LOR when you have been out of academia for many years

[Jennszoo]

I graduated with my BBA in 1996. I have also been out of FT work (caring for children) for 4+ yrs. I will be getting LORs from my old boss, 2 of the organizations I have volunteered/worked PT for and one of my sons teachers (he is special needs and the degree program I am applying for is related). I just cannot think of anyone at my old Univ that would know me enough to write a LOR after all this time. Is anyone else in the same boat with no academic LORs? Will it kill my app dead?

Edited November 2, 2009 by Jennszoo

[pea-jay]

I graduated with my BBA in 1996. I have also been out of FT work (caring for children) for 4+ yrs. I will be getting LORs from my old boss, 2 of the organizations I have volunteered/worked PT for and one of my sons teachers (he is special needs and the degree program I am applying for is related). I just cannot think of anyone at my old Univ that would know me enough to write a LOR after all this time. Is anyone else in the same boat with no academic LORs? Will it kill my app dead?

I would imagine it would depend on the program's requirements and competitiveness but no it shouldnt kill your app dead. I got my BA in 96 as well and had minor amounts of grad courses there after. I am not using any academic references, just professional. Two were former bosses and a third from a politician I was the assistant campaign manager (unpaid) for. I would prioritize the LORs on the "bang" they will provide. A boss in the field you are applying to will go a long way. Finally you can address this issue indirectly in your statement of purpose

[kiripin]

Can you take a class or two before you apply? I'm not sure if any of my undergrad professors will remember me, and I'm switching fields anyway (BA in English, pursuing a design degree). My boss is willing to write one, and I'll also be asking the professor of an extension class I took earlier this year and an internship supervisor in a design-related field.

[UnlikelyGrad]

I graduated with my BBA in 1996. I have also been out of FT work (caring for children) for 4+ yrs. I will be getting LORs from my old boss, 2 of the organizations I have volunteered/worked PT for and one of my sons teachers (he is special needs and the degree program I am applying for is related). I just cannot think of anyone at my old Univ that would know me enough to write a LOR after all this time. Is anyone else in the same boat with no academic LORs? Will it kill my app dead?

I got one of my old professors to write a LoR for me last year. Mind you, I graduated in 1993 so it was a wonder that he remembered me at all. In retrospect, he wasn't the greatest person to ask--he could only say that I got good grades in his class. I doubt he remembered much of my personality.

For my other two LoRs I took classes at a local state university. Yes, it cost me money and time but it was worth it. I think I got great LoRs this way. (Plus, I enjoyed the classes I took.)

If I had to re-do my apps I would take classes for two of my LoRs and then have the supervisor from one of my volunteer positions write the other. (I was a volunteer, but I worked for a city department--in a field unrelated to the one I'm now studying, of course, but my supervisor was definitely well known & well connected in her field.)