A complicated LOR dilemma

[CHsoexcited]

Hello community!

 

I am in a bit of a complicated situation, that I'm hoping someone can shed some light on.

 

Following the usual trend, I don't have strong academic professionals to write my letter.

 

However, I do have one professor, that I would sit and listen to his lectures/forums and go to his office hours. We keep in touch and he has written a letter for me in the past though I am not sure how strong it was but I got in. 

 

The problem is I graduated in business, he is a sociology professor, I never took his courses, and I am interested in international development with a focus on women. I'm thinking of mentioning in my statement 'how a sociology aspect/human element was missing previously in my undergrad degree which drew me to his lectures." Since intl dev does have a sociology aspect. Is that a stretch?

 

I have strong professional recommendations, strong experience, and an ok GPA (3.2 GPA). I will take the GRE and will try to kill it, though it is not required for my schools. I would love to take classes now to get better recommendations but am abroad in a developing country. I've been out of school a little more than 3 years. 

 

Any suggestions, would be greatly appreciated. 

Edited June 6, 2014 by CHsoexcited

[MJA87]

We're in pretty similar situations in that we both have strong professional recommendations, strong experience, an ok GPA, and are yet to take the GRE. The difference being it sounds like you at least have a relationship with a professor where I have none; I basically have one shot to get an academic reference (a prof I took three classes with ~4 years ago) and he hasn't responded to my email in two weeks

 

As for your situation, I think the content of the letter you get will be much more important than your specific relationship with the professor. As long as he is able to intelligently speak to your work and abilities, I'm not sure that it matters that he teaches a different discipline than your major.