letters of rec from BS work with MS degree

[lappcat]

I'm currently pursuing an MS with the intent to apply to PhD programs this fall.  I intended to switch from MS to PhD at my current institution, but my advisor and I don't really get along well.  There's a whole lot of history behind it, but I'll skip it to be concise (unless you all really want to know!).  Plus, I have issues with the quality of

Comments

[rakshaself]

I think it would reflect really poorly on you not to have at least one letter of rec from your masters. My dad is a professor, and his thought was that having all recommendations from your BS would be like trying to apply to a master's program with high school recommendations...it just would really make him wonder what you were doing for the last couple years.

Personally, I would ask for the letter from your advisor, and go with whoever you think will give you the best for your rest, regardless of how they're connected to you.

[green_tales]

thanks for asking that - I was wondering, too

[ravenword]

I would try to get someone from your master's program to do a letter. Talk to your adviser about it and get a feel for his response. Unless you think he'd write you a bad letter, it's probably better to have one from him that's less than 100% awesome than to have people assume the worst about your MS performance because you have no letter at all. Having some recommendations from your BS is fine, but I think your adviser or a committee member should also write one (and, probably it should be your adviser, since you'll be listing him as such on your CV...).

I was in a similar position when I was working as a research assistant after undergrad and applying to PhD programs. My boss and I didn't have a good relationship, but he ended up volunteering to write me a letter when he found out I was applying, and it can't have been too bad, since I was accepted to most schools I applied to.

[lissiehoya]

IAWTC. I had one recommender from undergrad and two from my M.A. program when I applied this past year.

[brittdreams]

Not liking someone isn't the same as having a bad professional relationship with someone. I didn't like my MA advisor but she wrote letters that were apparently phenomenal when I applied to PhD programs.

[anonymous]

Regardless of personality differences, if you're mentor is a half-way decent mentor they would have picked up that your current program isn't the best fit for you. With that, they should be able to help you get to one that is. Like others have said, not getting along with your mentor doesn't mean that they would write you a poor recommendation.
I also agree with the others as well, if you don't include at least one LOR from your masters program it will draw some probably negative attention to your application. Also, it's a small world and if you're keeping within the same field or research interest, the programs/professors you're applying to might have either heard of you or know your mentor.