<p>I know this might seem like a strange question, but I've studied in a somewhat unconventional way, meaning doing a lot on my own, outside of the classroom (too complicated to go into detail here). </p>
<p>In any case, I recently participated in a seminar on Transitional Justice during which I had the opportunity to meet and discuss issues with some very experienced, well-respected people. </p>
<p>Some of the people I'm talking about were presenters who were there for only one day, while others were there for the duration (two weeks). </p>
<p>Anyhow, forgive me for my lack of knowledge as to grad school recommendation ettiquette, by my questions is this:</p>
<p>Would it be strange for me to ask someone with whom I spoke with for only an afternoon to write a recommendation? I know this depends on the person, but I'm interested in people's general experiences with this. </p>
<p>For instance, one of the presenters was a UN women's rights worker with whom I spoke for quite some time, and participated in her session. We got along very well, and my area of interest is exactly what she was there to talk about. </p>
<p>As I said, other possible rec writers are people with whom I participated throughout the two week seminar. </p>
<p>I'm just wondering if anyone else has had this sort of experience and how it turned out.</p>
<p>Um nope. One afternoon isn’t enough to measure up an applicant’s full potential. You need at least a good semester of knowing that person. Besides graduate school want professors and people with PhDs.</p>
<p>Honestly, I did meet someone at a lecture three years ago who is a professor at Michigan, one of my top choices. We did stay in touch over the years and I asked him for advice, particularly about the school. We’re in different fields so it wasn’t going to make anything complicated. When I was rejected from one of the departments originally, I UNEXPECTEDLY moved my application over to the interdisciplinary program that he’s part of (but he’s in a different department). I didn’t say anything to him- I had vowed to wait until all the dust settled before telling him of my grad school news. When I told him that I’d be coming to Michigan through this interdisciplinary program, he said that he had no idea that I applied and was happy that we’d meet up again in the fall.</p>
<p>I’m sure he would’ve put in a word or two had he been on the admissions committee who reviewed my file but I would never use him for recommendation just to get that inside connection.</p>
<p>You can stay in touch with them for CAREER networking, not graduate school LORs. If they have a close friend at a graduate school you want to attend, if they offer to write, don’t waste your precious space for up to 4 LORs, tell them to call on your behalf. They will if they care enough.</p>
<p>Bottom line: LORs should come from at least two or three academic professors who can fully measure your ability and potential to be a great scholar through the work you’ve done for them.</p>
<p>I had a professor that said he’d basically write a rec for anyone he had in the past granted they got a good grade in his class even if he didn’t know them. Basically, get to know your professors and I’m sure if you look like you’re going to end up with an A in their class that they would be happy to go to bat for you. I got a rec from a professor I hadn’t really talked with in a year, but he was cool and still remembered me since I was the guy he labeled as “that one person every semester that sits in the back row but has all the answers”</p>
<p>In most cases, and in most fields, letters of recommendation MUST come from former professors. Letters are supposed to provide detailed evaluations of an applicant’s research capabilities. Ideally, letters should come from professors with whom one has taken more than just one class.</p>
<p>In no case should a letter come from someone that the applicant worked with for a mere two week period.</p>
<p>I don’t think that you should ask a person to write a LOR for you that you’ve met only once. If the admissions committee finds out, either through interview, the LOR, or calling the recommender, it might hurt you. LOR are supposed to be from a person who can judge if you can hack it in Grad school. If you meet a person only once, you can’t really find out. I think it’d be fine to use the person to network, but not for a LOR.</p>