor who has a Doctorate as opposed to just a masters, for example, is probably not going to mean much.

Very true.

There are a few cases, (if the dean of admissions at Harvard writes you a letter that would probably help. )

Or a big donor.

But when most people ask this question they mean asking some judge, or a semi-famous professor that has nothing to say about the applicant.

I still maintain that if the only thing the recommender can say is that you got an A in the class they're the wrong person to ask in 90% of situations.

[anyriotgirl]

one of my recommenders was one of the most preftigious people in my major's entire department, and my cycle went about exactly how you might expect from mylsn

[ilikebaseball]

What about getting a judge to write a LOR? As opposed to a professor? Like, does it matter more who's writing the letter, or the content of the letter itself?

[SamSeaborn2016]

What about getting a judge to write a LOR? As opposed to a professor? Like, does it matter more who's writing the letter, or the content of the letter itself?

I sat on our admission committee for years. Use academic letters above all else unless you have no choice. LORs are only useful if they are written by someone who clearly knows you and your capabilities. We tossed plenty of LORs from politicians and prominent business leaders because it was clear from the content that the applicant had just been an intern or something and that the "writer" didn't have anything useful to say about the applicant. We see so many of those things that it becomes easy to see through the BS and buzz word plaudits.

[Ti Malice]

If Amartya Sen says you're the most brilliant student he's ever taught, the LOR will probably carry more weight than the same LOR from the average professor. Other than something extraordinary like that, title/renown is not important. Get letters from the professors best able to speak positively of and specifically to your strengths/abilities.

[lacrossebrother]

You should ask your professor to include her cv so Columbia adcomms know how big of a deal your Vanderbilt sociology professor is. Don't risk them not recognizing her name. I know it seems impossible to not remember all the famous professors you got in your Topps Prof trading cards deck but without the cv the adcomms might forget about that highly cited article in European sociology journal from 2004.

[A. Nony Mouse]

Detailed, specific positive letter from bigwig prof > detailed, specific positive letter from no-name prof > detailed, specific positive letter from non-prof >>>> generic letter from anyone.

[anyriotgirl]

Detailed, specific positive letter from bigwig prof > detailed, specific positive letter from no-name prof > detailed, specific positive letter from non-prof >>>> generic letter from anyone.

tbh I'm pretty sure LORs are just a way that schools try to screen for sociopaths

[A. Nony Mouse]

Detailed, specific positive letter from bigwig prof > detailed, specific positive letter from no-name prof > detailed, specific positive letter from non-prof >>>> generic letter from anyone.

tbh I'm pretty sure LORs are just a way that schools try to screen for sociopaths

yeah, I nearly added "to the extent that LORs matter." Since the OP specified HYS, they may actually get read.

[anyriotgirl]

Detailed, specific positive letter from bigwig prof > detailed, specific positive letter from no-name prof > detailed, specific positive letter from non-prof >>>> generic letter from anyone.

tbh I'm pretty sure LORs are just a way that schools try to screen for sociopaths

yeah, I nearly added "to the extent that LORs matter." Since the OP specified HYS, they may actually get read.

you're a more generous lady than me, I stopped taking that particular stip seriously many threads ago