Physics GRE Discussion Forums

What would colleges most look for in a letter of recommendation.

The 2 scientists recommending me are very senior scientists - BUT UNFORTUNATELY I ASSOCIATED WITH THEM MANY YEARS BACK.

They some how have to convince the colleges that my interest in physics has still remained alive.

But aside of that - what are they to write - that i was strong with concepts, fundamentals?

That i was original enough at times to be considered likely to become a good researcher?

That my motivation is strong and tenacity immense?

I do not have published research record, though i have been involved in under-grad level research projects. do they expect a published record - i know they do in top colleges but i am applying to like below the top 60.

aside of the points i listed - is there anything else you want to suggest that colleges may like to see in a reco letter.

please help me with this....anyone

i am ofcourse applying to lower end (below top 60-65) colleges, so a published record may not matter.

delsub wrote:What would colleges most look for in a letter of recommendation.

The 2 scientists recommending me are very senior scientists - BUT UNFORTUNATELY I ASSOCIATED WITH THEM MANY YEARS BACK.

They some how have to convince the colleges that my interest in physics has still remained alive.

But aside of that - what are they to write - that i was strong with concepts, fundamentals?

That i was original enough at times to be considered likely to become a good researcher?

That my motivation is strong and tenacity immense?

I do not have published research record, though i have been involved in under-grad level research projects. do they expect a published record - i know they do in top colleges but i am applying to like below the top 60.

aside of the points i listed - is there anything else you want to suggest that colleges may like to see in a reco letter.

I think the answer I gave in the following post is very near to the same as what I would have said here,

http://www.physicsgre.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=3227

You should think of the Letters of Rec as a hierarchy of good and bad letter writers. The best LOR you can get is from a professor that you did lots of research with because the thing that you really need to prove to a grad school department is that you are cut out to do research. Nobody expects you to be doing individual and simultaneously ground breaking work, so your best bet is to have a professor you worked with write about how much of a go getter you where, how you picked up on the material so quickly and that your breath always smelled of mint and tea leaves. Well, maybe the last one isn't as important, but in general the admissions committee wants to know that you are dedicated and bright.

I still don't have a suitable answer to the qustion. Can anybody explain what they are talking about...levitra online

Basically, the best letter you can get are from professors you did research with. Some people might think that picking a famous professor you had a class with is better because of name recognition. However, what are these people going to write about you? He got an A, smart kid? Meanwhile the professor who you did research with will know how capable you are, what your strengths and weaknesses have been and maybe will be. Schools want a letter that actually tells them useful information, if it's from a famous prof that's a plus. But if it's from a famous prof that can't say how you are as a researcher it's pretty useless. It's fine if it's your third letter, but to have 2 of them from people who don't know how useful you'll be in trying to contribute to original work is a big gamble. I'll take a strong meaningful letter over name recognition any day.

If you don't have very much research experience however, which let's face it will hurt your app, not condemn it but definitely hurt it. Then pick the profs that know you the best, once more, the better the good information schools get about you the better they are to offer you a spot.

They like to see honesty in the recommendation, not something forced because of being asked to write the recommendation...24hr-printer-cartridges.com