Who can I ask for recommendation

[Lyremy]

Hello there

I have a question about recommendation letters. I'm applying these days for a PhD. My first recommendation is from a prof that is into my field and well known and he's gonna give me a very good letter. He is from my undergraduate studies. The problem is that I don't know what to do with my second letter. My master degree didn't go very well and with my dissertation's supervisor I don't have much contact. He only knows about me that I had two good grades (one of them is my best grade in master) on his courses. But he is a well known professor. I don't know many of my graduate teachers and they don't know me respectively. My second option is to ask from an undergraduate teacher the second letter but my master's supervisor is more known. I also learned that he is quite rough with recommendation letters. What do you advise me to do ? I am so anxious about my applications because my master's gpa is not too good and I don't have a plan B if I rejected everywhere.

[rkg2012]

You need a letter from someone at your MA program. Not having a letter from there implies that you didn't make important contacts and/or didn't do well. Do what you can now to get the best rec possible from your adviser. Try to meet with him to discuss your future plans and provide him with as much information as possible - SoP, CV, and writing samples or other application supplements.

[rockbender]

Agreed - you definitely need a letter from someone in your MA program, preferably your thesis advisor. Also, how do you know that he is "rough with recommendation letters"? If he wrote someone a bad rec, it might be because... well the person deserved a bad rec. It doesn't mean that he will necessarily write you a bad rec. The best way to ensure a good rec would be to follow rkg2012's advice:

Try to meet with him to discuss your future plans and provide him with as much information as possible - SoP, CV, and writing samples or other application supplements.

Just try to talk to him more! The more you talk to him, the better he will know you, and the better rec you will get out of him!

Good luck!