Letter of Recommendation Choice

[brainman]

Question: Is it better to get a letter from your direct supervisor (who can describe your work best) or your indirect supervisor in a higher up position who can certainly describe your work well, but not necessarily as well as the one who supervised your directly. In my case, it's a choice between an assistant director of admissions, and the vice president for enrollment management.

[maelia8]

I'd go with the person who knows you better. An assistant director of admissions is still a section supervisor, and your LOR should be from somebody who can really describe your work in detail and provide specific examples of your skills.

[JBums1028]

I'd go with the person who knows you better. An assistant director of admissions is still a section supervisor, and your LOR should be from somebody who can really describe your work in detail and provide specific examples of your skills.

 

Agreed, a person who can speak to your work ethic and reference specific things you've done will definitely write a stronger overall letter of rec.

[Imbasel]

Going off of this I have a follow up question. I work as an RA and am most interested in working in Student Conduct/Residence life for my graduate work as well as after. Currently we have all of our Hall Directors leaving our institution. Given that would it make sense for me to ask the Assistant Director for a recommendation as I have done work with her previously? Also, one of my graduate programs has a strong focus on social justice. I created an internship for myself and will be working with the Director of Student Conduct and Community Standards.

 

However, while I knew her before I did not not her well, nor did she work with me. Do you think I should use her for a reccomendation as she would only have a month or two to go off of or use someone else who has known me longer? Normally, I would ask someone who knew me longer, but she is the perfect type of person to give a recommendation for what I'm looking for. If you don't think I should list her do you think I should bring up my work in the interview? 

[OCD or Perfection?]

Direct supervisors, always. Between LORs, you should have:

1. Direct (and current) supervisor

2. Professor-preferably someone you've done research with

3. Pick one between an ex-supervisor and ex-professor-whoever is strongest.

[JBums1028]

Going off of this I have a follow up question. I work as an RA and am most interested in working in Student Conduct/Residence life for my graduate work as well as after. Currently we have all of our Hall Directors leaving our institution. Given that would it make sense for me to ask the Assistant Director for a recommendation as I have done work with her previously? Also, one of my graduate programs has a strong focus on social justice. I created an internship for myself and will be working with the Director of Student Conduct and Community Standards.

 

However, while I knew her before I did not not her well, nor did she work with me. Do you think I should use her for a reccomendation as she would only have a month or two to go off of or use someone else who has known me longer? Normally, I would ask someone who knew me longer, but she is the perfect type of person to give a recommendation for what I'm looking for. If you don't think I should list her do you think I should bring up my work in the interview? 

 

I'm not exactly sure why your hall directors leaving would prevent you from asking them for an LOR. Can you explain that a little bit better?

 

I think the bottom line is if you didn't know someone well, at best they can only write you either a vague LOR or they will just ask people who did know you well for input. In which case, you might as well just ask the people you know well.