Context: I got a 176 on the September LSAT, and am ready to finalize my applications before sending them off, but I need to get Letters of Recommendation first.
I am in a bit of a confusing situation with regard to what to do for my LoRs due to the following:
1) I have been self-employed as an SAT/ACT tutor since pretty much right when I graduated in 2021. As a result, I do not have a supervisor or manager that can speak to my abilities, and as I understand it, asking clients (i.e. students' parents) is considered a bit of a no-no.
2) I essentially took my last class in Fall 2020, so I'm about six years out of college. I went to undergrad from 2017-2021. I was a transfer student from 1 year at a CC. I then went to UVA for about 2.5 years. During those 2.5 years, most of my courses were either large lecture hall courses or conducted entirely online due to the pandemic, leading to pretty impersonal/surface level interactions with my professors. I've reached out to the two professors who I had multiple, smaller-sized classes with, but I've yet to hear back two days later, though I'm not sure if this is atypical.
3) Many, if not most, of my universities that I'm applying to require 2 recommendations.
Any tips for how I should go about this?
7 comments
I think you may be in a true "break glass in case of emergency" situation. You have no supervisors/managers and you're far enough out of undergrad where I wouldn't expect to see an academic letter. So, just do the best you can here. I think this is the rare situation where recs from clients, character recs from people who have known you a long time, etc are alright and about as good as can be reasonably expected of you!
Thank you for the advice! It's nice to know that I'm not imagining the lack of straightforward options. Assuming I opt for these other forms of LoRs, would you recommend I attach an addendum explaining why I opted for them over more traditional routes?
I wouldn't expect an addenda in this case but I also don't think that it'd be extraneous!
Another thing you can do is call up the admissions offices at two or three of your top schools and see what they say not only about the top level question but also the issue of the addenda. Basically, while I'm providing general advice, they can give more pointed advice for them.
Congrats on your 176! That's awesome. Professors often take a while to respond (mine took over a week), so don't panic yet. They could still get back to you! If they don't, are there any other professors you can reach out to? If you have any saved work from their classes, that could help refresh their memories. What about an advisor, club sponsor, or anyone else that could speak to your abilities?
Thank you. Congrats on the 177! It's reassuring to know that they might respond at some point, although I'll obviously plan for the worst case scenario. I reached out to another professor whose class's grade was entirely essay-based and sent over some of my work, so maybe that'll pan out, but he's recently retired, so I'm not holding my breath.
Hi! I thought of you at the LSAC forum tonight. A Michigan AO specifically mentioned clients as an option for a non-traditional applicant's LOR. Just wanted to pass along the info and good luck!
maybe you could get a letter from a volunteer org you do or a leader at church if you attend? Another option is a past job supervisor if recent enough. If none of these options offer a solution i reccomend reaching out to admissions officers at your schools of interest and see what they say!