Letters of Rec--Help!

[amayoub]

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I'm trying to start applications for MSW programs and having a minor panic attack wondering who to get these letters from.

1. What types of recommendations do MSW programs typically look for? i.e. professional, academic, etc.

2. I worked in a lab my sophomore year and am pretty confident that my supervisor for that would write me one. Other than that, my social work interest is a relatively new development and I'm not sure who to get letters from...

I had a job in a lab last year, for two semesters, but it was a biology lab just doing lab assistant stuff...I'm not sure if that would be useless, or if it wouldn't matter since its work experience.

I just started a job at a community center with at-risk kids, which I think would be a perfect letter, but I JUST started there in September..and feel that it would be pushy to ask for a letter for December deadlines.

As for an academic recommendation, I had a Spanish professor for two semesters that I could potentially ask, but I am nervous that this is irrelevant. Would it be better to ask for a letter from a Psych professor that I don't have a personal relationship with? Or the Spanish reference?

I also just started in a new research lab, and again, feel as if it may be pushy to ask for a letter for December deadlines.

Any suggestions?

Any input would be greatly appreciated 🙂

 

[erg923]

I would just point out that no relationship=no letter. What would the person say? He/she sat in the desk on the far right and got an A? The letter A is on your transcript...

 

[amayoub]

So what do you think about the Spanish and work recs then? Better than a random professor in this case? How important is it to have the references from something social work or psych related?

 

[jdawgg]

You need at least one academic reference.

If you feel that this Spanish teacher has a good handle on your academic qualifications, abilities, critical thinking skills, etc. then I think it could be relevant. I'd definitely try to meet with the professor to explain your goals so he/she can craft a letter that speaks to these goals in light of your strengths. You may want to talk about how Spanish will help you in your future career as a social worker... he/she could comment to that to make the letter seem more relevant.

 

[pingouin]

quite honestly, if you're feeling rushed to get references that may not give you the best application possible, then it probably behooves you to slow down a bit and perhaps defer your application for a semester or a year until you *can* give yourself the best chance.

but maybe that's just me.

 

[sakat10]

You need at least one academic reference.

If you feel that this Spanish teacher has a good handle on your academic qualifications, abilities, critical thinking skills, etc. then I think it could be relevant. I'd definitely try to meet with the professor to explain your goals so he/she can craft a letter that speaks to these goals in light of your strengths. You may want to talk about how Spanish will help you in your future career as a social worker... he/she could comment to that to make the letter seem more relevant.

hi, does anyone know if an "academic" reference necessarily has to be a former professor? for instance, if you worked in an academic research setting and they can attest to your academic abilities, do you think that would suffice?

 

[amayoub]

Do you think its too forward to ask the job I'm at now for a potential reference? I have heard of some people asking if maybe in 6 weeks they may be willing to write a letter, after I have been there for a bit longer. I don't want anything to be awkward though, or to make it seem as if I got the job solely for a letter of reference (which I certainly did not 🙂)