LORs Several Years Post-Undergrad

[ohiokim13]

Hello all! I am in the process of applying for an M.L.I.S. It will be a change in fields for me, though I've done work tangential to this field in the past (and currently). My undergrad majors were Poli Sci and Comm. My application is nearly complete, but I am having trouble determining who to ask for letters of recommendation. I graduated from undergrad over 11 years ago and have had only superficial contact with my professors since graduating. Additionally, even that superficial contact was five years ago or more. There are some professors who likely vaguely remember me, but likely none who remember my work in any great detail. Since graduating, I have only worked two places and, though I've had promotions at both places, have only had one supervisor at each, so only two supervisors total. The program I'm applying to requires three recommendations and doesn't require that any be academic, but does encourage it. I'm at a loss for who to ask for recommendations. Do I ask my current and former supervisors and try to re-establish contact with a former professor for the third? Do I try to contact more than one professor? Do I ask my current and former supervisors and a co-worker? The M.L.I.S. would likely be my terminal degree; my plan isn't to continue in academia and do PhD-level research. The same is true of many, probably even most, people who apply to this program. I'm not sure if that makes a difference. I would appreciate any recommendations on whom I should contact for LORs. Thank you!

[menge]

I was in a very similar situation when I decided to apply for grad school some years out of undergrad. When I e-mailed former professors I included what courses I had taken with them, the grades I received, notable term papers I wrote for them, and any other information that I felt might help job their memory of me. 3/4 professors remembered me and wrote me great letters of recommendation. The other professor declined, as he said he couldn't remember me well enough, but since I only needed three recommendations, it worked out fine. 

I suggest contacting a couple of your professors and seeing what happens. While using a supervisor can be OK for some disciplines, I think it would be better to exhaust your academic options first. 

[lovekilledinos]

I had a similar problem even though it's only been 4 years for me. I had one professor who knew me well enough to write a letter as we'd kept in sporadic contact since I graduated. I asked my department about non-academic references which they were also cool with, so I asked my supervisor at work to write me one. Since I worked in a restaurant (something not even remotely related to my field) I knew it wasn't going to be related to my skills as a student or researcher. What ended up happening though, was that I wrote the letter and had my supervisor sign it. I focused on my work related skills, my communication, and my ability to learn new things, something I wasn't sure my professor would include in her own. I figured it'd be the best way to present myself as a well rounded individual. Anyway, that's an option! Good luck. 

[ohiokim13]

Thank you for the replies! I am gathering some of my undergraduate papers now and emailing three professors. I am also going to ask my current and former supervisors, but I am going to wait until I hear back from the professors first. Thanks again! 

[avflinsch]

4 hours ago, ohiokim13 said:

Thank you for the replies! I am gathering some of my undergraduate papers now and emailing three professors. I am also going to ask my current and former supervisors, but I am going to wait until I hear back from the professors first. Thanks again! 

This is probably your best bet. Get at least one academic recommendation (2 might be better), and one of the professional recommendations. The MLIS is mostly a professional degree, not an academic one, so having at least one letter from a current or former work supervisor is a good idea.