Grad student VS classroom Professor letter?
Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2021 9:09 pm
I am an international student, and I plan to apply to the astrophysics grad school. Now I have one letter from a professor who I have closely worked with. He certainly know me a lot. But I still need two more letters. Ideally, I can work with one more professor for a summer and one semester and get a letter which talks about my research skill. I do not think I can work with two more professors, since I am a junior now.
So now I have two choice for my 3rd letters: a letter of grad student who I have worked with for about one semester and he is a postdoc now, and I believe that he can write good things about my research skills, or a letter from a professor who I have taken classes with. Which one is better? I know that some school do not take letter form non-faculty seriously, but letter from classroom professor also feels like not helping very much after reading people's comments. I don't think a joint-letter from the grad student with my professor is a good option, since he have graduated. Or is there any advice?
So now I have two choice for my 3rd letters: a letter of grad student who I have worked with for about one semester and he is a postdoc now, and I believe that he can write good things about my research skills, or a letter from a professor who I have taken classes with. Which one is better? I know that some school do not take letter form non-faculty seriously, but letter from classroom professor also feels like not helping very much after reading people's comments. I don't think a joint-letter from the grad student with my professor is a good option, since he have graduated. Or is there any advice?