How Much Time Do You Need To Know Someone Before Asking For a Recommendation?

Graduate School
1

<p>Okay so here is the thing. Next year I'm applying for graduate school. But I'm a little concerned about recommendations. I'm applying for graduate school in a microbiology field...but I was a late bloomer for the love of sciences (started in one major moved to another, graduating with a BS in a non science major). I've taken a lot of science based classes and gotten a high gpa in time (science gpa = 4.0...makes me wish I MAJORED in science) all with labs (4 bio classes, 4 chemistry classes, 1 physics class)</p>

<p>My worry is this. Most grad schools ask for 3 recommendations. </p>

<p>I have 1 from the dean of my department, who knows me personally as I made an effort to go to his office hours, take his classes, and make montly meetings with him to talk and get to know each other.</p>

<p>1 from my summer lab PI of the 1 summer program I did in microbiological research.</p>

<p>And here is the hard part; the third one. I'm doing a summer research position at UPenn this summer. I start next week. Grad school applications are due Dec 1. That means I would have only been working with this PI for about 3.5 months before I ask him for his praises. Is that enough time? Or should I panic and find a different third one? He is a reputable man in the field of microbiology and has done ALOT of micro research.</p>

<p>If it matters my GRE scores are great. Verbal: 158, Quantitative: 162, Writing: 5.0</p>

<p>Any advice?</p>

2

<p>

With applications due in 3.5 months, you should be asking him for a letter in 2 months. That’s plenty if you are actually working with him, but not much if you are only reporting your results to him. But it’s difficult to give advice from a distance. Only you know what your options really are. Go with your gut and you’ll probably pick the best one.</p>