Is a teacher's reference 'stronger' than an employer's reference?

My tutor gave me an average, half-hearted reference when I applied for dentistry in October. So I'm taking a gap year, because I wasn't accepted into the course and will apply again next year.

Instead of asking my tutor for a UCAS reference, I'm going to ask my employer. I know he will give me a really good one because he's very enthusiastic about helping people.

So my question is, would universities think any-less of a UCAS reference by my employer compared to a school teacher?

References are usually written by someone who knows you academically. Most references will talk about you from a teacher's or tutor's perspective: how you work and interact with other students and teachers, for example. Your reference does not have to be academic, but if you're studying or have recently left school or college, a reference from your school or college will be expected.

My tutor gave me an average, half-hearted reference when I applied for dentistry in October. So I'm taking a gap year, because I wasn't accepted into the course and will apply again next year.

Instead of asking my tutor for a UCAS reference, I'm going to ask my employer. I know he will give me a really good one because he's very enthusiastic about helping people.

So my question is, would universities think any-less of a UCAS reference by my employer compared to a school teacher?

.

.

.

Thanks for your replies, guys.

Since it must be an academic reference, if I ask my year 10 & 11 tutor to write one instead of my 6th form tutor, will there be any difference in the 'weight' that the reference will carry in the university admission team's eyes?

This may be subjective or maybe someone has experience with similar circumstances?

You may find that your school will reuse the old one, since they have not been in a position to see any changes since you left. There's no harm in asking, but don't be surprised.

Except he's on a gap year, so it's very easy just to email the required teacher while applying as a independent.

It is, but if he only left last year, the teacher may well just go to the old reference because it contains details of all the academic study he did in the sixth form. An academic reference from a school is not usually written by just one teacher. It's an amalgam of the input of all the subject teachers and a year 11 tutor alone will not have the depth of knowledge required to write on all four subjects, especially in the depth needed for a dentistry application. In addition, there are systems in place in schools for sending references off and it's usually only a few senior staff, such as the head of sixth, who have the necessary passwords to do it.

Fair enough, when I did it the teacher asked if I had one (which I did - got emailed mine last year) or if he should write another. Anyway, we're both right here I guess - depends on his school.

Easiest way is for him to ask :P

I would concur with the above. A reference coming from any tutor in your school/college is likely to carry equal weight.

I am surprised that a reference alone could affect an application this much, but I do know that dentistry is a highly competitive field.

No, a reference from one person will not carry as much weight, because one person cannot comment on all the academic work OP has done in his time at the school. A UCAS reference has very specific requirements in terms of what is mentioned. It is very detailed and needs to reflect all aspects of the student's performance, which one person alone cannot know. I've been a sixth form tutor for 24 years and have written my share of hundreds of them. Subject teachers will contribute their sections, the form tutor will do theirs and a senior teacher may well add more. In our school the head of sixth and the head teacher add bits in, too. Dentistry is one of the most competitive courses there is and a lukewarm reference could very easily be the difference between getting an interview and not getting one.

wow interesting fact!
Do you have idea (or tips) on how I can get my tutor, who probably spent 20 minutes max. on my reference last time, to write me a better one? I asked him why my reference wasn't full of praise, like many would would expect it to be, and he said "well, I'm not going to make things up," The problem is he hardly knows me because I moved to a different school after year 11, to attend this sixth form.

I have no idea what I should do, he's such an unenthusiastic teacher, it hurts.