Letters of recommendation for grown-ups
June 28, 2024 5:05 AM Subscribe
I'm a middle-aged person planning to go back to school for something completely unrelated to my current line of work. The program I'm applying for is competitive and asks for two letters of recommendation, preferably academic or professional. I've taken all my prerequisites online and haven't really been able to get to know my professors, and I'd prefer not to let my current coworkers know I'm planning to leave. What would you do? Who would you ask?
In addition to my regular job I also do a lot of high-level volunteer work with someone who works in the career I'm planning to transition to, so I'm hoping they will be wiling to write me a letter, which would be one down.
But for the second letter I don't know who to even ask. I can probably get one of my prereq professors to write something but they don't really know anything about me besides "got an A, didn't need help." Before I started taking prereqs this year I hadn't been in school for almost 20 years and a lot of the professors who would remember me from then are retired or dead.
As for professional contacts, I've worked at the same company for 10+ years and it's a small, very low-turnover place - hardly anyone who I've worked with closely has left during that time (and of those who've left, none of them are people I'd ask for a reference letter). I'm wary of asking my boss or a current coworker because depending on whether I get into my first-choice program, the time between when I need the letter and when I actually start school could be something like eight months (ideally it will only be three months).
But maybe I'm worrying too much about tipping off my employer - firstly, even if I were laid off or fired immediately (which I think is very unlikely given how I've seen other departures handled over the past decade) I have enough savings that I would be OK financially through this career change process (it wouldn't be my first choice but hey, I wouldn't hate having the time off!). Secondly, I'd actually like to keep working at my current job on a part-time basis while in school and I think there's a decent chance this would be permitted/welcomed, which might soften the blow (and again if they wanted me to switch to part time earlier than my school start date I would be OK financially and enjoy the extra time off).
So maybe I've just talked myself into asking my boss or a coworker for a letter of recommendation? I guess the absolute worst-case scenario is they refuse to write the letter AND I immediately get fired, but this seems wildly unlikely (and it would screw the company over worse than it would screw me over, frankly).
In addition to my regular job I also do a lot of high-level volunteer work with someone who works in the career I'm planning to transition to, so I'm hoping they will be wiling to write me a letter, which would be one down.
But for the second letter I don't know who to even ask. I can probably get one of my prereq professors to write something but they don't really know anything about me besides "got an A, didn't need help." Before I started taking prereqs this year I hadn't been in school for almost 20 years and a lot of the professors who would remember me from then are retired or dead.
As for professional contacts, I've worked at the same company for 10+ years and it's a small, very low-turnover place - hardly anyone who I've worked with closely has left during that time (and of those who've left, none of them are people I'd ask for a reference letter). I'm wary of asking my boss or a current coworker because depending on whether I get into my first-choice program, the time between when I need the letter and when I actually start school could be something like eight months (ideally it will only be three months).
But maybe I'm worrying too much about tipping off my employer - firstly, even if I were laid off or fired immediately (which I think is very unlikely given how I've seen other departures handled over the past decade) I have enough savings that I would be OK financially through this career change process (it wouldn't be my first choice but hey, I wouldn't hate having the time off!). Secondly, I'd actually like to keep working at my current job on a part-time basis while in school and I think there's a decent chance this would be permitted/welcomed, which might soften the blow (and again if they wanted me to switch to part time earlier than my school start date I would be OK financially and enjoy the extra time off).
So maybe I've just talked myself into asking my boss or a coworker for a letter of recommendation? I guess the absolute worst-case scenario is they refuse to write the letter AND I immediately get fired, but this seems wildly unlikely (and it would screw the company over worse than it would screw me over, frankly).
