Did I just destroy my chances of getting a LOR? Forum

[cantwaittoberich]

Sigh. It's been a stressful semester trying to balance classes and LSAT prep and extracurriculars. As a result, I've turned in some less than stellar assignments for a professor I was targeting for a LOR. I received a barely passing grade on a short essay (worth 5%), and she pulled me aside to talk about it. She told me he's been very impressed by my work in the past, and was wondering if I just had an off week or what, and what I thought of the essay I turned in. I was super overwhelmed at the time and did not give it my all and was a bit confused at the instructions...luckily, I seemed to not be the only person who struggled with that assignment, as she allowed the entire class to rewrite it. Strike 1?

A few weeks ago, the same professor told me she was "very concerned" about the progress I was making towards a final paper, as I was missing some important sources. We spoke over the phone and I am now on the right track, so that seems to be water under the bridge. Strike 2?

The fact that I got called out gives me a lot of anxiety, and to make matters worse, I did poorly on yet ANOTHER assignment for this professor...just today I received an essay back in which I received a B...not a terrible grade, but she informed me that if it was anyone else it would've been a much lower grade...she said it seemed like I didn't even read the whole book the essay was on lol. I confided in her that the LSAT has been dominating my life, and she was very understanding, saying that I'm very smart etc. Overall, I have a good relationship with this professor, and she seems to very much care about her students succeeding. She knows I want to be an attorney and is always working in legal references during office hours and saying things like "well you're going to be an attorney so...". I have about a month and a half left of the semester, but is it too late with this professor? I don't know how I could have been this reckless. I am still on track to get As in her classes, and am willing to work my tail off to get there, but I'm just wondering if I've already blown my chances with the inconsistent and sloppy work.

If I have to X this professor, I would be left with one academic and one non academic letter, which could hurt me at the T6, correct?

[BrainsyK]

Professors understand that even their best students have other things to juggle. At least I hope they do. As long as you're generally a good performer, I see no reason for her to not write an LOR. Also, nothing short a back-stab letter would really matter at anything short of Y/S--maybe even just Y.

[239840]

I don't think you have anything to worry about because the professor sounds like a nice person with whom you have a good relationship. I'd say you're fine. Fwiw, I would lean towards prioritizing your classes/GPA for now and study for the LSAT more once you've finished undergrad with the best possible grades. You could always do some logic games lightly in your spare time to get that section down while focusing largely on your schoolwork, but I wouldn't sacrifice your GPA for an early application/getting the LSAT out of the way.

[cantwaittoberich]

Professors understand that even their best students have other things to juggle. At least I hope they do. As long as you're generally a good performer, I see no reason for her to not write an LOR. Also, nothing short a back-stab letter would really matter at anything short of Y/S--maybe even just Y.

I'm just gunning for H tbh

I took a class with her last semester and nailed every assignment, walked away with a high A. Again I can definitely pull off good grades in her classes, I'm just concerned about every single component of that final grade not being amazing and that culminating in a lukewarm LOR...argh.

[BrainsyK]

I'm just gunning for H tbh

I took a class with her last semester and nailed every assignment, walked away with a high A. Again I can definitely pull off good grades in her classes, I'm just concerned about every single component of that final grade not being amazing and that culminating in a lukewarm LOR...argh.

Honestly, trading a lukewarm LOR for even +1 on the LSAT is well worth it--not that that's even likely to happen here. I wouldn't worry about it at all.

[cantwaittoberich]

I'm just gunning for H tbh

I took a class with her last semester and nailed every assignment, walked away with a high A. Again I can definitely pull off good grades in her classes, I'm just concerned about every single component of that final grade not being amazing and that culminating in a lukewarm LOR...argh.

Honestly, trading a lukewarm LOR for even +1 on the LSAT is well worth it--not that that's even likely to happen here. I wouldn't worry about it at all.

You really think so? Even for the T6? I know for Y LORs are super important but idk about my chances for Y even with a spectacular letter lol

I could also substitute her letter from a prof I had for a single class last semester, who would def write a great one, but he was a lecturer...he lacks the "professor" title of this chick and I only had him for a class vs. will have taken 3 of her classes

[BrainsyK]

You really think so? Even for the T6? I know for Y LORs are super important but idk about my chances for Y even with a spectacular letter lol

I could also substitute her letter from a prof I had for a single class last semester, who would def write a great one, but he was a lecturer...he lacks the "professor" title of this chick and I only had him for a class vs. will have taken 3 of her classes

Well, there's a big difference between 133/134 and 170/171, but I'm assuming that if you're gunning for H, you're not aiming for the former. I had a lecturer LOR. It was fine. To the extent that it matters--and that's very little--the content matters more than the title of the writer. The reader probably won't know who your professor is anyway.

[nixy]

I'm going to be a bit of a contrarian and say that this prof may feel she needs to be comprehensive in her letter. If you can turn things around this semester that's one thing, but the letter might be a little dodgy, and that might matter for the very top schools. (On the margins, but that can matter.)

That said, using the lecturer will be absolutely fine. Title is absolutely unimportant compared to content. If someone knows you and your work well enough to write a glowing and convincing letter backed up with specific detail, it doesn't matter what their title is - that letter is much more valuable than generic blandness from a huge name. It does sound like the professor whose class you're screwing up word normally be a better option, but it's because she knows you better, not because her title is "professor" vs. "lecturer."

I think the thing to do is finish out the semester, ideally fix the problems you're having, then go to her and explain why this semester was tough for you and ask whether the dip in your performance would affect a letter she'd write for you. She might say, "that was an anomaly and I know from your other classes what you're capable of, which I is what I'll address," or she may say, "yeah, I would need to discuss this last semester." You can then decide whether you want the letter.

[cantwaittoberich]

I'm going to be a bit of a contrarian and say that this prof may feel she needs to be comprehensive in her letter. If you can turn things around this semester that's one thing, but the letter might be a little dodgy, and that might matter for the very top schools. (On the margins, but that can matter.)

That said, using the lecturer will be absolutely fine. Title is absolutely unimportant compared to content. If someone knows you and your work well enough to write a glowing and convincing letter backed up with specific detail, it doesn't matter what their title is - that letter is much more valuable than generic blandness from a huge name. It does sound like the professor whose class you're screwing up word normally be a better option, but it's because she knows you better, not because her title is "professor" vs. "lecturer."

I think the thing to do is finish out the semester, ideally fix the problems you're having, then go to her and explain why this semester was tough for you and ask whether the dip in your performance would affect a letter she'd write for you. She might say, "that was an anomaly and I know from your other classes what you're capable of, which I is what I'll address," or she may say, "yeah, I would need to discuss this last semester." You can then decide whether you want the letter.

Thank you so much. A great letter from a lecturer would definitely outweigh a lukewarm letter from a professor any day of the week anyways. I'll just put my best foot forward from here on out and see what happens!