Getting LoR from PhD student Instructor?

Comments

• 1 Like

  Forever Addicted to Coffee Member ⭐

  February 2021 540 karma

  Hey leahilee08, I think that depends on several factors.

  How involved was the PhD student in the curriculum? Were they in full charge of the course or were they more like teaching assistants? The latter is when they lead discussion classes after the lecture with the professor. That's what I have been doing in my Ph.D. and I was never asked to write a letter of recommendation for a student. The same goes for my fellow Ph.D. colleagues in the program. If the PhD student was mainly responsible for leading the discussion, then I wouldn't encourage you to get a letter of recommendation from them.

  If, however, they were the only instructors of the course without a professor, then it's probably okay. For example, I took two English courses in college, one in Shakespeare and the other in globalization of literature, and both were taught by Ph.D candidates in English who later got their doctorates. In those classes, they were NOT just teaching assistants, but were in full charge of the course, including curriculum development, lecture, and other logistics. I remember asking them to write me a letter of recommendation for a scholarship, which I won!

  I hope that helps!
• 1 Like

  davejonesy Member

  February 2021 50 karma

  I wouldn't worry too much about having a PhD student write your LOR (slight caveat that it may affect an application to an elite law school). My partner and I both have advanced degrees and wrote a number of LORs for undergraduate students who were admitted to law schools across Canada.

  Advice I was given when I was an undergrad applying to grad school was: get an LOR from someone who really knows you and can speak with some specificity about your ability. I don't think there's reason to believe that wouldn't apply to law school. I think its better to have an LOR that reads like it was written by someone with knowledge of the applicant than a highly formulaic, potentially vague letter from a professor.
• CardsnHogz Alum Member

  February 2021 168 karma

  Sorry I'm no help but am curious for curiosity's sake. I get the hesitation because it can feel like a graduate student is recommending you. My opinion this is not advice b/c I have no real clue on the answer:

  I'd say, a PhD student isn't technically an employee of the university. They are a student probably on an assistantship. But, I'm out of school and may have an employer write mine. She definitely isn't an employee of the university.
• 1 Like

  Selene Steelman Free Trial Member Admissions Consultant

  February 2021 2037 karma

  As a former admissions officer, I would try to connect with a former professor and give that person enough information about your motivations for law school (your narrative, resume, your academic accomplishments in that class, maybe a draft of your personal statement, your professional goals) so they are able to write a strong, positive, and specific LOR. If a professor is not possible, then an instructor who writes about your potential as a law student would also be acceptable. The committee will look to the academic LORs to get a sense of what sort of student you would be and if you are capable of success in the law school setting. Good luck!
• 1 Like

  Glutton for the LSAT Alum Member ⭐

  February 2021 551 karma

  PhD student here. I'm not sure what the culture is like where you're from, but in Canada (where I'm from) it's generally normal to get a reference from a PhD student. This is quite normal, especially if the PhD has had experience in teaching or has occupied some kind of pedagogical role.

  Ideally, though, you do want a full-professor to write your reference, but I understand that that option is not always available for everyone.
• 1 Like

  LOWERCASE EVERYTHING Member ⭐

  February 2021 1952 karma

  https://7sage.com/admissions/lesson/how-to-pick-your-recommenders/
  this might give you some insight. see #1.