MIT "Academic" letters of rec. - please help!

[CoomassieFingers]

Hi all,

 

MIT Biology requires that 2 of 3 letters of recomendation be "academic" recommendations.

My question is - is a letter from a research supervisor (i.e. a postdoc I worked under) considered an academic recommendation? I worked under them at an academic research institution, but not my undergraduate institution.

I have two former professors that would write letters for me, but I feel my research supervisor would write a letter that much better describes my potential for success in research.

 

Any help from people who have already applied or are applying this season would be so greatly appreciated!

Edited November 14, 2014 by CoomassieFingers

[blinchik]

I would recommend emailing/calling the department and clarifying the issue since you are unsure. While I can hazard a guess that a post-doc who is working at an academic research institution should count as an academic reference, only the admissions department can ascertain that guess for you.

[CoomassieFingers]

I would recommend emailing/calling the department and clarifying the issue since you are unsure. While I can hazard a guess that a post-doc who is working at an academic research institution should count as an academic reference, only the admissions department can ascertain that guess for you.

Yup, I already emailed them 2x and have not received a reply! Yikes.

[Chrissymisha]

I think when they say "academic" recommendation they basically mean "not industry". If the post-doc works at an academic institution, then I would guess it would be okay. One question though...are you already getting a non-academic recommendation from someone else and that's why you need this one to count as an academic one? If not then I would suggest having both your previous professors and the post-doc write letters. That way you definitely have 2 academic, but also get the great letter from the post-doc, but maybe I'm reading your information wrong.  

[spaceimmunology]

Current MIT student. None of my letters were from either teaching professors or PIs at my undergraduate institution. I only had letters from outside PIs that I worked with, but I'm pretty sure a postdoc letter will work as well.

[GeoDUDE!]

A postdoc is an academic position.

[CoomassieFingers]

Current MIT student. None of my letters were from either teaching professors or PIs at my undergraduate institution. I only had letters from outside PIs that I worked with, but I'm pretty sure a postdoc letter will work as well.

Thank you so much!

[Crucial BBQ]

Hi all,

 

MIT Biology requires that 2 of 3 letters of recomendation be "academic" recommendations.

My question is - is a letter from a research supervisor (i.e. a postdoc I worked under) considered an academic recommendation? I worked under them at an academic research institution, but not my undergraduate institution.

I have two former professors that would write letters for me, but I feel my research supervisor would write a letter that much better describes my potential for success in research.

 

Any help from people who have already applied or are applying this season would be so greatly appreciated!

But two of you LORs are from profs?  Wouldn't them plus a letter from the postdoc cover the two academic letters?