In a state of quandary over LORs

Graduate School
1

Here’s my situation.

I did an engineering major and have been in the industry for about 1.5 years. It is my goal to apply for engineering PhD programs next Fall. I did 2 research projects with 2 different supervisors. I also had a 3rd academic staff member that I worked part time with. I wanted to apply last year, but I informed my referees whom I had contacted at the end of last year that I would halt my application for another year before applying. They were quite happy to give me recommendations then.

I contacted again one of my supervisors a while ago and he said he would be happy to be one of my referees. Then just recently I contacted the same supervisor again and he said that he was quite busy and that it would be better to ask someone I am currently working with or recently worked with. I am at a loss on what to say and I haven’t replied to him yet. If I say something wrong, I fear that he might refuse to write me an LOR altogether. He supervised me for an undergraduate research project and he seemed very pleased at the end of the project. I am not even sure how my other previous referees will respond now if I contact them.

If I don’t apply at the end of this year that will be another year out in industry and I may not have another opportunity again. I’m feeling the melancholy and depression at the moment, Does anyone have any advice on how I can proceed?

2

Ask them all and then find someone at your company who can write you a letter that will speak to your performance in your work. If you really want to go, don’t let the letters be an obstacle. However, be ready to apply to some MS programs as well because you might need to start there.

3

Yes, don’t let this discourage you. Continue to reach out to the rest you have been considering and consider a 4th person to ask. In the past, when applying to my former grad program, I’ve had one professor respond favorably and another unfavorably, but ended up not needing the unfavorable one.

Maybe reiterate to your former supervisor why you chose him as a recommender for you. Let him know you understand he has a busy schedule, but that you can make it easier on him with as much info he would need to write the LOR (including your work on the research project and how pleased he was). It seems that he would have enough time before the deadline since you said you applying before the end of the year.