I wouldn't completely discount your online profs if you did excellent work and got high grades. This is a very routine ask for these sorts of people. If you just explain the situation and maybe jog their memory I bet that it could work out. Often they'll just ask you to write the letter yourself and then do some quick edits.
posted by Depressed Obese Nightmare Man at 5:36 AM on June 28 [9 favorites]
posted by Depressed Obese Nightmare Man at 5:36 AM on June 28 [9 favorites]
Seconding the recommendation to try and get a letter from one of your prereq instructors. In my experience, online instructors who don't have a lot of personal info about you are sometimes even willing to let you write your own letter for them to review and edit, as a way to include relevant detail.
posted by little mouth at 5:38 AM on June 28
posted by little mouth at 5:38 AM on June 28
Yes, your second letter needs to be from a professor anyway. One strategy is to get to know those professors. Go to their office hours. Ask for help/advice. See if there are research opportunities in the field you can be involved in.
posted by shadygrove at 6:27 AM on June 28
posted by shadygrove at 6:27 AM on June 28
I teach in an online program designed for working older students who are making career changes. I write recommendation letters all the time, and you would be surprised at how strong a letter I can write off of what may seem like fairly minimal contact. If you are a strong student, it stands out. If you interact with your peers with kindness in discussion boards and another assignments, it stands out. If you can keep up with your work (which is half the battle in grad school), it stands out. Try to pick someone that you’ve had more than one class with if you can, and I guarantee you that they’ll be happy to do it.
posted by joycehealy at 6:28 AM on June 28 [7 favorites]
posted by joycehealy at 6:28 AM on June 28 [7 favorites]
When you ask the prof for a letter, offer to write the first draft for them, and send it as a google doc that they can edit. This allows you to hit the points you feel you need.
At the start of the google doc, copy-paste some info about the program and what you need to highlight into that doc, so it's all together as the prof starts writing / editing. Don't be shy to make your letter say all the nice things it needs to say, in a complimentary and enthusiastic way! Honestly, the prof won't really care, so get what you need out of it.
If the prof feels like they can't support any of the points in your draft, they can edit it. But if your letter is reasonable, and they know you as a mature student who got great grades with no trouble, they'll likely be fine just signing it!
posted by nouvelle-personne at 6:34 AM on June 28
At the start of the google doc, copy-paste some info about the program and what you need to highlight into that doc, so it's all together as the prof starts writing / editing. Don't be shy to make your letter say all the nice things it needs to say, in a complimentary and enthusiastic way! Honestly, the prof won't really care, so get what you need out of it.
If the prof feels like they can't support any of the points in your draft, they can edit it. But if your letter is reasonable, and they know you as a mature student who got great grades with no trouble, they'll likely be fine just signing it!
posted by nouvelle-personne at 6:34 AM on June 28
Oh, and when you as a professor to write you a recommendation letter, it's super helpful to provide (1) the deadline! and (2) copies of the application materials that you've assembled so far (e.g. resume/CV, application statement, transcript).
posted by heatherlogan at 7:03 AM on June 28 [1 favorite]
posted by heatherlogan at 7:03 AM on June 28 [1 favorite]
Professor here who has written and read many, many letters for graduate programs. The individual you work with in a volunteer capacity sounds excellent. As for the second letter, I suggest asking a professor and this is what I recommend.
Make a face-to-face appointment with one of your prereq professors. In that meeting, ask for a recommendation in the context of describing your journey. Let them know that you received an 'A' in their class, that you have taken all the prereqs online so you do not know your professors well but you need a letter for the program you are applying to. Explain your professional goals, how you arrived at those goals and what you have done to further your progress. Describe the importance of the advanced degree you are applying for, how you see yourself situated professionally once you've received your degree and include anything else that you think is relevant to your motivation and likelihood of success in that program. Give the professor a copy of your prereq grades and courses, a resume and if you have one, the personal statement your wrote for your application. At the end of this meeting, directly ask the professor if they feel they can write a strong letter of recommendation given what you have said about your goals. If the professor says no, repeat with another professor from your prereqs. Good luck.
posted by bluesky43 at 7:09 AM on June 28 [13 favorites]
Make a face-to-face appointment with one of your prereq professors. In that meeting, ask for a recommendation in the context of describing your journey. Let them know that you received an 'A' in their class, that you have taken all the prereqs online so you do not know your professors well but you need a letter for the program you are applying to. Explain your professional goals, how you arrived at those goals and what you have done to further your progress. Describe the importance of the advanced degree you are applying for, how you see yourself situated professionally once you've received your degree and include anything else that you think is relevant to your motivation and likelihood of success in that program. Give the professor a copy of your prereq grades and courses, a resume and if you have one, the personal statement your wrote for your application. At the end of this meeting, directly ask the professor if they feel they can write a strong letter of recommendation given what you have said about your goals. If the professor says no, repeat with another professor from your prereqs. Good luck.
