Is it terrible to ask a professor you can’t stand to write a recommendation
letter for a masters program because you worked your ass off in his class, gave
him your best work imaginable, and basically sweated blood and tears for his
class and he knows it??? Just because I don’t like him doesn’t mean he doesn’t
like me, right?? Or is that like, crossing the boundaries of
moral/ethical/whatever issues??? I don’t know if I should feel bad about asking
him or not. It’s not like we have to personally like everyone we meet and work
with in order to have a good opinion about them professionally, right??
confession n. A written or oral statement acknowledging guilt, made by one who has been accused or charged with an offense.
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It is the confession, not the priest, that gives us absolution.
— Oscar Wilde
It's kind of like being in someone's head while they're praying or thinking about things they'd never say outloud.
— Yaflapkik
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January 11th, 2008 at 8:33 am
If it was work related to your research interests then go ahead and ask him. Gently request that the recommendation specifically address the work you did in that class. He will probably mention your tenacity if you are sure he recognized it. You probably need more than one letter, so find another professor that you did work for relevant to the masters program that you have a better personal relationship with to offer to the admission committee insight into your personality if you want. The professor in question in my opinion shouldn’t write a recommendation that says, “bright student, hard worker, total asshole.” Yeah I’m sure it does happen, but its still kind of obnoxious. There’s no moral or ethical problem with asking him, but just make sure you are getting the best letter possible.
January 11th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
if he doesn’t like you, or didn’t think much of your personality, then he will likely not agree to write a letter for you…usually if they say “yes” they at least have some positive feedback to give…so I would say go ahead and ask..there’s nothing wrong with it…especially if you worked so hard in his class…if he declines, then no big deal…if he says yes, he probably will write something decent….
January 11th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
you are doing nothing wrong by asking. writing recommendations is part of his job. of course it’s his call whom to write recs for, but if you worked hard, did well, etc., he really should be willing. but again, to repeat myself, you are doing nothing wrong by asking.
January 11th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Yeah, just ask if he’s willing to write you a good recommendation for the program. If he does realize that you worked hard in the class, like you mentioned, and as long as you weren’t an asshole to him or anything, then it should be no problem. You shouldn’t feel guilty.
January 16th, 2008 at 8:17 am
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