Recomendations: Would using an adjunct be detrimental to my application?

[Anon117]

Would using an adjunct professor for one of my recommendations be something that can hurt my application?

I am seeking to apply to a few PhD programs next fall, though I have been out of college for about four years. I have two recommendations from full time professors so far, but I am trying to find a third. I recall one adjunct Professor whose class I was fairly active in and the class's topic is directly related to my interests.

I know of a few non-political science professors who I could also ask as well (Philosophy and History), but to my knowledge, getting a political science professor remains the best measure of my academic capabilities.

Any insights would be appreciated.

[emmm]

I got a letter from an adjunct, NON-PhD, at a COMMUNITY college, and I still got admitted :-)

[orst11]

I think depending on sub-field a recommendation from a different professor may seem like a better option. For instance, if you are going to study theory a philosophy professor would work, if you are focusing on a particular area within comparative politics it is okay to get someone that has experience in the region typically as long as they are in the social sciences or a related humanities field. With that said, a good strong letter from an adjunct outweighs a generic or mediocre one from another professor. If the adjunct is more familiar with your work and interests I would say it wouldn't hurt.

You also may want to consider the caliber of programs you are applying to as well and decide that way.

[emmm]

I had also been out of school for a while, so sometimes, you have to go with what is available to you. I decided someone who really knew me was my best option.