LOR from non-Major of Intended Study

[AdornoGray]

I went to a small liberal arts college where my double major was a bit lopsided. My intended area of study (German) had only 1 full-time professor at the time I was there. That professor is writing a LOR. 

 

My other two LORs are coming from my other major - an academic advisor and another close professor. Is it ok that I don't have three from German? Any experience with this?

[avflinsch]

It should be OK - if there was only one full time professor in your department, then that is all you can do.

In my case, there was no single professor in my major that I had taken more than one course with - the only person that I had taken more than one class with was in my minor - which was totally unrelated to my major. What I ended up with was one letter from a full time professor in my major, and 2 from adjuncts with other full time positions in the university, one of which I also worked with on a professional level. The application required at least 2 LORs, and no more than 3 to be submitted, but the prof in my minor that I had taken multiple classes with sent in an additional letter separate from the app, once he found out that I was applying to a grad program.

one idea - if there is a section on the application to write any notes/comments, you might want to explain the situation.

Personally, if I were on the admissions committee, I would take it as a good sign that folks in other departments thought highly of you.

[MathCat]

If there was only one German professor, there's not really anything you can do about it. Focus on things you can improve instead.

[AdornoGray]

Thanks AVFlinsch and MathCat. I've asked my other major professors to talk about the skills I have gotten in their major that are universal in grad research. You guys put my mind to rest. 

[drownsoda]

I don't think it's a huge problem, especially if you had no other options. I actually sought out a recommendation from one professor outside my field on purpose, because I wanted to include a more objective input in my application (i.e. from someone outside my field of study).

 

My other two recommenders were within my field of study— one a professor of mine, and the other the head of a community college writing center who supervised my internship there— but I feel confident about my choices of recommenders.