Stunning industry rec vs Mediocre academic rec

[cecsapp]

I will have great recommendation letters from my previous senior manager and a current professor. I have a choice between a very medioce recommendation letter from my research professor or a stunning recommendation letter from an ex-coworker (senior engineer who hired me). What is better to have as my 3rd recommendation?

Thanks

[emmm]

I don't think a mediocre letter is ever something to knowingly choose. On the other hand, I think you are generally expected to get letters from your research professors, unless you have several and omit an earlier one (e.g. from freshman or sophomore year).

[OH YEAH]

I think you should go with the "stunning" one, but make sure your employer knows how to write a letter of recommendation (http://www.cs.brown.edu/~sk/Memos/Grad-School-Recos/). "Very mediocre" letters will only bring your package down, and if that letter doesn't talk about research at all, I see no benefit of picking that letter.