Asking RA prof for a student reference
Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 10:30 pm
I interviewed for a spring semester RA position with a professor a few days ago and just received an email stating that I was selected. I'm pleased; however, I didn't have the professor for class (the job was posted on the school's job bank), I hadn't met him/her before the interview, and I don't know anyone who knows him/her well (I'm a 1L). This normally wouldn't bother me too much, except that the prof was rather rude throughout the interview (showed up late without apology, spoke sarcastically/critically of colleagues, etc.). Further, it seems suspicious that a 1L was chosen, given that a 2L/3L would probably be a bigger asset to the prof and one would think that 2Ls/3Ls would jump at the chance to earn some easy money over the semester--unless, as I suspect, the prof is a jerk.
That brings me to my question: before accepting, can I ask the prof for a reference of a past RA? I'm leaning toward just accepting the position, working for a few days and simply quitting if I feel that the prof's attitude isn't worth the hourly wage, but the project is time-sensitive and I'd hate to cause the prof to miss a deadline.
That brings me to my question: before accepting, can I ask the prof for a reference of a past RA? I'm leaning toward just accepting the position, working for a few days and simply quitting if I feel that the prof's attitude isn't worth the hourly wage, but the project is time-sensitive and I'd hate to cause the prof to miss a deadline.