Recommendation from a median grade professor? Forum

[VincentChase]

I was at the median in a class, but really participated in there, knew my stuff, knew the professor, etc., etc. Probably just tanked a couple issues on a hypo and ... voila ... you know how that can happen.

A possible summer opportunity wants recommenders. Should I only go with the above-median classes or would it be OK to get it from a guy who gave me a B+?

[napolnic]

I was at the median in a class, but really participated in there, knew my stuff, knew the professor, etc., etc. Probably just tanked a couple issues on a hypo and ... voila ... you know how that can happen.

A possible summer opportunity wants recommenders. Should I only go with the above-median classes or would it be OK to get it from a guy who gave me a B+?

You might want to talk to the professor about your exam first, but I really see no problem in asking a professor from a class you were median in for a recommendation. In fact, I remember one professor saying that he would rather have as his researcher someone who was either median or slightly above than someone who was the top grade in his class. Not a completely analogous situation, but something to think about.

[king3780]

I was at the median in a class, but really participated in there, knew my stuff, knew the professor, etc., etc. Probably just tanked a couple issues on a hypo and ... voila ... you know how that can happen.

A possible summer opportunity wants recommenders. Should I only go with the above-median classes or would it be OK to get it from a guy who gave me a B+?

You might want to talk to the professor about your exam first, but I really see no problem in asking a professor from a class you were median in for a recommendation. In fact, I remember one professor saying that he would rather have as his researcher someone who was either median or slightly above than someone who was the top grade in his class. Not a completely analogous situation, but something to think about.

Did the prof give a rationale behind this?

[Bankhead]

I was at the median in a class, but really participated in there, knew my stuff, knew the professor, etc., etc. Probably just tanked a couple issues on a hypo and ... voila ... you know how that can happen.

A possible summer opportunity wants recommenders. Should I only go with the above-median classes or would it be OK to get it from a guy who gave me a B+?

You might want to talk to the professor about your exam first, but I really see no problem in asking a professor from a class you were median in for a recommendation. In fact, I remember one professor saying that he would rather have as his researcher someone who was either median or slightly above than someone who was the top grade in his class. Not a completely analogous situation, but something to think about.

Did the prof give a rationale behind this?

I would imagine it's something like "the median student will know their role and shut their face".

[napolnic]

I was at the median in a class, but really participated in there, knew my stuff, knew the professor, etc., etc. Probably just tanked a couple issues on a hypo and ... voila ... you know how that can happen.

A possible summer opportunity wants recommenders. Should I only go with the above-median classes or would it be OK to get it from a guy who gave me a B+?

You might want to talk to the professor about your exam first, but I really see no problem in asking a professor from a class you were median in for a recommendation. In fact, I remember one professor saying that he would rather have as his researcher someone who was either median or slightly above than someone who was the top grade in his class. Not a completely analogous situation, but something to think about.

Did the prof give a rationale behind this?

You know, I'm not sure he did. I just assumed it was that he would rather have a hard working median than a super genius A+er.

[Oblomov]

A good rec is a good rec. They already want your transcript don't they? Now they want to know what someone who has worked with you thinks of you.

[VincentChase]

A good rec is a good rec. They already want your transcript don't they? Now they want to know what someone who has worked with you thinks of you.

Yeah. I guess it's more that I feel slightly uncomfortable asking the professor for the recommendation after slightly botching his exam.

[ShiftyPig]

Straight from a professor's mouth: there are people to whom she gave C's that she would hire in an instant, and there are people to whom she gave A's that she wouldn't recommend to anyone.

Step 1, talk to the professor first. A recommendation that says you'd be a good fit at XYZ law firm is just as valuable as the grade.