Can I use a LOR from Clergy Member?

[takeabow]

---

Members do not see this ad.

So I've heard that you shouldn't use LORs from politicians or members of a clergy. If I did volunteering to teach ESL at a church and the person in charge was a member of a clergy, can I ask her for a LOR or is it still not preferred? (I only know her through the ESL program, not from going to church)

 

[aSagacious]

I'm not on an admissions committee, so take my advice with a pinch of salt, but I'd think that an LOR from a clergy member would be fine so long as (s)he stuck to your performance as an ESL teacher. No need to delve into religious philosophy in an LOR.

 

[juliedi]

I'm not on an admissions committee, so take my advice with a pinch of salt, but I'd think that an LOR from a clergy member would be fine so long as (s)he stuck to your performance as an ESL teacher. No need to delve into religious philosophy in an LOR.

This is just what I was going to say. Again, not on an adcom, but I think it would be fine.

 

[Lil Mick]

I had one for my application (went to a religious college), and it didn't seem to hurt my chances. I think they just want the person to write about your potential as a doctor/student/volunteer, rather than trying to write a generic applying to college sort of letter (like what priests are used to writing for students).

 

[takeabow]

Thanks for the responses...anyone else been in a similar situation?

 

[macsta]

I'm not on an admissions committee, so take my advice with a pinch of salt, but I'd think that an LOR from a clergy member would be fine so long as (s)he stuck to your performance as an ESL teacher. No need to delve into religious philosophy in an LOR.

ya mon.

You won't get a lot of responses on this one because most people don't get LORs from religious institutions.

 

[LizzyM]

If a school asks for a LOR beyond the 2 science/1 non-science faculty, then what you've proposed would be fine.

The risk you run is that directors of volunteer services aren't always aware of the type of LOR that will be most helpful. Some give "just the facts" regarding the start & end dates of your service, total number of hours and "job description". Others may include both strengths and weaknesses whereas most LORs these days don't include weaknesses (I suspect that people have them but they aren't included in the letters anymore).

I haven't seen/heard overt bias on the part of adcoms against LORs from members of the clergy (I can even think of a pre-med committee headed by a physician-priest) but you should strongly consider whether you really need a LOR from a volunteer gig.