I’m applying for PhD programs in Artificial Intelligence, and I’m currently in doubt about which professors to ask for letters of recommendation.
Here’s my situation:
- My master’s thesis professor hasn’t replied to my emails regarding a letter of recommendation, and during the thesis, I only interacted with a PhD student rather than the professor. This professor also didn’t attend my thesis defence, which makes me question whether I should keep waiting or look for other options.
- My bachelor’s thesis professor is very supportive and has already agreed to write me a strong letter of recommendation.
Now, I’m considering asking another professor for a third letter. I’m wondering how to prioritize whom to ask, especially considering the field and subfield they specialize in, as well as their academic standing.
My main questions are:
- How important is it that the professor works specifically in the same field (e.g., artificial intelligence) or even more specifically, in the subfield (e.g., computer vision) I want to pursue for my PhD?
- Does the academic rank of the professor (e.g., associate professor vs. full professor) affect the strength of the recommendation, or is the content of the letter more important?
- Should I prioritize getting a letter from someone who knows me well but works in a somewhat different area, or from someone in my specific field but who knows me less well?
Thanks in advance for your advice!
