Grad school recommendation from someone I only talk to on the phone?

November 3, 2013 7:58 AM

I'm gaining some volunteer experience in my field working for a supervisor I get along with great. I'd like him to write my recommendation letter for grad school. Problem: We've only met once in person, and that was five months ago. I've been working for him since then and communicating via phone and email. Is it appropriate to ask him for a recommendation letter? I'm not sure if he knows *me* so much as my work, but we do have a good working relationship.
posted by sunrisecoffee to Education (7 answers total)

What discipline/field are you applying in? That will make a big difference to what the letters should address, and who the admissions committee will want to hear from.
posted by LobsterMitten at 8:05 AM on November 3, 2013

Your work is what you want discussed in a recommendation, not your personality (as much). This sounds like it should be a good reference - it is professional, it is current, and it's based on a decent chunk of time. If I were you, I would ask this supervisor to write for you. Also, you'd be surprised what a good supervisor/etc may glean about you, character-wise, based on professional interactions. They can comment on your reliability, punctuality, attitude, collegiality, ability to work with others, etc etc - all things that do reflect on you, personally, but are actually crucial elements in a letter, because a program is considering adding you to a team of sorts. They want to know what you'll bring to the team. All of these should be things your supervisor can discuss at some level.
posted by AthenaPolias at 8:05 AM on November 3, 2013 [1 favorite]

Yes, I absolutely would consider it. Generally, it's a good idea to let the reference determine whether or not they know enough about you to write a good reference, as their reputation rides on it, as well. If he feels good enough about it, I'd trust his discretion. When you ask, you can say something like, "Although we've only met once, I was hoping that our working relationship is something that you could comment on. If you feel as if you need to meet again in person, I'd be happy to do so."

Additionally, depending on the area of study you are engaging in, you don't want to underestimate the value placed on being able to do good work via correspondence. In terms of writing, doing research, and editing, a lot of team projects end up being via correspondence, and there are a lot of good academics that can be a bit flaky if you put some distance between the participants. It's really valuable to know whether or not you can pull your weight, even when you aren't getting together regularly or working in the same room together.
posted by SpacemanStix at 8:33 AM on November 3, 2013 [1 favorite]

You can ask, but some people are really picky about attaching their name to a recommendation. He may refuse, not because it's a reflection of your work but just because 5 months remote work doesn't get you to the level he needs to feel comfortable.

So ask, but have a backup plan in case he declines.
posted by COD at 9:00 AM on November 3, 2013

Professorial opinion: totally fine.
posted by spitbull at 9:00 AM on November 3, 2013 [1 favorite]

Yes, absolutely. Letters of recommendation should be about your work and not you.

Also, don't just ask if he can write you a letter. Putting things that vaguely can hurt. Ask him if he would be willing to write you a good letter.
posted by painquale at 4:43 AM on November 4, 2013

You can ask for a letter of rec because you do work with this person. I'm in grad school, and my advisor is three hours away from me, so all of our interactions are remote. Things still get done.

Work is work, communication is communication, post offices are post offices.
posted by oceanjesse at 7:20 AM on November 4, 2013