<p>Hi everyone, </p>
<p>This is my first time posting, so please do let me know if this topic has been posted before/I'm posting in the wrong forum.</p>
<p>I am a currently a junior in college, and am planning to apply to M.A. programs for Art History. Would it be preferable to have all my professor rec letters from within the art history department, or can I get some from professors who have taught me other non art history related classes? Additionally, are professional recs ever a good idea (ie: recs from bosses at previous internships in related fields, etc). </p>
<p>Thanks a lot.</p>
<p>edit: the reason I ask is because I have a professor in mind who would write me a great rec, but she is not in the art hist. department of my undergrad institution. Additionally, my undergrad institution's art history department is really small, and I honestly don't have many profs within the department who I know with confidence would write me a good rec... :/</p>
<p>Typically grad schools want to read rec. letters that speak to your abilities to perform well and succeed in the field. If the letter writer knows you are really friendly and optimistic, but doesn’t have a clue about your passion or success in your art classes, the letter won’t tell the admissions people anything useful about you. If, however, your non-art professor can write about how you’re always trying to incorporate your artistic interests into his/her class (conveying your passion), etc., then the letter might be really good. </p>
<p>You should ask your prof if they think they can write a convincing letter that relates what they know about you to your field. And if they think they can, play it safe and give them as much info on the grad program you are applying to as possible. This way they can look over the goals of the program or even the research interests of your prospective advisor and write things that connect you with the program (expressing your “fit” with the program).</p>
<p>Thank you so much 
I find that getting LORs is one of the hardest things about applying to grad school because I’m so shy. I have a few good professional recs from previous internships, but I’m not sure if it’d be a good idea to use them. But thanks so much for your advice, they were helpful words indeed.</p>
<p>In general, I would advise not using more than one of your letters from the industry. </p>
<p>Don’t be shy about asking for LOR’s. Its a normal part of their job that they are very familiar with. You are not asking for anything special.</p>