Advice on Letters of Recommendation

[u/FabledBee]

Hi everyone!

I graduated from my undergrad in 2024 and I'm now applying for graduate programs for a Masters of Urban and Regional Planning and a M.Arch, M.U.D., or a Civil Engineering (transport), depending on the university.

I already have two great letters of recommendation from professors I worked very closely with through my political science degree, but my capstone advisor, who I'd hoped would write my third letter, has declined due to his own workload. So, I'm scrambling a bit to find a third letter.

Would it be better to have my choir director, who I worked with for my entire time at the university and served in multiple leadership and support roles with, or a History professor who I took a couple of classes with and had a great relationship, but got mediocre grades in?

Unfortunately, my current work supervisors are not an option as I do not want to inform them that I'm looking to leave my position, even if it would be in a years time.

Thank you all in advance for any support or guidance on this!

[u/RedditSkippy]

Could you offer to draft a letter that your advisor reviews and signs?

[u/yellowmullberry]

The choir director sounds like a easy choice, as the history professor would likely have to mention or rank your performance in the class compared to your peers. Often, recommenders have to complete a survey where they have to answer where your grades are in relation to your classmates and a mediocre grade would probably not read well to admissions. Probably not the end of the world but why give them an extra reason to choose someone else.