2 Questions About Professor Recs

Transfer Students
1

<p>So...I have to get 2 professor recs for my transfer app, but I didn't really get to know any of my professors...well I have ONE that knows me well but it's my Spanish teacher and she's not even a professor (she's a grad student), and Spanish has absolutely nothing to do with my major.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Is it okay to get a rec from my Spanish teacher even though it's completely unrelated to my major?</p></li>
<li><p>Is it okay to get recs from professors in my second semester? I'll definitely go to office hours and all next semester but that would only give them like a month of knowing me...is it still okay to ask one of them to write my rec?</p></li>
</ol>

2

<p>I’d think, on the subject of number one, your spanish professor wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing. Something I’ve heard fequently is that letters of recommendations are more about the ‘intangibles’ than about how good you are in your major (which they can already tell from your grades in those classes).</p>

<p>I just stumbled across this video [Guide</a> to Letters of Recommendation | Apply | Undergraduate Admissions | Vanderbilt University](<a href=“http://admissions.vanderbilt.edu/apply/recommendation-letters.php]Guide”>http://admissions.vanderbilt.edu/apply/recommendation-letters.php) the other day. It’s technically aimed more at teachers writing letters then at students requesting them, and more at high school applicants than transfers, but it’s still got a lot of good info in it IMO.</p>

3

<p>The first thing to do is read the websites of the colleges you’re applying to, see if they have any restrictions about who can write a LOR (eg. prof, TA, subject area, etc.). </p>

<p>As long as they qualify, your Spanish TA is fine, it’s always best to go with the person who knows you the best and can write you the best LOR.</p>

<p>It’s OK to send a LOR from a second sem prof, but not necessarily recommended. Again, the important criteria is who can write you the strongest LOR.</p>