Letter of Reference

cosmicfish
Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:22:54 +0000

Of my writers, at least one had a personal connection at each of the three schools to which I applied - this was the result of a certain amount of good fortune on my part, and of some careful decisions in selecting my writers.

More than that, my undergraduate studies were in the same specialty as my graduate studies - as a result, my professors were in the same conferences and publications as my prospective advisors. Even when they did not know each other personally, they were well known by reputation.

Oh, and no ass-kissing was involved.

I do not think that grad student letters are a huge negative by themselves, but I have never heard a single professor list them as a positive. While they are only “one step away” it is a very big and significant step, and since most writers are NOT brand-new professors there is usually a second step comprising years or decades of experience and reputation. A grad student lacks all of that. Using one as a required writer makes it look as if you did not really know many professors - unfortunate but it happens. Using one as an extra writer makes it look like you do not expect good things from your professors.