Need help choosing references for recc letters! *POLL*

[karyo]

I'm starting my nursing school applications and my top 2 choices are George Washington and MUSC (both ABSN programs).

I need 2 letters of recommendation for GW and 3 for MUSC.

A few different people said they would be happy to write me letters, but I don't know who would be best to choose for each program! I don't work in healthcare, but I have volunteered in hospitals. (I've only known leaders in those hospital programs for a few months, so I don't really feel comfortable asking them for recommendation letters.)

GW does not specify who the references should be, but MUSC's website says, "Generally, we prefer academic and/or professional references."

My choices are:

• my Anatomy and Physiology Professor (definitely need a letter from her)

• the owner (my boss) at the music store where I've worked for 3 years as head of one of

the instrument departments

• the leader of a volunteer program in which we teach meditation to prisoners (and facilitate

Buddhist services) who I've known for 3 years and volunteer with 7 hrs/month

• an RN who I've known for 15+ years from my family's church where I was involved in

many volunteer projects - I haven't had much contact with her lately, but she knows my family well and said she'd "love" to write me a letter

So... which 2 should I pick for GW? (professor + ?)

And which 3 should I pick for MUSC? (professor + ? + ?)

Any advice is appreciated!

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

The more references you have to choose from the better.

I have often been asked to write letters of recommendation, and I always try to do my best for the person. One gal, when she asked, gave me a packet of information listing her educational credentials, her achievements, her goals and her strengths. She also included a list of "buzzwords" that her school was looking for. I found that letter to be the easiest one I've ever written. To be honest, I didn't completely agree with her assessment of her strengths, but I included the ones I did agree with and wrote a very strong letter of recommendation. (I'm almost embarrassed about how much stronger her letter was than the letters for colleagues who were actually stronger candidates -- in my opinion -- but whose letters I had to struggle through on my own.

[karyo]

Thanks for the ideas, Ruby! I may want to use those buzzwords!

I forgot to note that these schools won't allow more than 2 (GW) or 3 (MUSC) recommendations.

The forms are sent to references electronically and there's no way for me to add more into the online application form.