LOR - Evaluator's Title

[amalgamgrillz]

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I have 2 potential evaluators and I'm having trouble deciding between the two. I am/was a graduate TA for two science teachers:

1) An older, full-time professor (has a "Dr." title). He would give me a good reference.

2) A younger, adjunct instructor (only a Master's), who now moved to teach at a community college. She would give me a GREAT reference.

Does it matter if your evaluator is an adjunct instructor vs. full-time professor? Does that affect their credibility? Would adcoms prefer to see a "Dr." title for academic evaluations?

Thanks for your input.

 

[PreDental88]

I have 2 potential evaluators and I'm having trouble deciding between the two. I am/was a graduate TA for two science teachers:

1) An older, full-time professor (has a "Dr." title). He would give me a good reference.

2) A younger, adjunct instructor (only a Master's), who now moved to teach at a community college. She would give me a GREAT reference.

Does it matter if your evaluator is an adjunct instructor vs. full-time professor? Does that affect their credibility? Would adcoms prefer to see a "Dr." title for academic evaluations?

Thanks for your input.

Some school's require 2 science LORs, so you can choose both =)

In the case that this would be your third LOR, I would go with whoever you believe will write you the better letter. I know some people will disagree with this and prefer the phd professor, but I think adcoms want to read an honest evaluation of you as a student and what the professor's honest opinion of you is. I don't think they're evaluating the person writing your letters. But that's just my opinion, good luck to you.👍

 

[gigawatt]

I wholeheartedly agree that you're much better off with an insightful letter from someone who knows you well and can speak to your character, aptitude, ambition, etc. rather than someone with a fancy title who didn't even realize you sat in the back of his 200 person lecture, which he could care less about to begin with.

The only caveat to this is that some schools require that your academic letters be from actual professors with Ph.D. degrees. If it's a stipulation then you'll have to pick amongst the "true" professors that know you best. Before you ask, I don't have a list of schools in mind 😉 but I do remember coming across instructions phrased in such ways, so make sure you look into this for all of the schools you'll be applying to...

 

[amalgamgrillz]

Some school's require 2 science LORs, so you can choose both =)

In the case that this would be your third LOR, I would go with whoever you believe will write you the better letter. I know some people will disagree with this and prefer the phd professor, but I think adcoms want to read an honest evaluation of you as a student and what the professor's honest opinion of you is. I don't think they're evaluating the person writing your letters. But that's just my opinion, good luck to you.👍

Thanks for your feedback! Yes this is for my third science reference letter. Both would give me good, honest, solid references, but the younger (masters) evaluator would be able to articulate better. She has been through this process before (going to med school next year), and i feel she would know exactly what to write. I submitted a teaching evaluation letter to the department for her (which she read and loved; extra brownie points lol)..and I know she would emulate the same type of letter I wrote for her (an outstanding one). But I'll go with the just "good" letter if it's more credible/preferable (or required) to have it from a "Dr." titled professor.

 

[wizi]

Some school's require 2 science LORs, so you can choose both =)

In the case that this would be your third LOR, I would go with whoever you believe will write you the better letter. I know some people will disagree with this and prefer the phd professor, but I think adcoms want to read an honest evaluation of you as a student and what the professor's honest opinion of you is. I don't think they're evaluating the person writing your letters. But that's just my opinion, good luck to you.👍

I agree with this. Get your LORs from the person who knows you the most.

 

[doc toothache]

1) An older, full-time professor (has a "Dr." title). He would give me a good reference.

2) A younger, adjunct instructor (only a Master's), who now moved to teach at a community college. She would give me a GREAT reference.

Does it matter if your evaluator is an adjunct instructor vs. full-time professor? Does that affect their credibility? Would adcoms prefer to see a "Dr." title for academic evaluations?

Is this a trick question?

 

[amalgamgrillz]

Is this a trick question?

You're not allowed to answer a question with a question.

 

[WhichRoom]

Didn't read all the replies so this may have been said, but do what I did. Get a letter from any and ALL people who are willing to write one (within reason, but you're saying these each have potential 'pros'). Then go to your pre-health committee interview and tell them at the end to pick your strongest letters to send. They are able to read the letters and they will know who wrote what and which letter will help your case greatest. Good Luck

 

[doc toothache]

You're not allowed to answer a question with a question.

And that would be a demerit kind of like a letter from an instructor instead of a full professor.