who can a non-trad ask for LORs from?

[PizzaButt]

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I'm kind of stressing about this. I'm a non-trad who has been out of undergrad for nearly 8 years. So far, I have one LOR for sure--my RA supervisor, who is a PhD psychologist.

However, I have no idea about the rest. Are there usually 3 LORs? I took my psych pre-reqs at CC so that's probably out, and my undergrad profs don't remember me I'm sure (and I wasn't a psych major).

I could get a LOR from my last employer, I guess.

I feel really concerned that I won't have good letters at all.

Please help. 😱

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Great question...I don't have a great answer for you right now, let me think about it for a bit.

-t

 

[JockNerd]

I'm kind of stressing about this. I'm a non-trad who has been out of undergrad for nearly 8 years. So far, I have one LOR for sure--my RA supervisor, who is a PhD psychologist.

However, I have no idea about the rest. Are there usually 3 LORs? I took my psych pre-reqs at CC so that's probably out, and my undergrad profs don't remember me I'm sure (and I wasn't a psych major).

I could get a LOR from my last employer, I guess.

I feel really concerned that I won't have good letters at all.

Please help. 😱

I know that this is something that a LOT of students struggle with. It's really really hard to cultivate the sort of relationships you need to have in the short time you're in undergrad. I had never thought what it would be like for someone OUT of UG for several years!

Your RA supervisor is definitely someone you want a letter from. Are none of your CC lecturers PhDs?

Work sounds like a reasonable place to get a letter from if you've been out of school for a while. Your employer would be able to better speak about your time management, organizational skills, and aspirations than a work reference from someone in undergrad, I think. I'd really suggest that you be pretty specific about what you want that person to cover in the letter. If they can talk about pertinent things, you can certainly make a work reference work for you (T4C likes to talk about making sure you "sell" things in the right way!)

Many students in my class had their thesis adviser, their favorite prof, and then 1 "filler." Some of them had to use out honours seminar instructor, who they would have known for all of three months 🙂

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

(T4C likes to talk about making sure you "sell" things in the right way!)

I'm associated with "selling yourself"...uhm.......😆

It is true though, because I've seen/met/interviewed so many people who were probably very qualified at whatever they do, but I wouldn't know that because they couldn't present it in a fashion that let me know they were the right person for the position.

-t

 

[socialcog]

I'm in a similar situation. I have been out of undergrad for 14 years; out of graduate school (Masters) for 11. I have lost contact with my professors as I never anticipated returning to graduate study at the PhD level. However I have worked in a variety of professional settings. I spent 6 years in a hospital setting. I am having the Behavioral Health Medical Director write me a letter. While in private practice the past 7 years, I have many psychologists that I am in close collaboration with and who know the me very well, both personally and the quality of service I provide. I have a strong recommender in this arena. Lastly, I have spent the better part of a year as an RA in a neuroscience/psychology lab. That professor will also write me one. So, as non-conventional as I am as a prospect, my LORs are equally non-conventional--but they will have to do.

I suppose get in touch with those who know you well so they can convey in the letters your strongest characteristics that would contribute to a successful academic experience.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

....I have worked in a variety of professional settings. I spent 6 years in a hospital setting. I am having the Behavioral Health Medical Director write me a letter. While in private practice the past 7 years, I have many psychologists that I am in close collaboration with and who know the me very well, both personally and the quality of service I provide. I have a strong recommender in this arena. Lastly, I have spent the better part of a year as an RA in a neuroscience/psychology lab. That professor will also write me one. So, as non-conventional as I am as a prospect, my LORs are equally non-conventional--but they will have to do.

You should be in good shape.

The purpose of LORs is to have a professional in the field, who has gone through the training/rigors of grad school, speak to your ability to be successful in a doctoral program. Having one letter from a non-doctoral level person isn't a kiss of death, because they can speak to other qualities and skills you possess that will contribute to a successful path in graduate school, but you want at least two from doctoral level professionals....because they will carry the most weight.

-t

 

[jdawgg]

I was in a similar situation to yourself (a non-trad applicant) and was out of undergrad for over five years. I had to obtain two of four required LORs and had no where to turn, so ended up taking a leap of faith and contacted some of my previous professors. Surprisingly, some of them actually remembered me. I live in the same area geographically so was able to meet face-to-face to better fill them in on my plans, which proved helpful.

If you're planning to take this route, I'd recommend laying everything out on the table in an email... stating that you know that it's been a very long time, but that you really had no previous intention of going to graduate school and have found yourself in a difficult situation needing these recommendations. They'll no doubt be asking themselves "why doesn't this person have other better sources of references?" so I'd be as honest as possible without sounding totally desperate. You may be surprised by how much they want to help you out.

Ultimately, they'll want to have your personal statement, test scores, transcript, and want to know what you've been up to for the past eight years so I would at least try to arrange a phone conversation if they're up for that. I'd also consider emailing a picture of yourself as it will hopefully help facilitate fond recollections. 😉 Hope this helps.

 

[PizzaButt]

Thanks for your responses.

Which would be better, do you think: several LORs from employers (which would be excellent LORs) or several LORs from previous professors (8 years ago, might not remember me, some of them may no longer even be at the school).

I have one great rec from my RA PhD supervisor that I can get, but I'm not sure whether it would be better to ask for employer LORs, previous prof LORs, or a mix of the two?

Also, I'm taking some pre-reqs at CC, should I ask one of those profs? They are all PhDs, but since CC isn't as rigourous as most 4-year schools, we mainly have multiple choice tests--so can they really evaluate much based on those?

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

jdawgg had some great advice about contacting old profs and letting them know your situation, etc. It would be helpful if you enjoyed their class, and could speak to something like that.

There are always a handful of non-trads who go through this, so I'm sure you won't be the first nor last.

-t

 

[danzgymn86]

Also, I'm taking some pre-reqs at CC, should I ask one of those profs? They are all PhDs, but since CC isn't as rigourous as most 4-year schools, we mainly have multiple choice tests--so can they really evaluate much based on those?

No, but they can assess your class participation. Profs will be more willing (I think) to write a letter if you had participated and shown interest in their class. It would also help them remember you. That way, they would have some basis to evaluate you on rather than "Oh yeah, the kid who sat in front and got an A" because I am sure there are a lot of those!