posted by bluesky43 at 7:09 AM on June 28 [13 favorites]
I'm also a professor and I'd encourage you to follow bluesky43's advice precisely (although I would ask the professor what meeting modality they prefer, lots of us aren't going into the office right now because we are off contract in the summer but would still take a phone call or Zoom). It's great advice and should net you a strong recommendation letter.
posted by twelve cent archie at 7:39 AM on June 28 [1 favorite]
posted by twelve cent archie at 7:39 AM on June 28 [1 favorite]
When I went back to grad school I was 10 years out of undergrad and didn’t have any professors I could reach out to. I ended up using one coworker friend who I knew was discrete and then a friend who had the same type of degree I was pursuing, but didn’t know me academically and frankly it worked out fine.
posted by raccoon409 at 7:44 AM on June 28
posted by raccoon409 at 7:44 AM on June 28
I don't know what field you are in, but I am in academic medicine/science where at the graduate level it is extremely common if not preferred for students to draft their own letters of recommendation.
Typically what you would do is send an inquiry asking if the person (in this case, one of your online professors) would be willing to write you a strong letter of support, and when they respond in the affirmative, you send a follow up with a copy of your CV, your personal statement, and a draft letter written from their perspective (unsigned, of course). Then you say something like, "To be respectful of your time, I've prepared a draft letter that emphasizes the qualities and aspects of my CV I think are most important."
If that sounds too aggressive to you or you're not sure of the norms in your field, you could soften it by saying something like, "I'd be happy to write a first draft of the letter if you prefer." If it's someone who is comfortable with that and/or it's the norm in your field, they'll almost certainly say yes.
posted by telegraph at 8:43 AM on June 28 [2 favorites]
Typically what you would do is send an inquiry asking if the person (in this case, one of your online professors) would be willing to write you a strong letter of support, and when they respond in the affirmative, you send a follow up with a copy of your CV, your personal statement, and a draft letter written from their perspective (unsigned, of course). Then you say something like, "To be respectful of your time, I've prepared a draft letter that emphasizes the qualities and aspects of my CV I think are most important."
If that sounds too aggressive to you or you're not sure of the norms in your field, you could soften it by saying something like, "I'd be happy to write a first draft of the letter if you prefer." If it's someone who is comfortable with that and/or it's the norm in your field, they'll almost certainly say yes.
posted by telegraph at 8:43 AM on June 28 [2 favorites]
Students writing letters is really, really not the norm in all fields. Unless you are certain about yours, I don’t think it’s even a good idea to mention it.
posted by advil at 9:30 AM on June 28 [5 favorites]
posted by advil at 9:30 AM on June 28 [5 favorites]
Following bluesky, writing letters is a normal boring everyday part of the job and not a special favor.
Bluesky's plan is great if your online program is in your town. If it isn't, send off an email like
Dear prof,
I'm anonymous and I was recently in your Foo class, where I received an A. I graduated from college in Year and have been employed in Field since Otheryear, but I've begun trying to shift into Newfield. The coursework I've been taking has been prerequisites for that field.
I'm now at the stage of the application processes where I need two letters of recommendation, and I was hoping you'd be willing to write on my behalf. Since I graduated so long ago, the professors from my BA program are unlikely to be able to write a solid letter on my behalf.
I recognize that writing for an online student is more difficult, since we haven't gotten a chance to know each other. If you're willing to write me a letter, I'd be happy to send another email/document outlining my professional goals etc that bluesky mentioned. Likewise, I'd be very happy to have an email or phone conversation with you at your convenience or otherwise help you be able to write a good letter for me.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 10:22 AM on June 28 [3 favorites]
Bluesky's plan is great if your online program is in your town. If it isn't, send off an email like
Dear prof,
I'm anonymous and I was recently in your Foo class, where I received an A. I graduated from college in Year and have been employed in Field since Otheryear, but I've begun trying to shift into Newfield. The coursework I've been taking has been prerequisites for that field.
