<p>I finally sorted out who I want to write my recommendation letters. They’re all professors (because that’s what my particular schools said they wanted–academic rather than workplace references) who seemed to like me, told me I had promise and who I worked my tuckus off for when I took their classes. Problem: not one is a professor from the department of my major. I’m receiving a Biology BS, and the professors I asked for references are from 1) Comparative Literature, 2) Germanic Studies, and 3) Library Science. One organic chemistry alternate is in the wings.</p>
<p>Since I’m applying for MLIS programs, and not for a biology masters/doctorate, this shouldn’t technically matter, but will they consider it strange that a student of the life sciences seemed to do her best work in humanities electives? Would it make me look indecisive somehow? The main reason I asked these professors is that all my science courses were 200+ person lectures or labs that only met once a week, and these teachers actually got the chance to know me in 10-person or less classes that were more like Socratic seminars. That, and the science ones I did approach said they knew nothing about library science and probably couldn’t comment on my potential in the field.</p>