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Gofer work in exchange for Letter of Recommendation

On giving gifts to LOR writersWhich among an LoR for startup work and a “good student” LoR, will be more effective?How is an LOR presented when applying for grad school?What makes for a “strong” LoR for graduate application?Is it ethical to require student work in exchange for letter of recommendationHow to decide which recommender to ask for LOR?LOR from a Retired ProfessorHow long is a LOR valid?

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2

I want to apply for master’s programs, but I need two letters of recommendation. I was never very close with any of my professors, though I did receive good grades in all of my classes.
The professor who probably knows me the best is one of the core faculty at the college. I asked her for advice on how to start with undergraduate research, which wasn’t a requirement, just an interest of mine. I also received an A in her class, and suggested an outing for the class which she then took up.
It’s also been about a year since I graduated.
Would it be appropriate to ask her if she could write a letter of recommendation, perhaps in exchange for some gofer work (filing, watching class while students take tests, running errands)?

recommendation-letter

share|improve this question

edited 14 mins ago

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user352848user352848

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user352848 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  In exchange for running errands? Are you suggesting you professor would write a letter of recommendation for running errands? Why not offer her $10 at least?
  
  – Quora Feans
  7 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Some profs have a rec letter policy and put it online. Mine says that you have to give me a copy of your resume, (in whatever shape it's in) and supply me with stamped envelopes and/or directions for submitting electronically. You might check and see if your prof has a published policy.
  
  – B. Goddard
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

2

I want to apply for master’s programs, but I need two letters of recommendation. I was never very close with any of my professors, though I did receive good grades in all of my classes.
The professor who probably knows me the best is one of the core faculty at the college. I asked her for advice on how to start with undergraduate research, which wasn’t a requirement, just an interest of mine. I also received an A in her class, and suggested an outing for the class which she then took up.
It’s also been about a year since I graduated.
Would it be appropriate to ask her if she could write a letter of recommendation, perhaps in exchange for some gofer work (filing, watching class while students take tests, running errands)?

recommendation-letter

share|improve this question

edited 14 mins ago

Community♦

1

asked yesterday

user352848user352848

2222 bronze badges

New contributor

user352848 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  In exchange for running errands? Are you suggesting you professor would write a letter of recommendation for running errands? Why not offer her $10 at least?
  
  – Quora Feans
  7 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Some profs have a rec letter policy and put it online. Mine says that you have to give me a copy of your resume, (in whatever shape it's in) and supply me with stamped envelopes and/or directions for submitting electronically. You might check and see if your prof has a published policy.
  
  – B. Goddard
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

I want to apply for master’s programs, but I need two letters of recommendation. I was never very close with any of my professors, though I did receive good grades in all of my classes.
The professor who probably knows me the best is one of the core faculty at the college. I asked her for advice on how to start with undergraduate research, which wasn’t a requirement, just an interest of mine. I also received an A in her class, and suggested an outing for the class which she then took up.
It’s also been about a year since I graduated.
Would it be appropriate to ask her if she could write a letter of recommendation, perhaps in exchange for some gofer work (filing, watching class while students take tests, running errands)?

recommendation-letter

share|improve this question

edited 14 mins ago

Community♦

1

asked yesterday

user352848user352848

2222 bronze badges

New contributor

user352848 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

share|improve this question

edited 14 mins ago

Community♦

1

asked yesterday

user352848user352848

2222 bronze badges

New contributor

user352848 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

share|improve this question

edited 14 mins ago

Community♦

1

asked yesterday

user352848user352848

2222 bronze badges

New contributor

user352848 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

edited 14 mins ago

Community♦

1

edited 14 mins ago

Community♦

1

asked yesterday

user352848user352848

2222 bronze badges

New contributor

user352848 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

asked yesterday

user352848user352848

2222 bronze badges

2 Answers
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33

It’s appropriate to ask for a letter, but completely inappropriate to offer a thing of value in exchange. Professors are already paid to do their job, which includes writing letters of recommendation, and it would be unethical for a professor to accept a favor or other thing of value in exchange for agreeing to do what is already a part of their job.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Dan RomikDan Romik

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add a comment | 

19

Just ask for the letter. Writing recommendation letters is part of a professor's job. No need to be a gofer, and importantly, offering some sort of service in exchange for a recommendation sets up an unethical situation: recommendation letters should not be paid for in any way.

Assuming your request is granted, it might be helpful to remind her of some of the things you've done related to her course, etc, as you've included here, since professors have many students and may not recall all the details.

share|improve this answer

edited 11 hours ago

answered yesterday

Bryan KrauseBryan Krause

20.4k55 gold badges6060 silver badges8282 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Thank you. I’ll probably email her and bring up the things I mentioned here. Not sure if scheduling to meet her in person is better.
  
  – user352848
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @user352848 I'd probably start with just the email asking if she can write a letter; you can offer to be available to meet but I wouldn't organize a meeting just to ask. Some professors like to meet in person to discuss letters with students, others prefer written information to help them structure the letter (such as a CV, reminders of your association with them like I suggested, future plans, and particular attributes you might want them to focus on).
  
  – Bryan Krause
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  To supplement this answer, a standard request email could be something like: “Dear Professor Jones, Would you be willing to provide me with a letter of recommendation? In case you don’t recall me, I took your course on Practical Theorising in spring 2018, receiving an A, and you also gave me some very helpful advice on finding undergrad research projects in Theory of Modelling. I am now applying to Masters programmes in Applied Theoretics, and would be very grateful if you can provide a letter of reference. Many thanks, @user352848.”
  
