Should i get recommendation from math teacher for physics grad school

[Aziza]

Hi all,

I am an undergrad physics major working in two physics labs and also doing research in math with a professor. I only have two strong recomendations from my two physics lab professors, so for my third recomendation (for physics graduate school) i wanted to ask my math professor, so i would have three strong letters. Should I? Would physics grad schools care that I did research in math? Or should I just ask another physics professor who could write me an ok letter?


Thanks for any advice in advance!

 

[Simon Bridge]

Depends on the school and also on the field you want to enter.
Can also depend on the math teacher.

If you are entering grad-school in the same college you were undergrad, then you should already have an idea about this. Talk to the post-grad dean or whoever is in charge of sheparding students. If the grad school specifies that the letters have to be from physics teachers then you have your answer.

 

[Choppy]

Generally a reference letter from a math professor, particularly one you've worked with, is just fine. What admissions committees are typically looking for is the opinion of a person who's in a position to evaluate your potential for success in graduate school.

Since you already have two references from physics professors, I don't think that anyone would blink at one coming from a mathematics professor.