I didn’t have very strong contact with many professors during my undergraduate degree, and it’s been very difficult to find 3 professors who are willing to write recommendation letters.
I was, however, the president of a club with two other team members of executive level (secretary and treasurer). I am considering having ONE of my recommendation letters be from BOTH of these team members, as I think it would be unique and help me to stand out to admissions people. The letter will of course be professionally written and not “from friends”, rather from coworkers/associates.
Any thoughts on this? Is it unique like I’m hoping, or is it just unprofessional?
Look closely at the requirements for the LORs. If teacher recommendations are required then that is what you must provide. If a non-academic LOR is acceptable I would have it come from the faculty advisor of the club rather than from your peers (unless a peer recommendation is specifically allowed).
Depending on the kind of graduate program you are applying to, you might be able to have a work supervisor provide an LOR. But the simple fact is that you are going to have to track down the number of academic LORs that are required.
I can’t find any requirements for the LORs on my school’s website, so I just assumed any source was alright. Is it normal that only academic LORs are allowed?
Don’t assume. Don’t be afraid to contact the school to clarify that question.
Club folks can speak to your academic/classroom, research, and thinking skills.
Get clarification. Normally academic letters are expected, but his varies by program. For example, MBA programs will often require letters from work supervisors.
Oops@ club members can’t speak to those skills.
Sorry
Thanks everyone, I got clarification from the school and non-academic letters are accepted! I’ve managed to sort out my academic sources, now all that’s left is the peer recommendation. I think because of the nature of the work we did, they can speak to my thinking skills, professional writing, leadership and commitment. I hope this will be enough for admissions! 