I'm now at the stage of the application processes where I need two letters of recommendation, and I was hoping you'd be willing to write on my behalf. Since I graduated so long ago, the professors from my BA program are unlikely to be able to write a solid letter on my behalf.
I recognize that writing for an online student is more difficult, since we haven't gotten a chance to know each other. If you're willing to write me a letter, I'd be happy to send another email/document outlining my professional goals etc that bluesky mentioned. Likewise, I'd be very happy to have an email or phone conversation with you at your convenience or otherwise help you be able to write a good letter for me.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 10:22 AM on June 28 [3 favorites]
That seems great GCU. I would make two small modifications:
1) add the documents I suggested to the email so prof has a sense of your qualifications/standing/background before agreeing to write the letter. Indicate in your email that you are adding these to provide context for your request. Blind, I would be reluctant to agree to write a letter without some background credentials - this would help me put the request in context.
2) provide relevant details that I described above and in particular your motivation in moving to this new field. This is important because it will let prof include in their letter some sense of your likelihood of succeeding in this grad program (as well as provide further context). Do this, but don't make the email too long (make your added info as short as possible with an offer to discuss your situation further by phone/zoom, Professors are very busy people).
Also, as others mentioned above, asking for a letter of recommendation feels like asking for a favor but it's not. Writing recommendation letters is part of the job of being a professor.
posted by bluesky43 at 11:13 AM on June 28 [2 favorites]
1) add the documents I suggested to the email so prof has a sense of your qualifications/standing/background before agreeing to write the letter. Indicate in your email that you are adding these to provide context for your request. Blind, I would be reluctant to agree to write a letter without some background credentials - this would help me put the request in context.
2) provide relevant details that I described above and in particular your motivation in moving to this new field. This is important because it will let prof include in their letter some sense of your likelihood of succeeding in this grad program (as well as provide further context). Do this, but don't make the email too long (make your added info as short as possible with an offer to discuss your situation further by phone/zoom, Professors are very busy people).
Also, as others mentioned above, asking for a letter of recommendation feels like asking for a favor but it's not. Writing recommendation letters is part of the job of being a professor.
posted by bluesky43 at 11:13 AM on June 28 [2 favorites]
Also a professor. Just here to n'th all of what bluesky43 said. Also confirming that some profs would be offended if you drafted your own letter, so please don't do that unless you're really sure that would be received well.
posted by BlueBlueElectricBlue at 12:38 PM on June 28 [1 favorite]
posted by BlueBlueElectricBlue at 12:38 PM on June 28 [1 favorite]
i teach in post secondary, online asynchronous, and have written letters for students applying onwards to grad school. I typically have students send me a copy of some work they completed in my class with a comment of what they are proud of in this work; this helps me to anchor my letter in relevant work. I encourage you to be prepared to send similar in case requested (perhaps even offer to send?).
Some students will send me requests for reference that include description of their current work or career goals. This is absolutely fine, but I am not going to write a reference letter echoing their claims and interests— they can include that in their own letter to the school. I’m writing in the capacity of a past professor, not a mentor or manager, so I can best speak to their work in my class.
YMMV, and I know many others have suggested building a relationship with a past professor so they might be well placed to write a more comprehensive letter. However, it might be fine to just get an academic reference; someone who can speak to your capacity to learn and produce work in university.
posted by tamarack at 5:57 PM on June 28
Some students will send me requests for reference that include description of their current work or career goals. This is absolutely fine, but I am not going to write a reference letter echoing their claims and interests— they can include that in their own letter to the school. I’m writing in the capacity of a past professor, not a mentor or manager, so I can best speak to their work in my class.
YMMV, and I know many others have suggested building a relationship with a past professor so they might be well placed to write a more comprehensive letter. However, it might be fine to just get an academic reference; someone who can speak to your capacity to learn and produce work in university.
posted by tamarack at 5:57 PM on June 28
Absolutely do not offer to write your own letter. That may be typical in some fields, but it absolutely is not in my field, and I think it's likely to alienate the professor. If that's something that they want you to do, they would ask for it.
