Should this negative thing go in my Statement of Purpose?

[Helixxenos]

Hello all,

 

I am currently working on my statement of purpose for graduate school (applying for sociology). I am unsure if I should include a peace of information as it sort of makes me look bad. However, including it might be necessary as my application may seem to be missing something without it.

 

Sorry for the long explanation but I need to put it in context...I am published on a research paper. I was working for a professor (employed in his lab) in a separate field (human-computer interaction). Things went south between my boss and I because he decided not to pay me for work I did (I received hourly wages). I threatened legal action and got the president of my university involved which ended with me being paid but also resulted In a poor relationship between this prof and myself. In my statement of purpose I have a section where I discuss this issue to explain why I don't have a letter of recommendation from the professor whom I worked for and am published with. I spin the conflict to say that I stand by my ethics/ morals and can stand up for myself.

 

I'm just not sure if people reviewing my application will expect to see a letter of recommendation from this professor if I don't explain why I don't have one. Also, I do have other profs who have agreed to write me letters (I will have 3 letters).

 

I will elaborate if my explanation is not clear.

 

Thanks for any advice y'all can provide!

  

[ss2player]

I wouldn't bother; it only highlights negative things and could send the wrong signals to someone reading your app (complaining, combativeness...even though you were totally in the right!).

 

I'd make sure to tout your success in that lab, highlight the publication that came from it, and that way they won't even miss the letter. Best of luck!

[TakeruK]

I don't think this should go in your SOP. 

 

If you have 3 strong letters anyways, then you don't even need to mention it! But if you really feel the need to discuss this, I would put it in a separate section from anything else. Almost all applications I entered had a final page where you can enter any additional notes or special circumstances. You can just simply state that you did not ask for a LOR from this professor due to an employment dispute that was resolved in your favour. Provide only as much details as necessary and you don't have to defend yourself or spin it in a good way. The fact that you won the dispute meant that you were in the right. In addition, this was an employment related dispute, not an academic one, so it should not have a negative effect on your application. (Although there are often differences between what "should" happen and what actually happens in practice!)

[Helixxenos]

Thanks for your responses.