Unresponsive Prof and Can I Ask a Respected Adjunct?

[midnight]

Hi, everyone.

I graduated back in 2008, and at the time a professor and I had a rather casual agreement that she would write a grad rec for me when I needed one.

I emailed her nearly two weeks ago with no response. She's teaching one course this semester, so I know she's reading her school email and is on campus.

I had a great relationship with this prof--she gave me a few A+ papers in the two classes I took with her, and she suggested that I apply to my school's honors English program.

So what gives? And what do I do next? I live far from campus, and this type of awkward situation stresses me out. Should I email again, send a letter to her, or try to call her during office hours?

Also if I can't get to her or she refuses to write a letter (though I can't imagine why considering our history), is a letter from a long-time, respected adjunct OK? I received an A+ in his class, a 300-level media criticism course. (This was not an easy class; it consisted of grad-level readings and analyses.) However, as I said, he's an adjunct, and he's also not an instructor in my major. (Luckily I do already have three solids recs lined up from profs in my major. One of the schools I'm applying to requires four recs.)

Ugh, sorry, this is getting a bit tl;dr, but I need some advice.

Thanks!

Edited October 24, 2012 by midnight streetlight

[rkg2012]

I would write a follow up email. One of my profs (who I was reasonably close to) just completely forgot to respond to me because there wasn't a rush at the time and he had other important things on his plate. He was very apologetic when I emailed him again, but I spent several weeks unnecessarily agonizing over what the silence meant first. Chances are 10:1 that you're over-thinking things.

Adjuncts aren't ideal, but if it's only for one fourth recommendation and the person is well known/respected, I can't imagine that it would be damaging to your app.

[midnight]

Thanks, rkg.

I'll just shoot her another email and if that goes without a response, I may try to call her during office hours.

[fuzzylogician]

Agreed. Follow up and get a definitive answer, instead of spending time interpreting the silence.

Re: the adjunct, does he have a PhD? Does he publish, or otherwise recognizable in his field or searchable on the internet? Or, since your program is maybe more professional-oriented than research-oriented, can he comment on relevant skills in any way? If the answer to these questions is yes, then you could probably get a meaningful letter from this person. Otherwise, I fear it may just be a "did well in class" which is much less helpful.

[midnight]

Thanks, fuzzy. I really appreciate your response.

This is where the grad school admissions game gets to me: I'm sure the instructor I had for media criticism could comment on any of my potentially relevant skills as I was definitely a standout in his class and a memorable student. However, doesn't that essentially boil down to "she did well in class"? The course was a standard lecture and discussion; there were no opportunities to make it more than that, really, even for the students in the major--but I don't wholly understand why that's so terrible from an adcom perspective? (And to be perfectly honest, the prof from my discipline whose reply I'm awaiting can really only say the same thing about me. I was an English lit major, and there wasn't much more to it than attend class, participate, write thoughtful papers, and do well on the final. And I did that in spades.)

And, while this is a bit tangential, I think I may be confused as to what professional grad programs like SLP are looking for in out-of-field applicants. It seems like a catch-22.

Edited October 26, 2012 by midnight streetlight

[fuzzylogician]

And, while this is a bit tangential, I think I may be confused as to what professional grad programs like SLP are looking for in out-of-field applicants. It seems like a catch-22.

Unfortunately I don't really know much about what professional program look for. In there is any analogy to be made, research-oriented program look for applicants who are likely to (1) finish the program in time, and (2) succeed in making a meaningful contribution to the field before graduating. That is, students who are well-prepared, have a good understanding of the task ahead, can demonstrate that they've thought their decision through and know it's right for them, and have a clear understanding of what open questions exist in their field. You do these things by engaging in a concise but well-thought-out discussion of a question or potential project that you are interested in, hopefully thereby demonstrating that you understand what chunk project you can bite off and what is interesting in your field today.

For professional programs the considerations are probably different. If you get funded then the question remains of whether you're a serious applicant who knows what they're getting into and are able to get through the program in a reasonable pace. Even if not, there will be a question of whether you understand the field and have a vision of the career you'll have after you graduate. And there is the question of "fit", which I assume also applies. You want to show that the program you chose has the tools to prepare you for the career you chose - that is, has scholar or specialists in your area, has relevant internships or other opportunities, and so forth.

[midnight]

For professional programs the considerations are probably different. If you get funded then the question remains of whether you're a serious applicant who knows what they're getting into and are able to get through the program in a reasonable pace. Even if not, there will be a question of whether you understand the field and have a vision of the career you'll have after you graduate. And there is the question of "fit", which I assume also applies. You want to show that the program you chose has the tools to prepare you for the career you chose - that is, has scholar or specialists in your area, has relevant internships or other opportunities, and so forth.

Yes, that's been my understanding of the professional programs as well; it's good to see it underlined here.

I think my SOP does a good job of spelling out my professional aspirations, and it also demonstrates my (albeit limited) experience and personal interest in the field, so I hope that's enough to impress at least one school.

And in the end all I can do is apply and try again if it doesn't work out, but I truly don't know what I'd do without resources like Grad Cafe and Applying to Grad on LJ!

[octopussongs]

to reply to original post...

I just heard back from a prof. that agreed to write me a letter in 2008 as well....after two emails to her she finally emailed back and said she'd def. write one for me but she 'advised me find someone else' bc its been so long. I suppose 4 years is a long time...now im thinking I shouldn't have taken so much time off!

[midnight]

I finally heard back from the prof I was waiting on shortly after I sent a quick reminder email.

She apologized for taking so long to get back to me.

WHEW.

And octopussongs: Yeah, I feel like I took too much time off as well. I shouldn't have taken more than two years off, but I got sidetracked by some health and family issues.

Better late than never!

Edited October 31, 2012 by midnight streetlight

[midnight]

to reply to original post...

I just heard back from a prof. that agreed to write me a letter in 2008 as well....after two emails to her she finally emailed back and said she'd def. write one for me but she 'advised me find someone else' bc its been so long. I suppose 4 years is a long time...now im thinking I shouldn't have taken so much time off!

Oh, and four years is a while, but it's not ancient history.

I'm surprised she isn't willing to write an LOR for you. Can you send her old papers or any other reminders about the quality of your work?