Problem with a letter of recommendation

[Mocha001]

Hi, I am sure I am not the only one who has this problem. I graduated in 2006. Since then, I have been working full time to support myself.

I am finally ready to go back to school. Now, I am having a very hard time getting letters of recommendation.

I took two classes at local community college with the same professor, and he is willing to write a letter of recommendation.

I even spent 800 dollars in this summer to take one class through open university, but this professor was too busy to write it Her reply was full of hesitation.

Now, I have two other professors that I have been trying to contact. They are part time professors who do not even have office.

They agree to write a letter of recommendation, but I am not sure if I can depend on them. Should I also include a letter from my boss?

My boss is willing to write it and he really knows that I have been studying during my break and lunch time, and also I am a hard worker in general.

he is asking me what I want him to include in the letter of recommendation.

Obviously he is not a professor, so he is not very familiar with my research or academic knowledge. ( I can show my academic work.)

Any advice?

[fuzzylogician]

Yes, I would say you should get a letter from your boss. From what you write you're not going to have any letters from professors who know you long and well so if your boss can talk about your character and knowing you for the last four years, that would be a significant contribution to your application that you're not getting from elsewhere.

Do you really not have any professors who knew you well when you in college? Even though it's been a few years, you should still try to find one or two. Writing recommendation letters is part of their job, and many professors will agree to write you one even though they may not remember you too clearly. I think that's more helpful than asking someone for a letter who you hasn't known you for very long. Whoever you choose to ask, try to make their lives as easy as possible. If possible, meet with them and tell them about your research interests. Send them your writing sample or some other paper of yours to read. Show them your SOP so they get a sense of who you are and what kind of research you want to do. Give them your transcript. For one recommender who asked for it, I wrote up a list of things I would like to have included in my letter. I don't know what he actually chose to use out of what I wrote, but I made sure he was aware of everything that I hoped would be helpful in a letter. So basically offer to tell your letter writers anything and everything that could help them get to know you better, so they will be able to write you a stronger, more meaningful letter.

Edited November 6, 2010 by fuzzylogician

[adaptations]

I would focus on having the former professors write LORs. Given that they told you they will, it shouldn't be a problem. Make sure to send periodic reminders, such as two weeks before they are due and again right before they are due if they haven't been submitted.

It certainly won't hurt to have your boss act as a backup, but a professional reference will not hold much weight when applying to PhD programs. At the very least, prepare a series of points for him to talk about that tie your current work experience into your academic goals and ability to succeed.