Recommenders - any guidelines on who to pick?

[benjo]

Hello all:

So, I'm trying to figure out who my 3 recommenders are going to be. I've got two that are obvious:

1. My current boss

2. My undergraduate thesis advisor

For my third, I'm not sure what to do. I could easily get another work-related person - a co-worker at the same level, or another supervisor. I could also easily get another professor to speak to my academic ability. But I'm wondering if a third option might be better: a fairly prominent (by local standards) political organizer/activist, who is a graduate of a prestigious JD/MPP program himself. He knows me fairly well, and I have volunteered for several campaigns that he has run.

Is it a good idea to get someone like this to speak to my commitment to good governance, my initiative, civic engagement etc.?

[MYRNIST]

Hello all:

So, I'm trying to figure out who my 3 recommenders are going to be. I've got two that are obvious:

1. My current boss

2. My undergraduate thesis advisor

For my third, I'm not sure what to do. I could easily get another work-related person - a co-worker at the same level, or another supervisor. I could also easily get another professor to speak to my academic ability. But I'm wondering if a third option might be better: a fairly prominent (by local standards) political organizer/activist, who is a graduate of a prestigious JD/MPP program himself. He knows me fairly well, and I have volunteered for several campaigns that he has run.

Is it a good idea to get someone like this to speak to my commitment to good governance, my initiative, civic engagement etc.?

So he is (a) prominent ( knows you well © can personally attest to your good qualities? I'd say this is a no brainer, unless your work with him has little relevance to your career goals (as expressed in your SOP and other professional experience.) Like, if you're interested in doing international security but your work with this guy was for education policy - then I might try to find someone more relevant. Otherwise I'd say it sounds like a home run!

EDIT: I love that alphabetical bullets get turned into smiley faces and copyright symbols...

Edited September 21, 2011 by MYRNIST

[benjo]

Thanks! Yeah, the surprise smilies always throw me for a loop for a second.

[enkayem]

I had a query related to yours. I graduated from my previous degree nearly 5 years ago. Would it make sense to seek an academic reference (if the school does not specifically ask for one) still or am I safe to proceed with 3 professional references?

[wasistdas]

during a recent fletcher online chat session, the admissions folks from the school recommended one from a past professor, one from a professional source and third from what you think will be the strongest recommendation.

[greendiplomat]

I had a query related to yours. I graduated from my previous degree nearly 5 years ago. Would it make sense to seek an academic reference (if the school does not specifically ask for one) still or am I safe to proceed with 3 professional references?

during a recent fletcher online chat session, the admissions folks from the school recommended one from a past professor, one from a professional source and third from what you think will be the strongest recommendation.

I think godlessgael's post gives the general rule of thumb, as I think it's in any applicant's best interest, regardless of experience, to get someone who can vouch for his or her academic ability and potential for success in the program.

The one exception to this rule, perhaps, is if you have someone in your professional life that knows you as an academic, and I think the only way a professional contact could fulfill this role would be if you've worked with the on research. I'd imagine this would have to be on the level of publication-quality research, not casual research done for the job.

In general, though, I think 5 years out of college isn't long enough to warrant going with 3 professional references. Just go with a past professor in a course where you've had some way of appealing your ability for independent thought, like a final paper/project, and send him/her a copy of that along with the standard CV, etc. when requesting the recommendation, and hope for the best.

Edited September 25, 2011 by greendiplomat