LOR from previous academic advisor?

[mssyAK]

I'm having a bit of a dilemma, and would really appreciate some help, if anyone is willing!

Before graduating from university in 2008, I asked my academic advisor (with whom I had a very good relationship) for a reference for a job - he wrote the reference, it was amazing, I got the job, and everything was wonderful. Flash forward two and a half years to today - I'm starting to apply to grad school and need at least one academic reference. I'd like to ask him for a reference again, but I feel slightly [read: very] guilty that I haven't kept up correspondence as I should have.

I'm pretty much solid in my decision to email him, seeing as I only have my dignity to lose if he doesn't remember me/never replies/shuts me down, but my question is this: in my initial email, do I come out straight and ask for a reference in a few months? Or do I email him, pretend I'm just arbitrarily updating him on my current life, and THEN ask him for a reference in September-ish?

I realize it doesn't make a world of difference but... what other purpose does a forum serve?

[aginath]

Why pretend? Just tell him now that you're planning to apply to graduate school in the fall. Tell him (briefly) what you've been up to and solicit his advice on schools, programs, or potential faculty. You never know whom he's connected with in the past and how the relationship can benefit you now (networking is a great way to get things done). Somewhere in there mention that when the time comes, you'd be honored if he'd write a letter of rec for you.

I did this with four former faculty members of mine. I hadn't been in school for almost 10 years. I only briefly kept in touch with two. But the others remembered me and they all happily obliged. One gave me excellent feedback on selecting a program and the other gave me excellent advice about faculty at the schools to which I was applying.

[fuzzylogician]

Why pretend? Just tell him now that you're planning to apply to graduate school in the fall. Tell him (briefly) what you've been up to and solicit his advice on schools, programs, or potential faculty. You never know whom he's connected with in the past and how the relationship can benefit you now (networking is a great way to get things done). Somewhere in there mention that when the time comes, you'd be honored if he'd write a letter of rec for you.

I did this with four former faculty members of mine. I hadn't been in school for almost 10 years. I only briefly kept in touch with two. But the others remembered me and they all happily obliged. One gave me excellent feedback on selecting a program and the other gave me excellent advice about faculty at the schools to which I was applying.

^ This.

Straight and to the point seems the better strategy here.

Honestly, I doubt professors expect every student they ever had to keep in touch with them, or that they could possibly have the time to keep up even if there was some expectation. Two years aren't a long time, so the professor should still remember you. Just go ahead and ask. And as dacey suggests, maybe there are also other ways in which this professor can help your application (connections, reading your SOP or writing sample, advice on schools to attend/avoid).

[American in Beijing]

^ This.

Straight and to the point seems the better strategy here.

Honestly, I doubt professors expect every student they ever had to keep in touch with them, or that they could possibly have the time to keep up even if there was some expectation. Two years aren't a long time, so the professor should still remember you. Just go ahead and ask. And as dacey suggests, maybe there are also other ways in which this professor can help your application (connections, reading your SOP or writing sample, advice on schools to attend/avoid).

Even if for some reason he doesn't remember you, he probably still has your recommendation on file. It's only been two years, and I'm sure that this kind of thing happens a lot. I asked for a recommendation for one of my professors that I'd only had for one semester (he's very famous in the field), and he assured me that he still had my writing samples on file, even after a year.

[mssyAK]

Perfect! I feel validated. Thanks for the feedback.