LOR Question

Graduate School
1

<p>I will be applying to Modern European/German History PhD and MA programs in the Fall and had a question about Letters of Recommendation.</p>

<p>I will have two letters, one from a well known professor (does not specialize in my field, but specializes in French history) who I've had for an undergraduate research seminar which taught me a lot about conducting research and prepping for a research paper.</p>

<p>The other letter will be from my senior thesis adviser who I have worked with for about a year and who has given me tremendous advice and guidance regarding the process of applying to grad school. The professor specializes in the field that I would like to specialize in, and I believe is pretty well known in their field.</p>

<p>My question is regarding my third required letter. I am currently doing research for a professor in a different department (Russian department), while the research does not pertain to history, it relates to me as I am a native speaker of Russian, and will use that in the research at times. Also, I believe the experience of working for a professor on research is a valuable experience for me.</p>

<p>Should I ask for a third letter from the Professor for whom I am doing research? Or would history PhD programs expect all three letters to be from History professors? </p>

<p>In that case that all three of my letters would come from history professors, I would have 2 strong letters, and 1 weak one since I have not developed a relationship with any other professors (I could obtain one from a professor who was a lecturer at my university but is not longer there, but I think that a letter from said professor would not be as valuable as one from a professor who is currently at the university and I am helping them with research).</p>

<p>Any opinions?</p>

2

<p>i think having one of three LoRs come from a professor outside of the field, especially one you’ve done research work for, is perfectly fine. the concern usually becomes when two (or all three) of your LoRs are coming from profs outside your field. you’re fine.</p>

<p>a strong letter from a prof in another department is much, much better than a weak one from a prof inside your field.</p>

3

<p>I agree–as long as that professor will sing your praises to high heaven–that is just going to go much further than someone in the specialized field.</p>

<p>If you’ve done research with this person–that is even better. </p>

<p>Also, it sounds like its “kind of” a relevant field–it’s not like it’s a professor from biology or engineering or just something totally in a different department/school…It’s someone who knows you well and you are studingy Russian language with…Sounds good to me !</p>

4

<p>No question - go with the Russian prof. He can speak to your research experience and potential, and it is always better to have a glowing LOR than an okay LOR.</p>