Hello
I have a dilemma about LoRs that is making me wonder if I should apply to grad school at all.
I am applying for Masters programs in Computer Science at a few Canadian universities. I am a few years out of school. Most places require 3 LoRs and here is the problem:
I am on my second job after getting my BS. I have three co-workers from my first job who graciously agreed to give me an LoR. The original plan was to use two of them. From my undergrad, I got in touch with someone I did research with for a semester. But for the past 2 months I have not heard back from him. Not even an acknowledgement of my request on various media, including facebook (where he seems to be semi-active). It made me sad because he has put my name on his website as someone he had advised and the research came up with a decent result that was presented. But with deadlines coming up fast, I have to make a decision here.
There was another person during my undergrad who I did some research with but I work with him now in a startup (he is my boss). I haven't told them that I am applying to universities because I don't want them to think I am about to bail. So I cannot ask him for a recommendation letter
Some universities need at least 2 academic letters. I currently have 0. It might be too late to start the conversation with another professor, considering the deadlines and holiday season.
Is it even worth applying anymore? Can I apply with all professional references and give some sort of explanation in the personal statement? Should I wait for my main academic reference to some how magically show up? I have a deadline on December 15. The rest are in Feb and March so I might have time to engage another professor.
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks
