I plan on applying to a master program next year. I have pretty good professional references but I attended UCLA largely during the pandemic. I never really made any connections with UCLA professors, so I'm lacking academic references. There's some UCLA extension courses that are very relevant to the master program I want to apply to. However, the biggest reason is that I want to try and get a letter of rec from one of these professors that teach these Extension courses. For those of you who've taken classes there is it even possible to get close enough to the professor? Would I be better of taking CC classes and trying to go that route?
Thank you.
Sort by:
Best
Open comment sort options
Best
Top
New
Controversial
Old
Q&A
I have yet to take an extension course but, I would say definitely take it at a community college if you can. In my experience as a transfer student, most of the time, the professors at a CC really care about teaching and your success, the class sizes are smaller (about 20-30 students) so they remember your name and face. You also have more opportunity to get more one on one time with them vs a bigger institution like UCLA/UCLA extension. I don't think the reputation matters per se, it's how strong the letter of rec comes off as to admissions. I look back, and I'd still rather have my CC professors write me a letter of rec. because they really got to know me and my abilities better vs my professors or TA's at UCLA. Plus, the classes are cheaper. But if it's an upper division course that you can't take at a CC then yea, def do UCLA extension and really try to get close to the professor. Good luck on the master's program!
Thank you!!
You're welcome!
Why don't you think the reputation matters in a letter of rec?