Academic LOR vs Professional Forum

[tskela]

Please don't quote

[cavalier1138]

If you just graduated, you really want two academic letters. The schools want to know your ability to perform in an academic environment.

Professional LORs are for people who have been out of school long enough that a professor's recommendation will likely not speak to their current qualities.

[tskela]

If you just graduated, you really want two academic letters. The schools want to know your ability to perform in an academic environment.

Professional LORs are for people who have been out of school long enough that a professor's recommendation will likely not speak to their current qualities.

Thanks for the input! In an ideal world, of course I'd want to submit two strong academic letters.

But when I read wording like this (from Harvard):

"Recommendations should come from those who have had an opportunity to evaluate you carefully and individually over a sufficient period of time. We strongly recommend that at least one letter of recommendation come from an academic source. However, letters from employers or others who have worked closely with you can be very helpful, particularly (particularly =/= ONLY) if you have been out of school for many years."

It doesn't seem like I'd be at a disadvantage by having only one academic letter...Maybe I'm just misinterpreting. :/

[cavalier1138]

If you just graduated, you really want two academic letters. The schools want to know your ability to perform in an academic environment.

Professional LORs are for people who have been out of school long enough that a professor's recommendation will likely not speak to their current qualities.

Thanks for the input! In an ideal world, of course I'd want to submit two strong academic letters.

But when I read wording like this (from Harvard):

"Recommendations should come from those who have had an opportunity to evaluate you carefully and individually over a sufficient period of time. We strongly recommend that at least one letter of recommendation come from an academic source. However, letters from employers or others who have worked closely with you can be very helpful, particularly (particularly =/= ONLY) if you have been out of school for many years."

It doesn't seem like I'd be at a disadvantage by having only one academic letter...Maybe I'm just misinterpreting. :/

You are misinterpreting a bit. They want people to have the option to send letters from another source if they feel like they can't get anything from their professors. But they will definitely look askance at an application from someone who graduated a year ago and can't secure two academic LORs. Don't look to the requirements phrasing, because it will not be accurate (for example, see every instance of "we don't just consider LSAT/GPA" on these sites).

[Barack O'Drama]

If you just graduated, you really want two academic letters. The schools want to know your ability to perform in an academic environment.

Professional LORs are for people who have been out of school long enough that a professor's recommendation will likely not speak to their current qualities.

Thanks for the input! In an ideal world, of course I'd want to submit two strong academic letters.

But when I read wording like this (from Harvard):

"Recommendations should come from those who have had an opportunity to evaluate you carefully and individually over a sufficient period of time. We strongly recommend that at least one letter of recommendation come from an academic source. However, letters from employers or others who have worked closely with you can be very helpful, particularly (particularly =/= ONLY) if you have been out of school for many years."

It doesn't seem like I'd be at a disadvantage by having only one academic letter...Maybe I'm just misinterpreting. :/

You are misinterpreting a bit. They want people to have the option to send letters from another source if they feel like they can't get anything from their professors. But they will definitely look askance at an application from someone who graduated a year ago and can't secure two academic LORs. Don't look to the requirements phrasing, because it will not be accurate (for example, see every instance of "we don't just consider LSAT/GPA" on these sites).

This nails it for sure. 2 Academic LOR is what you want unless you are like 5+ years out of undergrad and cannot secure 2.

[tskela]

If you just graduated, you really want two academic letters. The schools want to know your ability to perform in an academic environment.

Professional LORs are for people who have been out of school long enough that a professor's recommendation will likely not speak to their current qualities.

Thanks for the input! In an ideal world, of course I'd want to submit two strong academic letters.

But when I read wording like this (from Harvard):

"Recommendations should come from those who have had an opportunity to evaluate you carefully and individually over a sufficient period of time. We strongly recommend that at least one letter of recommendation come from an academic source. However, letters from employers or others who have worked closely with you can be very helpful, particularly (particularly =/= ONLY) if you have been out of school for many years."

It doesn't seem like I'd be at a disadvantage by having only one academic letter...Maybe I'm just misinterpreting. :/

You are misinterpreting a bit. They want people to have the option to send letters from another source if they feel like they can't get anything from their professors. But they will definitely look askance at an application from someone who graduated a year ago and can't secure two academic LORs. Don't look to the requirements phrasing, because it will not be accurate (for example, see every instance of "we don't just consider LSAT/GPA" on these sites).

This nails it for sure. 2 Academic LOR is what you want unless you are like 5+ years out of undergrad and cannot secure 2.

Thanks guys! I guess I will be submitting all 3 letters.