Recc. Letters - ack, help!

[MrFuznut]

Before I go on and beg for some advice, I thought I'd give a fast rundown of the situation I am in.

I majored in Anthropology as an undergrad, loved Archaeology, but became absolutely fascinated with contemporary history and the Middle East, and ended up getting an MA in History instead of continuing my Archaeology interests. I got the MA and continued for a year towards the PhD when I realized my interests were... waning, and I wasn't very happy in the department and school I was attending. In fact, I downright hated it. I was also flat broke, and a hospital visit without insurance led me to take on $12k+ in credit card bills.

So I fled. I moved to South Korea for a bit over 2 years to teach English, and was able to save up a decent chunk of cash and pay off all of my credit cards (God, what a FANTASTIC feeling that was!).

So, for a fast list-form of my studies, to make it easier:

2000-2003 BA Anthropology

2003-2005 MA History

2005-2006 Continuing study for PhD in History

2007-May 2009 Teaching in Korea

Now, I want to go back to grad school, but have something of a long-term plan in which to do it. I'm retaking my GRE in November, as the results will have lapsed by the time I apply. I shouldn't have any trouble hitting 1350+ on it. I'll be returning to Korea for about 18 months, and applying from there in Fall/Winter of 2010 for entry in 2011 (a ways away, I know, but like I said: long-term plan!) to several graduate programs.

So, here's my problem. I've been out of contact with most all of my professors all this time, and an extra year will make it even worse. One is dead, the Anthropology department where I got my BA was shuttered due to budget cuts, and the others I only had one class with, at most. So, letters of recommendation are going to be extremely difficult. I can get a letter of recommendation from one history professor (two if I'm REALLY lucky), but that's about it. The schools I'm interested in generally ask for three letters, ideally "from anthropologists."

I'm kind of lost as to what to do. Any advice out there? It's well ahead of time, but I'm already losing sleep over it.

Thanks in advance!

[KieBelle]

Some ideas...

1) What will you be doing while you're in Korea? Is there any way you could take anthropology classes while you're over there (even at the Korean equivalent of a community college) and get a LOR or two from your instructors?

2) Are there any anthropology organizations or associations you could get involved in while in Korea to beef up your anthro credentials? (and you could possibly get a LOR from someone higher up the chain of command there)

3) Or, failing that, you could get a LOR from your employer in Korea. Not ideal, but better than nothing.

4) Also, I would contact your old history professors now and let them know your plans and ask if they'd be willing to write letters for you next year. Have you saved any of your old work? If so, hang on to it and send them copies when it comes time for them to write the recs, that way they'll be reminded of what a fabulous student you were. :wink:

[MrFuznut]

I'll knock these suckers out in order.

1. I'll be teaching English (hey, teaching experience!). I absolutely can't take any anthropology classes thanks both to poor scheduling and cost. Also, some instruction is in Korean, and I speak just barely enough to order beer and buy cigarettes.

2. There's the Korean Anthropological Society, but they meet in early November, one month before I arrive, and too late for me to ham it up with members to "get in good" and ask for a LoR. Also, their interests are PURELY in Korean Archaeology. My interests lie... very far from that.

3. I can have my previous employer write a letter, sure. I can probably write it for him and he'd happily sign it, now that I think about it. We're pretty good friends.

4. This is a good idea. I'll contact anyone who may be willing to write a LoR for me, and gently poke and prod to see if they'd be willing to bang out a letter or... well, five or six. The only research I have is my MA Thesis, entitled Neoconservatism and Iraq, but that's got little or nothing to do with Anthropology. I can always attempt to write something else over the next 8 months, although gathering source materials from Korea would probably end up being an exercise in futility.

Thanks for your help!

[rogue]

So, here's my problem. I've been out of contact with most all of my professors all this time, and an extra year will make it even worse. One is dead, the Anthropology department where I got my BA was shuttered due to budget cuts, and the others I only had one class with, at most. So, letters of recommendation are going to be extremely difficult. I can get a letter of recommendation from one history professor (two if I'm REALLY lucky), but that's about it. The schools I'm interested in generally ask for three letters, ideally "from anthropologists."

Not all my recommenders are at the schools where they taught me. I had to track them down through the magic of the interwebs. Even though the department is no longer there, surely most of your profs (the ones who are alive and not retired) have found another gig somewhere. I bet you could find an anthropologist or two to write for you. Good luck.