LOR: science professor vs. employer?

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Khloe L.

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Would it be better to have 3 recommendation letters from 3 science professors (and a dentist for sure) OR have 2 from 2 science professors and 1 from an employer (a pharmacist; I worked as a pharm tech for a year)? Thanks in advance!
 
Depends on a couple of things. I'd look at the requirements for the schools that you are applying to. Instinct tells me don't have the pharmacist write you a letter.

Also, are you currently working as a pharmacy tech? How long has it been since you graduated? Depending on how you answer those will contribute to whether you should or should not have the pharmacist write a letter.
 
Would it be better to have 3 recommendation letters from 3 science professors (and a dentist for sure) OR have 2 from 2 science professors and 1 from an employer (a pharmacist; I worked as a pharm tech for a year)? Thanks in advance!
whichever combination gets you the best LORs
 
Depends on a couple of things. I'd look at the requirements for the schools that you are applying to. Instinct tells me don't have the pharmacist write you a letter.

Also, are you currently working as a pharmacy tech? How long has it been since you graduated? Depending on how you answer those will contribute to whether you should or should not have the pharmacist write a letter.

Most schools that I'm thinking about applying mostly requires LOR from 2 science professors and one from a dentist so I have a free spot. I'm not working as a pharmacy tech anymore but I do keep in contact with them very often. I'll be graduating this spring so in about 40 days. Could you tell me what makes your instinct tells you not to have the pharmacist write me a letter?
 
I would only suggest having the pharmacist write the letter if you had been out of college for a long(ish) time and your old college professors would not be able to be as strong of an advocate for your current character. Since you are still in college and can physically meet with your professors and a dentist before they write your letters, there is no point in asking a pharmacist, no matter how well they know you.

Honestly, I'd just go with 2 science professors (1 chem and 1 bio) and 1 dentist. It's fewer people you have to ask to write for you and fewer letters you have to keep track of. Just make sure that the 3 you do submit are high quality. Have a personal meeting with your professors and dentist and give them strong positive things to write about.
 
My 4 LORs came from 2 science professors +1 dentist + 1 employer from undergrad. I worked at one of the dorms under my boss for 4 years, and even though my job wasn't related to the health field at all, I strongly believed he could speak on many of my non-academic factors and development as a leader. As someone above already mentioned, whichever LOR combination gives you the best overall picture of you, go with that one! I could've asked another professor from my post-bac to write my last letter, but he's super busy and picky with whom we writes LOR's for, and I wanted to present myself in a non-academic manner too. Hope this helps!
 
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