Can't decide who to ask for my last two LOR! Applying for M.S.

[BattlePope]

Hi guys,

 

So, first of all, I apologize for the wall of text. Just wanted to give you guys as much information as possible. Anyways, I'm going to be applying for a master's program coming up in the next few months and had a few questions on who to ask for my letters of recommendation. I have a few potential candidates and was curious what you guys thought.

 

So, I have 4 people that I'm currently thinking about asking. The first is a professor that I was close with and had a number of classes with. I know she'll write me a good review so she's the only one that I’m dead set on asking. The next 3 people I’m not so sure about:

 

1) My current boss (I’ve been out of undergrad for a year). He’s in the same field that I’m interested in (fisheries/marine biology) although unfortunately does not have a PhD (he has two masters though). I know he will write me a great letter of rec; him and I get along really well and he seemed very willing to write me a letter when I tentatively asked him.

 

2) A former professor. I didn’t know him super well but I got a 3.8 in his class and did go to office hours from time to time. Liked his class a lot and might be focusing on a specific field (fisheries management) in grad school because of his class. He doesn't know that but I'm sure he would be enthused if I told him. Not sure if that'd influence how good his letter would be. He does have a PhD (and a master's) but is unfortunately a post-doc. If I do ask him, I think I'll try to see if his PI can co-sign it. The thing is, I've never even met his PI.

 

3) The final person(s) that I’m thinking about asking is a professor (has PhD) from a study abroad (field research) trip. I was originally going to ask the TA for that trip (I was a bit closer with her) but she only has her MS (and I heard asking someone with a MS for a letter of rec is a no-no). I think the professor would give me a good letter of rec because we did get along well and I did work hard but I don’t know how strong it would be (I can be a bit of a goofball and I think he mistook my casual attitude for not caring sometimes). I got a 3.1 in the course. One thing that I was thinking about doing was having the TA write it and then seeing if the professor would be willing to endorse it.

 

What do you think? Who would you choose for my second and third LOR?

 

Also, I have a semi-related question that I haven't been able to find the answer too. I can understand why applicants applying for a PhD program would want to have all of their letters of recommendation from PhD-holders...but if I'm going the master's route first, are letters of rec held to the same rigorous standards that PhD applicants are (i.e. they all need to be from PhD holders)? Or since I'm only getting a master's, is a letter from a post-doc more acceptable? Sorry if I worded that question weird, tried my best to be as clear as possible. Hopefully that makes sense but if not let me know and I can try to clarify.

 

Any input would be greatly appreciated!. Thank you so much and I look forward to your replies!