LOR from Prof. explaining bad 1L grades?
Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2011 6:34 pm
I'm in the process of my 3L mass mailing campaign. I ended my 1L year just below median on account of two very bad grades (without those two grades, I would have been around top 1/3rd). My 2L year went much, much better--I was easily top 10% for the year.
The other day I decided to email one of the 1L professors I got a bad grade from, just to make sure my grade wasn't an error or anything (something I should have done right away, not a year later). The professor emailed me back and the grade seems to be correct; I just did really bad.
I had this same professor for a 2L seminar, in which I got an A. In the email about my 1L grade, the professor also mentioned that my seminar paper was one of the best in the class and offered to write a LOR to help put my 1L grade in perspective and to convey how well I did in the 2L class.
In a follow-up email, the professor explained that including such a letter in my firm apps might be wise. I'm inclined to agree, for two reasons:
(tl;dr: is it a good idea to include, in 3L mass mailing extravaganza, a LOR from a prof explaining a bad grade?)
The other day I decided to email one of the 1L professors I got a bad grade from, just to make sure my grade wasn't an error or anything (something I should have done right away, not a year later). The professor emailed me back and the grade seems to be correct; I just did really bad.
I had this same professor for a 2L seminar, in which I got an A. In the email about my 1L grade, the professor also mentioned that my seminar paper was one of the best in the class and offered to write a LOR to help put my 1L grade in perspective and to convey how well I did in the 2L class.
In a follow-up email, the professor explained that including such a letter in my firm apps might be wise. I'm inclined to agree, for two reasons:
- Unlike a grade addendum for LS apps, I wouldn't be writing this letter, a professor would. Seems like it wouldn't come across as whiny/defensive/etc. if I wasn't writing it.
- I think it could be a good letter. The professor offered to write it unsolicited. I really like this professor, we've had some good conversations at office hours (also, recently we both listened to another professor give a talk which contradicted the thesis of my seminar paper...my professor saw me afterward and said I should have brought my contradictory arguments/findings), so I think the feeling is mutual.
(tl;dr: is it a good idea to include, in 3L mass mailing extravaganza, a LOR from a prof explaining a bad grade?)