One thing to consider is what kind of classes you were taking with these professors. Are these STEM based? Or more humanities/social sciences? I'm in a STEM field, and in a lot of prereq STEM classes, sending a professor your work isn't going to help. They can see your grade, these prereq STEM classes tend to be pretty binary (you got it right or you didn't). This can make writing rec letters in large classes a challenge.
However, if you're in a field where assignments were more open ended, where you wrote papers or did projects or presentations, that will make it a lot easier and in that case sending in past work to the prof would be helpful.
Other than that, just echoing what bluesky43 said. Frankly, unlike your coworkers/boss, your professors will be used to writing rec letters for grad school, so even though they may not know you that well, they will know what info they need from you to write a strong letter and they will have done this before. As noted above, writing these letters is truly part of the job for professors.
I'm a grad student who worked closely in my career with professors (I was in a teaching support role) and of course now am in training to be a professor.
posted by litera scripta manet at 7:22 PM on June 28
One thing to consider is what kind of classes you were taking with these professors. Are these STEM based? Or more humanities/social sciences? I'm in a STEM field, and in a lot of prereq STEM classes, sending a professor your work isn't going to help. They can see your grade, these prereq STEM classes tend to be pretty binary (you got it right or you didn't). This can make writing rec letters in large classes a challenge.
However, if you're in a field where assignments were more open ended, where you wrote papers or did projects or presentations, that will make it a lot easier and in that case sending in past work to the prof would be helpful.
Other than that, just echoing what bluesky43 said. Frankly, unlike your coworkers/boss, your professors will be used to writing rec letters for grad school, so even though they may not know you that well, they will know what info they need from you to write a strong letter and they will have done this before. As noted above, writing these letters is truly part of the job for professors.
I'm a grad student who worked closely in my career with professors (I was in a teaching support role) and of course now am in training to be a professor.
posted by litera scripta manet at 7:22 PM on June 28
FWIW I was taught to ask a potential letter writer… do you think you would be able to write me a strong letter of recommendation? (After providing the appropriate context, of course.)
If you haven’t finished your prerequisites, you could be intentional about getting to know the instructor of the next course. If you have finished your prerequisites, perhaps there’s a course you can take not for academic credit. I took a relevant semester long professional development course at my local community college. Midway through the term, I asked the instructor if he would be willing to write me a strong letter of recommendation for grad school.
I can understand the hesitation to ask a colleague to write the letter. However, I think it’s potentially counter to your long term goals to have a mediocre letter of rec from an academic source over an excellent rec from a colleague. If you do go this route, maybe select a colleague who knows your work well, but is not your boss. Ideally, this person would not share your future plans with every one until after you have made a decision. You might also want to consider applying to at least one part time / online program, just to lend credence to the possibility that you are just putting out feelers / exploring your options.
posted by oceano at 8:49 PM on June 28
If you haven’t finished your prerequisites, you could be intentional about getting to know the instructor of the next course. If you have finished your prerequisites, perhaps there’s a course you can take not for academic credit. I took a relevant semester long professional development course at my local community college. Midway through the term, I asked the instructor if he would be willing to write me a strong letter of recommendation for grad school.
I can understand the hesitation to ask a colleague to write the letter. However, I think it’s potentially counter to your long term goals to have a mediocre letter of rec from an academic source over an excellent rec from a colleague. If you do go this route, maybe select a colleague who knows your work well, but is not your boss. Ideally, this person would not share your future plans with every one until after you have made a decision. You might also want to consider applying to at least one part time / online program, just to lend credence to the possibility that you are just putting out feelers / exploring your options.
posted by oceano at 8:49 PM on June 28
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You could (very!) briefly explain this in your application statement by saying something like "I have requested references from X, with whom I have worked as a volunteer for N years doing blabla, and from Y, whose course(s) on Teapot Design and Technical Aspects of Porcelain Manufactury I took online in 202x. As a mid-career professional I prefer not to disclose my application to my current employer."
Never ask a co-worker for a reference letter. A letter from your workplace would have to be from your boss/supervisor to be worthwhile.
posted by heatherlogan at 5:30 AM on June 28 [6 favorites]