Don't really have anyone to ask for LORs .. :/

[ahmadka]

Hi guys .. So I have question that I can't seem to find an answer to .. I don't really have anyone who knows me that well in recent years, who I can ask for a letter of recommendation ..

 

I did my Bachelors in Comp Engg in 2004 - 2008 .. In 2008 I also applied for MS in Comp Engg through Fulbright. Because I was very in touch with my Undergrad instructors at the time, I asked 3 of them to write LORs for me. Between 2009 - 2011, I did my Masters in Comp Engg from Georgia Tech.

 

Since May 2011, I've been working as a Software Engineer, but the problem is that I don't really have an close by 'boss' who I can ask for an LOR. I do have some senior supervisors but they're all in different locations and I feel I don't know them on a personal level.

 

Also, during my MS in Comp Engg, I chose to not do any research, and thus I don't have much of a connection with any prof there too.

 

So who do I ask for writing my LORs ?

[GeoDUDE!]

Only you know who knows you best.... if your professional and academic contacts don't know you well its still better to get letters from them than people who aren't in the field.  

[ahmadka]

Well, I'm just afraid that its gonna mess up my chances big time because everyone says LORs are very important .. :/

 

Suppose if I contacted any of my instructors from Georgia Tech and asked them to write an LOR for me, what they do it ? Also, do people normally do this for instructors whose course they just took ?

[bsharpe269]

Well, I'm just afraid that its gonna mess up my chances big time because everyone says LORs are very important .. :/

 

Suppose if I contacted any of my instructors from Georgia Tech and asked them to write an LOR for me, what they do it ? Also, do people normally do this for instructors whose course they just took ?

 

I think that depends on how well you knew them. DId you skip class alot and do the minimum or actively participate, talk to them outside of class, and make good grades? You could also ask your undergrad professors. Maybe one of them, one masters professor, and one current supervisor? It sounds like you will get average letters which will not kill an application but just means that your other application materials need to stand out since those will not.

[ahmadka]

I think that depends on how well you knew them. DId you skip class alot and do the minimum or actively participate, talk to them outside of class, and make good grades? You could also ask your undergrad professors. Maybe one of them, one masters professor, and one current supervisor? It sounds like you will get average letters which will not kill an application but just means that your other application materials need to stand out since those will not.

 

Actually, getting the letters done from my Undergrad instructors will be a lot easier for me because I'm in the same locality .. So I can go meet them, catch up on old times to get the ball rolling, etc ... But if I ask my undergrad instructors, the university people might wonder why I'm sending in LORs from profs who taught me 6-8 years ago, and not someone from more recent times ..

 

However I like the suggestion that I send one from my undergrad, one from masters, and one from my current supervisor .. Seems balanced, but yeah it probably won't be super awesome ..

 

Regarding my Masters, I got a CGPA of 3.77 .. So I actually got quite a bunch of A's, etc ... I almost never missed class, but I wasn't the most talkative person in the classes .. Besides, I think it would be hard for a Tech prof to recall me personally when he deals with hundreds of students every year ..

[bsharpe269]

Actually, getting the letters done from my Undergrad instructors will be a lot easier for me because I'm in the same locality .. So I can go meet them, catch up on old times to get the ball rolling, etc ... But if I ask my undergrad instructors, the university people might wonder why I'm sending in LORs from profs who taught me 6-8 years ago, and not someone from more recent times ..

 

However I like the suggestion that I send one from my undergrad, one from masters, and one from my current supervisor .. Seems balanced, but yeah it probably won't be super awesome ..

 

Regarding my Masters, I got a CGPA of 3.77 .. So I actually got quite a bunch of A's, etc ... I almost never missed class, but I wasn't the most talkative person in the classes .. Besides, I think it would be hard for a Tech prof to recall me personally when he deals with hundreds of students every year ..

 

I think you will be fine... if your undergrad letters will be more detailed and personalized then I don't see why getting a couple from there would be a problem at all. If I were in your shoes then I would get at least 1 from MS or a more recent supervisor so it is clear that recent people still think or highly of you. If you get a couple letters from undergrad professors though and then 1 from more recent then then I would just be prepared to be asked about it at interviews. If you have a good reason (like maybe you worked while completing your masters so didnt get to know those professors as well as your undergrad ones or something?) then I don't think it would hurt you.

