LOR from a Colleague, is it that terrible?

[rainbow]

hello everyone,

i need your opinion about a LOR issue, I appreciate if you could help me on this one

I'm applying to clinical phd programs (already have clinical MA degree). and by the way I'm an international applicant and writing letters of recommendation is not taken as seriously as it deserves in where I come from. faculty members usually behave like members of a superior cult, they rarely work with their students in research projects etc.

since there was not any faculty member who could know anything about my research skills, I asked a faculty from whom I had taken two courses and obtained the highest grade&prepared the most extensive term paper in his class. I got my second LOR from an ex employer. I did not have much of a choice for the third letter so I asked a peer from graduate school to write me LOR. She is an MA level clinician, we had taken some courses together at grad school, also we were in the same supervision group. I know this is a less than desirable situation, but should I be worried that my future is ruined? My undergrad psych.GPA is 3.85, grad 3.57. total GRE 1300. also have research exp. and several published papers with first authorships.

[Helpplease123]

I had this problem too...especially as I graduated in 2007 (from my bachelors, now applying for masters). My old dissertation tutor doesn't answer emails and the best the school could do was offer was a generic recommendation saying i'd been there and what I got...except my transcript already does that, so not exactly any use! I am taking some classes with berkeley extension online and although it's far from ideal, one of my professors there is writing me recommendations...i'm not sure if you have time to start a course and get enough of the work done for them to write a somewhat meaningful reference but i'm under the impression that colleague recommendations are not accepted.

[finknottle]

also have research exp. and several published papers with first authorships.

I'm a bit surprised that in spite of this, you are having a hard time in finding recommenders. Was there someone advising/mentoring you during your research? Also, among the other co-authors in your publications, are there any researchers or professionals who are at a higher designation than you?

[BDav]

It's better than nothing. I know I am applying for an MFA, but basically everything writing oriented I've done on my own the last few years. The only relevant LoR I have is from my creative writing professor my senior year. The other two are just from jobs I've had since then because there is a three letter requirement.

The best LoR advice seems to be useless unless you get it maybe even a year before applying. Take some kind of class or volunteer or anything with people who will be good recommenders. Otherwise you will end up having to you use co-workers because you can't find anyone else.