Graduate School Letter of Recommendation

[Lydia]

Ok....maybe some of you out there have come across this issue. Some schools want a Letter of Recommendation (LOR) from an educational source (i.e. faculty). Since my past year's worth of schooling has been testing out, how do I go about accomplishing this? In the past I had many professors who thought highy of me..but that was soooo long ago.

Any advice?

[Ronny]

Forgery. j/k

Perhaps email your old professors, or do you have any friends in education?

[Lydia]

Originally Posted by Ronny

Forgery. j/k

Perhaps email your old professors, or do you have any friends in education?

It just seems so akwards.....like, "Hey there remember me from your 2005 online class?..of course you do, I was 1 in several hundred of your students that year...."

[gcalvin]

2005 is not long ago at all. Absolutely you should approach them. Remind them who you are, what class you took, why you picked them out to ask for a LOR, and maybe what they had said about you at the time. You may be surprised how well they remember, and they probably have notes archived from the class anyway. Even if it were twenty years ago, it wouldn't be out of line -- three years is nothing.

I'd be in a tougher position -- I've only taken one online course, and although I got a B, I was half a slacker, and I'm pretty sure the professor knows it. I'd have to take an indirect route and find someone on a college faculty through social contacts.

-Gary-

[Ronny]

Originally Posted by loredia

It just seems so akwards.....like, "Hey there remember me from your 2005 online class?..of course you do, I was 1 in several hundred of your students that year...."

I have often felt awkward asking to close a sale, but it's a job that has to be done. The worst thing they can say is no, but if you never ask you lose an opportunity you can never have back.

[ali4nia]

Just be honest with them, say that you need those recommendation Letters to ''access a higher level of education'' (teachers love that ) and remember most likely those teachers were somehow in your situation back then so dont worry , if you had a good grade on that topic make a quick reference to that(stay modest and humble) otherwise emphisize the fact that you were motivated about learning and also improving your knowledge in that particular subject, dont bs them too much play the honesty card you would be surprised how many letters I got this way (regardless of the grade ) good luck

[twosidneys]

My problem is a little different. I have several degrees, including graduate degrees. I decided this year to take another masters degree. It has no practical advantage to me - just to learn more. As I wrote the university, at age 62, most of my former professors are dead!

I am a school principal (director of an international school) so I suggested academic superiors and colleagues instead. I also submitted letters of references over the years. They accepted these and two days ago I received my acceptance into a new masters program.

In case you are wondering, I'm here primarily because my two youngest children are testing out. I did test out back in 1988 by taking 3 GRE Subject exams and I received a B.S. in Liberal Studies from Excelsior College.

Sidney