Hi everyone, I need a little help on letters of recommendation. My school's pre-med committee requires at least 3 letters and max 4 letters, 1 from science, 1 can be any professor, and the other 1-2 is up to you.
So far, I have 3 people who will definitely write me a letter:
1. Biology professor
2. Sociology professor
3. Research PI
I want to ask about my 4th letter. I have a lot of long-term public health experience abroad, and this theme centers my application. One option was a doctor I was working with at an NGO, but I did work on the ground with other volunteers while she was in the states -- therefore, our communication was mostly through emails/skype calls, etc. Furthermore, it is near impossible to contact her. When I asked her for a letter to apply for a research grant, she wrote the recommendation letter the morning it was due. Therefore, I feel uncomfortable asking her.
My other option is a program director of another global public health project I worked on. He knows me well. However, he hasn't returned my emails and I'm nervous that he may just be ignoring me. Should I be persistent and perhaps call him? I'm just not pushy about these things, and it makes me feel uncomfortable to.
My third option is a political science professor. I know she will probably write me a good one. Nonetheless, she co-taught the class I took with my sociology professor so I'm nervous their letters will sound too similar. Moreover, I'm not sure if it will be a red flag that I don't have a letter of recommendation from someone I did work with abroad when it's such a huge part of my application.
What should I do? Am I just overthinking this? Thank you!
So far, I have 3 people who will definitely write me a letter:
1. Biology professor
2. Sociology professor
3. Research PI
I want to ask about my 4th letter. I have a lot of long-term public health experience abroad, and this theme centers my application. One option was a doctor I was working with at an NGO, but I did work on the ground with other volunteers while she was in the states -- therefore, our communication was mostly through emails/skype calls, etc. Furthermore, it is near impossible to contact her. When I asked her for a letter to apply for a research grant, she wrote the recommendation letter the morning it was due. Therefore, I feel uncomfortable asking her.
My other option is a program director of another global public health project I worked on. He knows me well. However, he hasn't returned my emails and I'm nervous that he may just be ignoring me. Should I be persistent and perhaps call him? I'm just not pushy about these things, and it makes me feel uncomfortable to.
My third option is a political science professor. I know she will probably write me a good one. Nonetheless, she co-taught the class I took with my sociology professor so I'm nervous their letters will sound too similar. Moreover, I'm not sure if it will be a red flag that I don't have a letter of recommendation from someone I did work with abroad when it's such a huge part of my application.
What should I do? Am I just overthinking this? Thank you!