Recommenders... what if they're no longer professors?

[ConsultantMD]

So I've been out of school just for 4 years now, and one of my favorite professors left to go abroad a couple years ago and currently isn't teaching.

I asked for a recommendation and she is still willing to give one, but feels that she is not going to be the best since it was awhile ago, and because she now is no longer at my university.

We worked extensively on a grant proposal, and I took several classes with her, so I'm torn because she blunty said that she wasn't sure how helpful she'd be given her situation. She did say that this didn't reflect her thoughts on medical school candidacy, but that she knew I had probably had other great recommenders as well.

That said, I do have several potential recommenders who taught me in class this past year, but I'm not as close with them, so I'm really at a standstill because I was aiming for 2 professors.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this in particular? Thanks in advance.

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[VolunteerMoose]

wouldnt you need the letter on formal letterhead? is that someting she can do? if yes, then go ahead. if not, then go to plan B.

 

[ConsultantMD]

Yeah she can't so that I guess is a problem. Seems pretty weak that just because a prof isn't teaching anymore doesn't mean they can't recommend you. Oh well!

 

[QofQuimica]

Yeah she can't so that I guess is a problem. Seems pretty weak that just because a prof isn't teaching anymore doesn't mean they can't recommend you. Oh well!

She can still write you a character letter, but I wouldn't count her letter as a prof letter if she's no longer a prof.

 

[QofQuimica]

I actually disagree with that. A letter from a retired professor who you have worked with extensively and you are still in contact with can be strong and acceptable as a science prof. Professorships, if tenured are for life and if they retired they simply note "professor emeritus ." Some profs continue with their research or writing or whatever else in retirement. It would be perfectly legal that a retired professor write on his/her former school letterhead as they were associated with that institution and by tradition remain so in retirement.

A retired professor can say "I strongly recommend so and so as he/she is one of the few students who have kept abreast of his/her progress while in retirement. Even from afar I can see him/her having a strong pattern of motivation and commitment towards medicine."

I agree with you, but this doesn't sound like the scenario the OP was describing. Based on what the OP said, I got the impression that the prof left under less than ideal circumstances (i.e., not on a sabbatical or with emeritus status). We obviously don't know what "her situation" is. But particularly if she was terminated by the university, failed to receive tenure, or otherwise left with bad blood on either side, it probably is not wise to use her as an academic reference. And since the ex-prof herself is concerned about her fitness as an academic recommender, that in and of itself is probably reason enough not to use her as one.

 

[ConsultantMD]

Right, I mean she left to move with her husband's work, so she wasn't asked to leave or anything, it's just that she moved to a totally new country, and hasn't gotten back into teaching. I guess I will go with her gut and pick someone else, I just feel like they will be so less personal. It just seems like this is a technicality that is kind of undeserved in this circumstance.

 

[Indianarn]

So I've been out of school just for 4 years now, and one of my favorite professors left to go abroad a couple years ago and currently isn't teaching.

I asked for a recommendation and she is still willing to give one, but feels that she is not going to be the best since it was awhile ago, and because she now is no longer at my university.

We worked extensively on a grant proposal, and I took several classes with her, so I'm torn because she blunty said that she wasn't sure how helpful she'd be given her situation. She did say that this didn't reflect her thoughts on medical school candidacy, but that she knew I had probably had other great recommenders as well.

That said, I do have several potential recommenders who taught me in class this past year, but I'm not as close with them, so I'm really at a standstill because I was aiming for 2 professors.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this in particular? Thanks in advance.

I can tell you from experience that I was out of school for 9 years and my biology teacher had left and now is working for CDC. I tracked here and she was kind to give me a LOR that was accepted by every school. I got some IIs and got 2 acceptances. Hope this helps. Good luck.