LOR questions - professor is now in industry Forum

[circle.the.wagons]

As per the title, I'm asking for LORs and my professor expressed concern that he has moved to industry and doesn't know that he can be considered an academic reference. I told him that should be ok given our relationship was in an academic setting but I just want to see what TLS says. Should I get back to him and say otherwise?

My other question is related to my second LOR... I didn't have many close relationships with professors aside from the one above, so I asked my manager from an intership where I worked 40 hours a week for 9 months. We developed a very close working and and had great personal chemistry. I know industry LORs are not as good as academic, but in this situation do you think this is my best course of action? I'm a few years removed from UG FYI.

Thanks

[GoGreen17]

I think your first LoR should be perfect. Just make sure your old professor clarifies that your interaction was in an academic setting and not his current industry setting.

Given that you are a few years removed from undergrad, I think it will be fine that you use a LoR from a manager. But are you working somewhere else now? Have you worked there longer than you did at your internship? Is there a superior at your current job that you're as close to as your old manager? I would say it would be better to have a manager you're close to now write a LoR, but if that's not possible then I'd say your old manager should be able to give a good recommendation. Just make sure to have him/her emphasize characteristics related to academics (work ethic, eagerness to learn, ingenuity, etc.)

Good Luck!

[circle.the.wagons]

For obvious reasons I don't want o ask my managers at my current job, and this is also my first job out of college so I don't have other managers to ask.

Since I replied to my professor, I haven't heard back from him. And i haven't heard back from my manager either, although I suspect he may have retired so he isn't using his work email. How long is appropriate to wait before I send a follow up? A week?

And is appropriate to call my manager on the phone? I don't want to put him on the spot but he's an older guy and maybe retired so idk how much hes using his email.

[circle.the.wagons]

So I got my manager to write my LOR but the professor is still MIA. I followed up last Tuesday with no reply. I didn't really maintain close relationships with professors in college because most of my classes were 100+ students and law/grad school wasnt on my radar at the time. Should I email him one more time? I don't want to bug him but at the same time I could have a major issue right now. I don't have his phone number and he lives 6 hours away so I can't talk to him either of those ways.

[StopLawying]

So I got my manager to write my LOR but the professor is still MIA. I followed up last Tuesday with no reply. I didn't really maintain close relationships with professors in college because most of my classes were 100+ students and law/grad school wasnt on my radar at the time. Should I email him one more time? I don't want to bug him but at the same time I could have a major issue right now. I don't have his phone number and he lives 6 hours away so I can't talk to him either of those ways.

No other professors you can ask?

[circle.the.wagons]

Like I said, most of my classes were very large, I only had professors once usually, and I hadn't planned on going to grad or law school so I never had an opportunity/made the effort to build relationships with most of my professors. Plus I spent a lot of my free time working or at my club so I didn't really hang around office hours or anything.

Anyway he got back to me finally so I'm good. He seemed a bit peeved that I followed up multiple times, but I don't know why it should take two weeks to reply to an important email. Thanks all who replied.

[landshoes]

You might also be able to ask a grad TA. It's not as good but it's better than nothing. Also, following up repeatedly over 2 weeks is too much. It's July...you have plenty of time. Make sure to thank him profusely and tell him that you know he is busy, did not mean to bother him, and appreciate that he is taking the time to do this for you.

[bretby]

Like I said, most of my classes were very large, I only had professors once usually, and I hadn't planned on going to grad or law school so I never had an opportunity/made the effort to build relationships with most of my professors. Plus I spent a lot of my free time working or at my club so I didn't really hang around office hours or anything.

Anyway he got back to me finally so I'm good. He seemed a bit peeved that I followed up multiple times, but I don't know why it should take two weeks to reply to an important email. Thanks all who replied.

Multiple times in two weeks is really not ok. I would say at MOST once in two weeks, if not a bit longer. Remember, it's the summer, people take vacation, etc. etc. Your emergency is not their emergency (and it's not even an emergency - you have tons of time, which is good and why you start collecting this info early). You lose good will doing things like this and that can work itself into the letter, even unconsciously.

[landshoes]

It can be fixed, they know you're an anxious 0L, it happens, just be pleasant and sincerely (but briefly) apologize.

[circle.the.wagons]

Yea, I had a rough weekend capped off by an awful LSAT PT, so I've been a bit stressed. Will take your guys' advice.