[ahmadka]

Well, even getting in touch with my undergrad instructors at this stage may take some warming up as it has been a while .. But lets see

 

So maybe I can (try to) get two done from my undergrad ... Regarding the remaining one, which do you think will hold more importance: One from a Tech professor whose course I might have taken ? Or my job supervisor ? Assume both are equally hard to get an LOR from ..

 

Secondly, since these days all applications are online, what if I'm applying to multiple universities and want even writer to send their LOR to multiple places .. Isn't there any easier way to do this ? Otherwise they'll get frustrated if I asked them to write a letter for 4-5 universities ..

[mikeb32123]

I have some similar concerns here. My interest is in pursuing a History PhD. I got my undergrad in Business Management, back in Summer 2010. And I didn't form any particularly close relationships with faculty at the time. I'm currently working in IT sales. Add it all up, and I'm not sure where I might get any halfway-decent letters of recommendation.

[Vene]

I don't think undergrad professors would be a problem, at least as long as you don't get letters exclusively from them.

[GeoDUDE!]

My LOR: 2 ugrad professors and my masters advisor. 

[bsharpe269]

Secondly, since these days all applications are online, what if I'm applying to multiple universities and want even writer to send their LOR to multiple places .. Isn't there any easier way to do this ? Otherwise they'll get frustrated if I asked them to write a letter for 4-5 universities ..

 

This is normal. I'll be applying to 11 schools this fall and asked my PI if i would annoy professors to request 11 letters from each. He said that it isnt a big deal at all but if you are applying to alot of schools then plenty of time should be given and you should be organized from the beginning. He said that I could do something like create an excell document with the schools along with due dates and requirements and give this to the professors early (like September).

[CageFree]

I graduated from college in 2000, and applied for the 2012-2013 season after spending many years in the workplace. Two of my letters came from undergrad professors... since I'd worked with them on a thesis they remembered me and wrote me really great letters (or so I have been told), even though it'd been a long time. 

 

If any of your MS profs could possibly write one it'd be great. That would carry more weight than a letter from industry. But your undergrad was not that long ago... I don't think it's a problem. 

[ahmadka]

Thanks guys ! So I'll definitely try to get at least one done from my ugrad profs.

 

So which is better:

 

A: 2 from ugrad profs, one from masters prof or from job supervisor/boss

B: one from all 3 levels

 

Considering that this is an academic setting, I'm wondering which combination will seem better ..

 

 

My LOR: 2 ugrad professors and my masters advisor. 

 

Was your masters advisor your academic advisor (normally the graduate head of your department) or your research advisor (in case you did a thesis in your masters) ?

 

Also, since you've already done a Masters, you're doing doing a PhD or something else ?

 

This is normal. I'll be applying to 11 schools this fall and asked my PI if i would annoy professors to request 11 letters from each. He said that it isnt a big deal at all but if you are applying to alot of schools then plenty of time should be given and you should be organized from the beginning. He said that I could do something like create an excell document with the schools along with due dates and requirements and give this to the professors early (like September).

 

So will your professors send in the same LOR to all 11 institutions or will they write 11 separate LORs for you ?

 

I graduated from college in 2000, and applied for the 2012-2013 season after spending many years in the workplace. Two of my letters came from undergrad professors... since I'd worked with them on a thesis they remembered me and wrote me really great letters (or so I have been told), even though it'd been a long time. 

 

If any of your MS profs could possibly write one it'd be great. That would carry more weight than a letter from industry. But your undergrad was not that long ago... I don't think it's a problem. 

 

Yeah I guess that puts it into perspective then, thanks !

[Vene]

Thanks guys ! So I'll definitely try to get at least one done from my ugrad profs.

 

So which is better:

 

A: 2 from ugrad profs, one from masters prof or from job supervisor/boss

B: one from all 3 levels

 

Considering that this is an academic setting, I'm wondering which combination will seem better ..

Pick who will give you the strongest letters, both combinations are good ones assuming that your job is related to your field of study.

 

So will your professors send in the same LOR to all 11 institutions or will they write 11 separate LORs for you ?

 

 

Yeah I guess that puts it into perspective then, thanks !

Generally it's the same letter, or at least the same template where they switch the name of the school for each program.