Suggestions on Recommendation situation

[emoleys]

I'm sorry to be posting this again, but I really need some advice. Apologies for what will most likely be a long post.

A recommender that I've been working with has had a very eventful few weeks. I worked with her in human trafficking, which is ultimately my area of interest and forms the basis for my SOP. She had been on maternity leave from the position, just gave birth recently and was also terminated from the position as a result of "budget issues". I had been contacting her through the work email account but was receiving no response. She is also usually very good about answering emails so I'm sure that these events are the reason for why she has not been responding.

As an alternative, I've asked my internship supervisor that I've been developing a close working relationship with over the past 3 months. I think my reservation, though, about asking this supervisor, is that the work that we're doing is with children who have special needs, especially those that have been traumatized by domestic violence. However, my area of interest is in human trafficking the area in which the 1st recommender used to work with me.

I'm positive that this internship supervisor will write a strong letter and will vouch for my abilities. But would it look better to adcoms if I keep pushing for the 1st recommender to send in a letter? I wrote a lot about my work in human trafficking in my SOP. I've sent a document detailing my work in human trafficking with specifics to this internship supervisor and asked her to include these details to further bolster on the kind of work I've been doing with her.

My only other way of contacting the 1st recommender is to contact her by facebook. I'm not sure how good that will look.

What do you guys think?

Edited December 27, 2010 by emoleys

[fuzzylogician]

For what it's worth, it's the content of the letter than counts. It'd be nice to have a reference that can talk about your work within your area of specialty in particular, but a strong reference about your work in another field will be very good too. As far as the original recommender goes, have you tried searching online for another email address (e.g. on a cv, on old syllabi, on publications, or through acquaintances who worked with her too)? You could also ask your department secretary if there is another email address for her on file. If all else fails, you could try facebook; in any event, I wouldn't call someone who just had a baby about an issue like this, given that you have another very good option available to you. One thing that completely wasn't clear to me from your post is - have you talked to this person before about writing you a letter? if she agreed to write you a letter and then because of special circumstances you had to reach her through facebook that would not be the worst thing ever. But approaching her for the first time and asking for a letter via facebook is not advisable. Again, your other option is also very good. If you can submit an extra letter (most schools will allow that) I would say, go ahead and ask your internship supervisor for a letter anyway. That way you at least know that your application will be complete, and who knows, maybe the original writer will write her letter too after all.

[beanbagchairs]

I'd use facebook as the *last* resort to contact prof.. It seems too casual.. unless the LOR writer has agreed to write a letter for you AND your relationship with her is somewhat close and informal.

I'd go for the alternative LOR writer whilst trying to find her other email addresses. Can you ask her (former/current) graduate students, admins, secretaries?

[emoleys]

I had talked to sometime in August if she would be willing to write a letter for me and she has said yes. This was about a month before she went on leave.

She has written a letter for me before and has been extremely supportive of me. Which is also why I'd feel a bit guilty for reaching out to her at a time like this.

I worked with her at a non-profit organization in the volunteer department. I did try reaching out to another colleague at the organization for assistance but due to the holidays there has been no response.

Unfortunately, the program I'm applying to will only allow 3 letters and two have already been sent.

For what it's worth, it's the content of the letter than counts. It'd be nice to have a reference that can talk about your work within your area of specialty in particular, but a strong reference about your work in another field will be very good too. As far as the original recommender goes, have you tried searching online for another email address (e.g. on a cv, on old syllabi, on publications, or through acquaintances who worked with her too)? You could also ask your department secretary if there is another email address for her on file. If all else fails, you could try facebook; in any event, I wouldn't call someone who just had a baby about an issue like this, given that you have another very good option available to you. One thing that completely wasn't clear to me from your post is - have you talked to this person before about writing you a letter? if she agreed to write you a letter and then because of special circumstances you had to reach her through facebook that would not be the worst thing ever. But approaching her for the first time and asking for a letter via facebook is not advisable. Again, your other option is also very good. If you can submit an extra letter (most schools will allow that) I would say, go ahead and ask your internship supervisor for a letter anyway. That way you at least know that your application will be complete, and who knows, maybe the original writer will write her letter too after all.

Edited December 27, 2010 by emoleys

[emoleys]

I absolutely agree that the Facebook may be too casual. However, we do have a somewhat informal and casual relationship, which is the only reason why I would be willing to reach out to her through this channel. Also, if she was a professor, then I think I would firmly say no to contacting her through this channel. But she supervised me while working in a non-profit.

We normally communicate through email regularly (at least once a month or one and half months) and it has only been because of what has happened in the couple of months that there has been a lapse in communication.

Unfortunately, the office where the non-profit is has been closed for the holidays and I'm having no luck.

I'd use facebook as the *last* resort to contact prof.. It seems too casual.. unless the LOR writer has agreed to write a letter for you AND your relationship with her is somewhat close and informal.

I'd go for the alternative LOR writer whilst trying to find her other email addresses. Can you ask her (former/current) graduate students, admins, secretaries?

Edited December 27, 2010 by emoleys