nb42

Thanks for the additional advice Arcanen. Unfortunately my major was French and they all speak Korean. And my VP has seen me teach only once; his letter would be written in Korean, if he would even be willing to write one. Plus I think they prefer the 3 letters of recommendation to be 2 academic, 1 professional. I know how that sentence sounds "I don't want it badly enough." I guess what I mean is, I have to admit that I am sensitive to my surroundings. I think that my alma mater is a great university and a good learning environment for me. I have no experience at another university and I don't want to risk ending up somewhere that I dislike immensely, especially when so much money is on the table. Also this M.Ed. program is just a great fit for me: I like the time frame, and that it leads to initial teacher certification, and that it won't require a GRE. Maybe that makes me sound lazy about the GRE, but I have to study the language to pass another test and don't have time to study extra months for the GRE. So this program makes sense to me. I'm glad to hear that the lack of LOR from the university won't matter quite as much since it's a different department. As I said I might still try to apply. I would really like to teach French as well as TESOL. After finishing this program I could obtain a TESOL endorsement too. I will keep thinking about it. Thanks.

Thank you for all the advice fuzzylogician. I think that I probably could get a couple of my CC teachers to write the letters. As far as my university professors being "in the program" I'm now applying to, I don't think they are. My undergrad was in foreign language and now I'm applying for a Master's in Education. I don't think the foreign language teachers teach the education classes. Also I can't really make an appointment with them as I'm living abroad. Arcanen, I am having my co-teacher write the letter as she's the only one who has seen me with the students. My principal and vice principal do not speak any English, and don't know me at all. I didn't realize that about people being less likely to be accepted to graduate programs at their alma maters. That's disappointing to hear. I may just put in an application at this program anyway. I don't see myself going to any other program. I don't want it badly enough to apply to every university around. But if I could go back to my alma mater and finish this program in 2 years, it would be great. I know I can be a good teacher.

I want to apply to an M.Ed. program, and my co-teacher (I'm teaching English abroad) will write me an LOR. (I need 3, at least one work experience, and at least one academic.) But the academic one, I have no idea where to get it. I did 2 years at a community college and 2 years at the same university where I want to go for the M.Ed. But I wasn't close with any professors at the second university at all; they would never remember me and I never had the same professor for 2 classes. To get this job teaching abroad I had a teacher from my community college, and another teacher who had taught me both in high school and the community college, write letters for me. But the latter teacher (high school and CC) has since retired I believe. And the former, it's been 5 years since he had me in class. Is this going to look terrible that no one from the university where I got the BA and where I'm applying for the M.Ed. will write me a letter? And is it okay to ask the same CC teacher (he was my English teacher, for one class, and that's not my education specialization) to write another letter, after 5 years? I'm not even sure where I could get the 3rd letter I need. This ESL job has been my only job since graduating in 2011. I was a nontraditional undergrad student and graduated at 27. I was shy so I didn't speak to my professors much. Sorry this post has so many questions. I'm starting to panic a bit. I asked a professor from my CC if she would write me an LOR (she was my German teacher for 2 classes) and she said "no." She said she couldn't remember me from 5 years ago and she can't write LORs because of FERPA anyway. I feel so confused and I don't want to put off my application for another year.

Thank you so much for the info, I will probably apply mid-August then.

I'm applying for a Masters program in education; the deadline for my application is mid-November and the deadline for required test results is the beginning of December. I have to apply online. I have a co-worker here (I live abroad) who will write one of my letters; she is, how shall I say, forgetful. So I want to make sure I'm still here to see that her letter is submitted. But I might be leaving here at the end of August. Once I submit the online application, apparently they immediately (?) send e-mails asking for the reference letters. I think the reference letters must be done online. I'm wondering if I could submit my application August 1st, then she would get her request for LOR and I could make sure that she sends it in to them. Then I can go somewhere else until the program begins, should I be accepted. I will not be ready to turn in my test results until around the beginning of November. I would like to study more and get a better grade. What I'm asking is, will it look weird or be detrimental in any way if I do this: Deadlines: Application mid-November Test Results early December When I'd like to turn them in: Application early August Test Results early November Is the beginning of August too early to turn in the application? If necessary I might be able to wait until the beginning of September but, I might leave the country after that and I can't guarantee my co-worker will even remember to write this letter for me. Unfortunately I really do need her LOR. Please let me know what you think about it.