Better third LOR from boss or professor?

Graduate School
1

<p>If a school asks for a letter from a faculty member in the sciences or math or a professional scientist whose lab you've worked in, and I have two faculty members whose labs I've worked in to write me letters, is it okay if my third letter comes from the director of the tutoring program I've been working at, where I tutor science and math courses (she does have a PhD, if that helps)? </p>

<p>I feel like it should be worth more than having my third letter just from a faculty member who taught a course where I got an A and who I had just a few conversations with about grad school and career goals. I do have the option to get my third letter from either one, I'm just not sure which would be better and would appreciate advice.</p>

2

<p>You want the letter that will say the most about your academic potential. Would you get that sort of letter from the director of the tutoring program, or would you instead get a character reference, an appraisal of your teaching skills and a tribute to the depth of your understanding of calculus?</p>

3

<p>That’s true. I’m just not sure how good a letter could be from a professor I’ve only had one class with, but is that generally what they’re expecting? I’m not expected to have worked in three labs, right?</p>

4

<p>I contacted the school and they said one letter can be from someone who isn’t involved in the sciences.</p>

5

<p>You seem convinced that the tutoring letter is your best option - and you know your situation much better than I do. If you believe so strongly that you wouldn’t get a useful letter from another professor, then I am not going to tell you to ditch the work reference.</p>

6

<p>The content of the letter matters more than the title of the person that writes it. Get the most personalized letter that you can and it sounds like that is from the tutor center director. Give them some details about the program you are applying to (not just brochure content) and it will help them write a letter that is more specific to you in the context of that program.</p>

7

<p>It is hard to come up with 3 rec’s sometimes, but for PhD programs you almost always want professors. DWIC, though, are not particularly useful, I’ve heard, unless it is independen research. Being a TA or tutor is a nice extra for grad school but lower on the rung than research.</p>