Credentials vs. quality for LOR?

[velodork]

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I'm fortunate to have a hospital gig as a part of a clinical team. I've been there for a while, and have definitely earned some letters from my managers.

I am planning on asking at least one person from work for a LOR. My options are:

1. Nurse Manager, BSN, African Expat.
2. Director of Psychiatry and Emergency/Trauma, MSN, MBA, CNS.

Option 1 knows me much better, and would probably write a more compelling (high quality) letter. I feel like she would offer some "diversity" to my otherwise "not diverse" application.

Option 2 has the credentials, experience, and titles. She knows (and likes) me pretty well, but may not be as compelling in her letter for me. She also doesn't bring the diversity that Option 1 would.

Which should I choose? 1, 2, or both?

Thanks!

 

[Mad Jack]

Quality every time. But there is no reason you couldn't take both, so both.

 

[velodork]

Thanks. I'm also going to ask the medical director of my department (M.D.) for an LOR, and I'm sure he can provide a quality one. I'll probably try not to overdo it with requests from work so I may just end up asking whoever I think can provide the highest quality letter.

 

[GomersGoToGround]

I would ask for both, like posted above.

Quality > Credentials.

Real talk.

 

[MrLogan13]

Quality. I'd go with option 1.

 

[L. Beethoven]

It seems like deciding between these two letters will only be necessary if you get some schools that have a low limit on the number of rec letters you can submit. I'd say ask for both now, and have them upload their letters to Interfolio. Then, when it comes time to apply, you can choose either option 1 (quality is better than credentials) or submit both, depending on which school.

 

[velodork]

Thanks to everyone for the responses. For my own curiosity, If I *felt* that the "quality" of the letters would be similar, should I go with credentials or diversity? Again, this would be based on the the assumption that there is a low(er) limit on the number of LOR submissions allowed...

 

[GomersGoToGround]

They are both health care related individuals. What's diverse about them? One being an African expat? Ehh. They care about how YOU are diverse, and what your LORs say about you.

If in theory, they were very similar, to the point that it would be difficult to distinguish which one is better, then sure, go with ADDITIONAL benefit from credentials.
Again, hard to tell, because you haven't read them yet (assuming, in that situation).

 

[velodork]

They are both health care related individuals. What's diverse about them? One being an African expat? Ehh. They care about how YOU are diverse, and what your LORs say about you.

If in theory, they were very similar, to the point that it would be difficult to distinguish which one is better, then sure, go with ADDITIONAL benefit from credentials.
Again, hard to tell, because you haven't read them yet (assuming, in that situation).

thanks for the response. its difficult to really say, and I guess I may be obsessing too much on a pretty minor detail. Also, I was under the impression that LORs were confidential in this case?

 

[GomersGoToGround]

thanks for the response. its difficult to really say, and I guess I may be obsessing too much on a pretty minor detail. Also, I was under the impression that LORs were confidential in this case?

I absolutely understand your obsession. I'd be a lying bastard if I never thought about my LOR options all day before I applied. BUT, I believe that, in the end, you DO know who will give you a stronger letter. Don't let your focus on credentials obscure that judgement.

LORs generally ARE confidential. In some cases, I've heard of students writing LORs for someone who is busy, and just having the reference sign off on it. In other cases, I've heard of writers letting students see the LORs anyways.

I have, to this day, NEVER read a single letter, and I never intend to.

And if you do...do NOT tell anyone. Yeah yeah, lying's bad, yeah. Guilt sucks, but having the genuineness of an LOR disappear in the eyes of an ADCOM because you've read it before submitting it, sucks to a higher degree.