<p>Although I feel my PhD app is solid otherwise (poly sci), I don't have recs from old professors -- Both of the profs I did the majority of work in undergrad are both dead! My only other options are profs I had relatively meaningless relationships with. The other issue is I graduated more than 10 years ago and have been working ever since.</p>
<p>So I had recs from professional colleagues and one former employer (I had a research position) to hopefully make up the difference.</p>
<p>I was very concerned that one of my recommenders was going to die before I got the recommendation. I was careful to never ask him about his health or make him run up the stairs for anything. This is morbid and I am ashamed of it. You have my greatest sympathy, I can't imagine how much that would suck. </p>
<p>On another note, more current recommenders can only be good. None of my recommenders came from college.</p>
<p>Hmm... did your research supervisor LOR writer at least earn a degree equivalent to the one you're pursuing (i.e., a doctorate if you're going for your Ph.D.)? If not, the committee is likely to view all of your LORs as relatively useless in evaluating your potential for grad-level work. Unfortunately, while colleagues and industry supervisors can be great judges of character, work ethic, and so forth, that is only one part of the equation.</p>
<p>As an example, here are the areas one Ph.D. program evaluates primarily through letters of rec:
• Potential for academic excellence
• Research potential
• Potential for excellent services (in their field)
• Oral & written communication skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Self-awareness and critical thinking skills</p>
<p>Certainly a non-academic supervisor can evaluate many of those, but from what I understand, faculty admissions committees tend to "look down" upon such letters. A suggestion that is often made for people in your situation is to take a few night classes (or even complete an MA/MS) in order to build relationships w/ professors who can give you fresh recommendations.</p>
<p>It might be awkward, but you could write to the DGS or whomever the contact people are for the programs you're applying to and explain your situation, then ask for their suggestions with regard to the letters. </p>
<p>Couldn't hurt! I have found (in Romance Languages, so kind of a different world) that the DGS is generally very helpful and candid, and gives excellent advice.</p>
<p>"The other issue is I graduated more than 10 years ago and have been working ever since."</p>
<p>This puts you into a completely different category from students who are still completing undergraduate studies or have completed within the last two or three years. The committee reading your file will have seen applicants like you before, and will have a system in place for assessing your file.</p>
<p>If your letters haven't gone out yet, you could contact the DGS as suggested above, and ask which aspects of your professional performance would be best for your recommenders to address in their letters.</p>
<p>But, frankly, if they don't like you because you don't have faculty letters (and only because of that reason) then you don't want to be at that school anyway. They won't be able to cope with someone who has been in the "real world" for as long as you have and you would be miserable there.</p>