Letters Of Recommendation-Special Situation

Graduate School
1

<p>I am looking for some advice for a pretty complicated situation.</p>

<p>I graduated with my B.A. in English a year and a half ago. Immediately after, I enrolled in a Master of Arts in Teaching English, mostly because everyone said that's what I should do. I had been married all through college and was recently divorced, very confused, and was sure teaching would be a great career.</p>

<p>Big surprise, I hated the program. I woke up every morning dreading my day, so I withdrew after a semester and a half.</p>

<p>My dilemma is that that for the last year I have been pretty stagnant. I enrolled in some online sociology classes, hoping to get a master's but the program at my school is not very promising. They cut a lot of the classes that were supposed to be offered. I also worked in a retail job.</p>

<p>So, you can see that since graduating with my B.A., my life has been pretty unimpressive. I went through a rough time with my divorce and had absolutely no direction. </p>

<p>So, I have finally decided what I want to do. I would love to get a master's in public administration. I meet all of the admissions requirements, except this one...letters of recommendation. </p>

<p>I was a pretty good undergrad student, but I was foolish and never got to know my professors well. My work history is not stellar. My former boss, at the retail store would write one. I called the university I want to go to and they said work letters would be fine, but I don't have any really impressive bosses to ask.</p>

<p>At this point, do I have any options? Or should I just forget about graduate school?</p>

<p>I feel excited to finally get my life back on track after two years of stress and no direction, but I fear it is impossible to do so because it look like I've been dwindling in indecisiveness the past two years.</p>

2

<p>I know that my former supervisor would write an excellent recommendation for me, but like I said it was a retail, no-big-deal job.</p>

<p>I am embarrassed of my lack of accomplishments and my complete indecisiveness for the last couple of years, but I am dead set on getting my life together now. I just wish I had forced myself to be more productive and make a better name for myself. Unfortunately, I just let myself get in a rut. </p>

<p>I only need one more outside of my last boss. I am considering sending two of my favorite professors an email, explaining the situation. What I was thinking was just tell them what my plans are, give them a copy of my transcripts, tell them what I took from the class, how my English degree will be important for my future career, and then just ask them to possibly review the information and consider writing me a letter. I can think of no other options. I got A’s in their classes, and one of them was my adviser. The only thing is he is very quiet, and I am too, so while he probably remembers me, we were never chatty.</p>

3

<p>I think asking your professors is exactly right. They will almost certainly remember you- you’d be surprised. Your advisor would definitely remember you.
Asking for graduate school recs a couple of years after graduating isn’t unusual at all. Profs expect it, and they see it as part of their job.
I wouldn’t apologize for all the things you think you should have done. Just email them and let them know what your goals are now, and provide whatever material you have that would help them. They will be happy to do it. Good luck, and good for you for taking the steps to make a better future for yourself.</p>

4

<p>Thanks so much for the advice. I feel so nervous about even approaching them. I just don’t know what they can say about me other than I wrote good papers and made good grades in their class. They don’t really know me personally, but I guess I just have to remind myself that they probably get asked frequently.</p>

<p>I was even wondering if I should write them a letter, if they agree, and tell them about my life. For example, mention that I got divorced and that sort of jolted me into two year period of mediocrity. Or should I just keep it professional?</p>

<p>I don’t think this is a super competitive program, but I still worry that generic letters will keep me from being accepted.</p>

5

<p>I don’t think I’d mention the divorce or those things which have nothing to do with your academics. After all, when you were in their classes, you did well, and that’s what they will be basing their recs on. If your program isn’t super competitive, you should be fine.
Rather than a letter about your past, write something about your future goals–what you plan to do with this new degree, and why you’re interested in doing it. Show passion and enthusiasm for the subject in your letter. That will help more than knowing that you were divorced and are just getting your feet on the ground. Grad schools are not that interested in “pity cases” ;), they want people who are motivated and enthusiastic who will add something to the program. Project that in your letter, if you can. (and in the purpose statement that you write for your application.)</p>

<p>And remember, there’s nothing wrong, or even unusual, about a student needing a couple of years to decide what to do for her life’s work, or grad school. Many colleges actually look favorably on slightly older students who have been out in the world before going back to school.</p>

<p>I was a teacher and am also a mom with a daughter in grad school- so the above is my opinion based on what I’ve learned watching her and her friends apply. Good luck to you!</p>

6

<p>To follow-up on the last post, faculty are quite used to being contacted by previous students. </p>

<p>when you contact your previous professors provide them with an organized summary of when you were in their classes, how you did and a copy of your SOP from your graduate applications.</p>

<p>You should not bring up your personal issues. you should articulate why you have now decided on graduate school and what your current goals are. All this info helps your previous profs write LORs specific to you. </p>

<p>Finally, you should give your profs plenty of advance notice before the LOR deadlines.</p>

7

<p>Thanks. This advice has been very helpful. I have been talking to friends in grad school and one of them seemed convinced that it’s just completely inappropriate to request a letter this long, especially given the fact they didn’t know me well. However, most have said it’s completely normal. I guess everyone has a different experience.</p>

<p>I really don’t have a choice. I want this degree and my only shot is to ask them. I guess the worst that can happen is they say no.</p>