Letter from a TA / short on choice after several years and a change of field

[browncow]

My undergraduate degree was STEM, with a minor in literature and creative writing. Years later, I'm applying to a graduate program in humanities, which has stated that they give more weight to letters from professors in the humanities. I have few choices for humanities profs considering a flawless and well-deserved A- record. With the grade inflation at my school, this is not good -- it reflects consistent feedback that I wrote very well but not deeply.

 

I need three letters, at least two academic. I've already asked a TA for a theory course in creative writing, but I'm concerned after reading negative comments on this board. Is a TA's letter less valuable because of his position at the time of the course, or because of his position at the time the letter is written? Since my undergrad years, the TA has finished his dual PhD, been through several prestigious fellowships/visiting scholarships (one at the school he would be writing to), and become a tenure-track professor -- albeit at a school three tiers down.

 

Should I have pursued an alternative? Or which alternative should I try for if the former TA declines?

 

Here is my situation for the three letters:

 

1. I have a yes from a humanities professor (non-lit), who I believe will write a very positive letter but not necessarily a very strong letter. In other words, he will speak highly of my writing and not dwell on my weaker content.

 

2. My strongest letter should be from a very old friend who is also my work supervisor. He has a very high regard for me and a fancy pedigree including a terminal degree from the school I am applying to. Of course, all technical/business-oriented.

 

3. The creative writing TA. I did very well in creative writing, but his was the only course that dealt with theory. Because of that, it was also a massive lecture course (with small sections) and hardly the most rigorous. That said, the TA loved my work, liked me, and generally is a nice guy, supportive of students, and himself pretty nontraditional.

 

I should add that all three are strong writers and are or were supportive of me personally.

 

My alternatives are

A. My STEM research advisor, who could only cover the same ground as (2) but in an academic context.

B. A creative writing lecturer, who found me exceptional but never saw a word of non-fiction writing from me.

C. My minor advisor, who had me for a lecture class where he saw absolutely none of my work. He always tried to be helpful as an advisor and might say yes, but as a straight-up academic (a lit prof, not a writer) was openly baffled by my background and my goals.

 

I'm also concerned that my application will look off somehow if I don't have a rec from my minor department. Any thoughts?