Letters of recommendation help

[sbot]

I'm apply to MPH programs right now and I'm unsure about what letters of recommendation to submit. Most schools want three letters of recommendation and I can definitely provide at least three. Right now, I have a rec from a professor whose global health class I got an A in and have talked to her multiple times about career opportunities, a rec from an infectious disease physician at a nearby hospital for whom I'm doing research for, and finally, a rec from my boss at my summer internship where I worked on nutrition education projects. My concern is that I don't have enough 'academic' letters, but I've been told that research can count as an academic letter? I have a meeting with my biostatistics professor soon and I was considering asking him for a letter of rec as well simply to have that additional "accademic' letter.

 

Does anyone know if grad schools frown upon applications with more than 3 letters of rec? Also does a letter of rec from a research advisor count as an academic letter? Essentially, I'm just trying to figure out whether I really need this additional letter from my biostatistics professor. 

 

[thedevolution]

Check with the particular program about letters of rec as some programs are strict with the number of recommendations they want while others can accept more than 3.

 

As for individuals to give you letters of rec, your PI (the infectious disease physician) definitely counts as an academic recommendation. My advice is to get letters from people that can describe how you are in your studies and how you work in the field you're hoping to get into, especially for an MPH. It sounds like you're on the right track.

[niihla08]

I agree with getting letters from people who can speak about your skills no matter what their position is. I only had one academic letter, but then again I had been out of school for 5 years so professional letters were more relevant to me. 

[sbot]

Okay, thank you so much for the advice!