  – PLL
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

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33

It’s appropriate to ask for a letter, but completely inappropriate to offer a thing of value in exchange. Professors are already paid to do their job, which includes writing letters of recommendation, and it would be unethical for a professor to accept a favor or other thing of value in exchange for agreeing to do what is already a part of their job.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Dan RomikDan Romik

91.6k2323 gold badges199199 silver badges305305 bronze badges

add a comment | 

33

It’s appropriate to ask for a letter, but completely inappropriate to offer a thing of value in exchange. Professors are already paid to do their job, which includes writing letters of recommendation, and it would be unethical for a professor to accept a favor or other thing of value in exchange for agreeing to do what is already a part of their job.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Dan RomikDan Romik

91.6k2323 gold badges199199 silver badges305305 bronze badges

add a comment | 

It’s appropriate to ask for a letter, but completely inappropriate to offer a thing of value in exchange. Professors are already paid to do their job, which includes writing letters of recommendation, and it would be unethical for a professor to accept a favor or other thing of value in exchange for agreeing to do what is already a part of their job.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Dan RomikDan Romik

91.6k2323 gold badges199199 silver badges305305 bronze badges

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Dan RomikDan Romik

91.6k2323 gold badges199199 silver badges305305 bronze badges

answered yesterday

Dan RomikDan Romik

91.6k2323 gold badges199199 silver badges305305 bronze badges

answered yesterday

Dan RomikDan Romik

91.6k2323 gold badges199199 silver badges305305 bronze badges

19

Just ask for the letter. Writing recommendation letters is part of a professor's job. No need to be a gofer, and importantly, offering some sort of service in exchange for a recommendation sets up an unethical situation: recommendation letters should not be paid for in any way.

Assuming your request is granted, it might be helpful to remind her of some of the things you've done related to her course, etc, as you've included here, since professors have many students and may not recall all the details.

share|improve this answer

edited 11 hours ago

answered yesterday

Bryan KrauseBryan Krause

20.4k55 gold badges6060 silver badges8282 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Thank you. I’ll probably email her and bring up the things I mentioned here. Not sure if scheduling to meet her in person is better.
  
  – user352848
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @user352848 I'd probably start with just the email asking if she can write a letter; you can offer to be available to meet but I wouldn't organize a meeting just to ask. Some professors like to meet in person to discuss letters with students, others prefer written information to help them structure the letter (such as a CV, reminders of your association with them like I suggested, future plans, and particular attributes you might want them to focus on).
  
  – Bryan Krause
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  To supplement this answer, a standard request email could be something like: “Dear Professor Jones, Would you be willing to provide me with a letter of recommendation? In case you don’t recall me, I took your course on Practical Theorising in spring 2018, receiving an A, and you also gave me some very helpful advice on finding undergrad research projects in Theory of Modelling. I am now applying to Masters programmes in Applied Theoretics, and would be very grateful if you can provide a letter of reference. Many thanks, @user352848.”
  
  – PLL
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

19

Just ask for the letter. Writing recommendation letters is part of a professor's job. No need to be a gofer, and importantly, offering some sort of service in exchange for a recommendation sets up an unethical situation: recommendation letters should not be paid for in any way.

Assuming your request is granted, it might be helpful to remind her of some of the things you've done related to her course, etc, as you've included here, since professors have many students and may not recall all the details.

share|improve this answer

edited 11 hours ago

answered yesterday

Bryan KrauseBryan Krause

20.4k55 gold badges6060 silver badges8282 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Thank you. I’ll probably email her and bring up the things I mentioned here. Not sure if scheduling to meet her in person is better.
  
  – user352848
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @user352848 I'd probably start with just the email asking if she can write a letter; you can offer to be available to meet but I wouldn't organize a meeting just to ask. Some professors like to meet in person to discuss letters with students, others prefer written information to help them structure the letter (such as a CV, reminders of your association with them like I suggested, future plans, and particular attributes you might want them to focus on).
  
  – Bryan Krause
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  To supplement this answer, a standard request email could be something like: “Dear Professor Jones, Would you be willing to provide me with a letter of recommendation? In case you don’t recall me, I took your course on Practical Theorising in spring 2018, receiving an A, and you also gave me some very helpful advice on finding undergrad research projects in Theory of Modelling. I am now applying to Masters programmes in Applied Theoretics, and would be very grateful if you can provide a letter of reference. Many thanks, @user352848.”
  
  – PLL
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

Just ask for the letter. Writing recommendation letters is part of a professor's job. No need to be a gofer, and importantly, offering some sort of service in exchange for a recommendation sets up an unethical situation: recommendation letters should not be paid for in any way.

Assuming your request is granted, it might be helpful to remind her of some of the things you've done related to her course, etc, as you've included here, since professors have many students and may not recall all the details.

share|improve this answer

edited 11 hours ago

answered yesterday

Bryan KrauseBryan Krause

20.4k55 gold badges6060 silver badges8282 bronze badges

share|improve this answer

edited 11 hours ago

answered yesterday

Bryan KrauseBryan Krause

20.4k55 gold badges6060 silver badges8282 bronze badges

answered yesterday

Bryan KrauseBryan Krause

20.4k55 gold badges6060 silver badges8282 bronze badges

answered yesterday

Bryan KrauseBryan Krause

20.4k55 gold badges6060 silver badges8282 bronze badges