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It has been six years since I completed my undergraduate degree. I've been solidly employed since graduation. I was a lackluster student and never created much rapport with my professors. The sole exception was a certain creative writing teacher. I was a full scholarship winner for writing my last year of college. This teacher knew the me best out of all my professors.

Yet I pulled C's in a couple of his classes. I felt that I was such a brilliant writer that I didn't need to do what I considered his busywork, but he probably considered his coursework.

Even more unfortunately, I burned him five years ago by asking for a letter of recommendation for an MFA program and then never getting back in touch with him. Oops. He's a good guy, so hitting him up again is still an option.

I began an internship with an attorney friend of mine this summer. We've worked together closely for several months. I'm assured a glowing recommendation. However, I need one more to complete the application for my first choice school, UNC. I'm a North Carolina resident with a 3.38 GPA and a 171 LSAT.

So, the question is thus: Do I ask my employer of two years for a recommendation (I work in a bar) or do I troll around for old professors willing to write one? If the latter, do I go for the creative writing teacher who I may have put out? Or for a professor in a more academic subject that didn't know me as well (and maybe doesn't remember me), but where I perhaps graded higher?

Any insight would be appreciated.

XOXO

You sound like sort of a dick head.

But more to the point of the story. You have been out of school long enough that law schools won't mind if you use professional recommendations in place of academic ones.

I've been out of undergrad for 5+ years and I used employer LORs only. Didn't affect my cycle. You really don't need any professor recommendations unless you're having trouble finding professional ones.

As others have said, you don't need academic LORs after being out of school for so long (and given your description, I don't think your academic ones would be very good.)

That being said, is the only other professional LOR you can get from a bar owner? Did I misread? I doubt that would be very good either... have you worked at a job where your boss might be able to speak to qualities like reading/writing skills?

Most of my LORs were professional since I've been out of school for a while, but in your case I'm not sure how a LOR from a bar owner would go over (mine were from people with professional degrees who are in positions of considerable social responsibility). I also got a couple former professor LORs, though some of my former profs were reluctant to write a recommendation since it had been so long (one refused because of the time that had passed). In your case it sounds like approaching the guy who previously consented is the best bet for a second LOR. From what you've said I doubt that he was much (if at all) offended previously due to your lack of following up. Maybe at least acknowledging that you didn't follow through previously and trying to get a feel for how positively he will speak of you would be a good idea (if you are uncertain about his LOR after he completes it, you can just not send it with your app even though LSAC will have it on file; considering this possibility, you may want to go ahead and request letters from a number of sources and then decide which recommended you feel most comfortable with after the letters have been sent to LSAC).

Sorry if this question is a hijack, but I've also been out of UG for a considerable amount of time. Thus, I want to rely on professional LORs, which is nice because I'm not sure I could get any from professors.

My question is this: I have had a grand total of one job since graduation. I'm a journalist, and the LOR would be from my editor, and I think that will be solid. But I don't have multiple employers from multiple jobs. Could I get a second letter from my editor's superior, or is than redundant? I worked at a different paper at the end of college, but if I get a LOR from there doesn't that sort of poke a hole in my logic of not getting any from professors due to the long time gap?

Is there a LOR source besides employers and professors that I'm unfamiliar with?

CastleRock wrote:You sound like sort of a dick head.

I'm more of a dip shit than a dick head. Though my heart's usually in the right place.

Any other thoughts on the idea of a bar owner not being a good candidate for writing LORs? He's a smart dude and a savvy business owner. I'd say he makes more than lawyer money.

At the very least he can attest to my native intelligence, communication skills, work ethic, ability to create rapport with clientele, et cetera, right?

Thoughts?

I think the fact that your boss is a successful business owner will count for more than you think. I have also been out of school for 6 years, and one of my letters was from a restaurant owner I had worked for and knew well. I was accepted at Minnesota (a reach for me) with significantly worse numbers than you. If he knows you well he can attest to your work ethic, dependability and common sense. Hopefully the lawyer you worked for can comment on your writing ability??

I figure that being the recipient of my university's sole writing scholarship might attest to my writing abilities.

Regardless, wouldn't my personal statement serve as an example of how I communicate through writing?

cccZillo wrote:Sorry if this question is a hijack, but I've also been out of UG for a considerable amount of time. Thus, I want to rely on professional LORs, which is nice because I'm not sure I could get any from professors.

My question is this: I have had a grand total of one job since graduation. I'm a journalist, and the LOR would be from my editor, and I think that will be solid. But I don't have multiple employers from multiple jobs. Could I get a second letter from my editor's superior, or is than redundant? I worked at a different paper at the end of college, but if I get a LOR from there doesn't that sort of poke a hole in my logic of not getting any from professors due to the long time gap?

Is there a LOR source besides employers and professors that I'm unfamiliar with?

I had 3 LORs, 2 from my current job and one from 2006 (several jobs in between the two). All three should have had lots of specific and positive things to say, so I doubt it mattered.

If a job has lasted 5 years then I think multiple LORs are appropriate. Try to find somebody who has extensive experience interacting with you. Your boss' boss may not have enough specific things to say about you. But it's better than nothing.

Honestly, LORs are a pretty minor part of the process, so don't worry excessively.