Grad School Recommendation letter -RU MA/PHD History Program

[NJBorn]

I am getting to the point in my life where I am starting to think about doing something I like rather than something just to make money and I have been thinking of going to RU Newark and enroll in the joint MA-PHD program in history, but they want 3 recommendations. I graduated college 20 years ago and I dont think any professor would remember me if they were even still there. I was going to call over but does anyone know if these are able to be waived or I can use professional recommendations?

Also does anyone have any experience in the program?

Thanks

 

[NotInRHouse]

Weren't you suspending all ties with RU because they engaged in the absolutely heinous and unforgivable and irreproachable behavior of having their graduation speaker withdraw?

It seems to me that you should take up your studies at one of those many, many, universities that never have any protests, or simply arrest all the protesters, or never have any cancellations. Not a horrid embarrassment like RU, right?

 

[retired711]

Originally posted by NJBorn:
I am getting to the point in my life where I am starting to think about doing something I like rather than something just to make money and I have been thinking of going to RU Newark and enroll in the joint MA-PHD program in history, but they want 3 recommendations. I graduated college 20 years ago and I dont think any professor would remember me if they were even still there. I was going to call over but does anyone know if these are able to be waived or I can use professional recommendations?

Also does anyone have any experience in the program?

Thanks

I would say that professional recommendations would be fine in your situation. The recommendations should stress your intelligence, stick-to-itiveness, your professional accomplishments (be as specific as possible), your ability to be a self-starter, and your ability to work on your own. Examples of each will be very helpful. Your explanation of why you want to go to graduate school, and what your professional objective is, would be very important.

NIRH, the fact that someone disagrees with you is not a reason to cast them into the outer darkness.

 

[NotInRHouse]

It's not disagreement. He said he would donate to RU because its speaker cancelled, and surely that was deliberate on RU's part for some unknown reason that was never explained.

All I ask from the "through with RU' types, whether the Conditards or the Pernettitards or whatever absurd justification, is that they follow through on their previous statements to be through with RU. Clearly RU is simply below these people. It should not be offering them its education. They should stick to the the universities- never named when they are asked for- that are "above" the alleged (and never founded in reality) slights perpetrated.

 

[retired711]

Originally posted by NotInRHouse:
It's not disagreement. He said he would donate to RU because its speaker cancelled, and surely that was deliberate on RU's part for some unknown reason that was never explained.

All I ask from the "through with RU' types, whether the Conditards or the Pernettitards or whatever absurd justification, is that they follow through on their previous statements to be through with RU. Clearly RU is simply below these people. It should not be offering them its education. They should stick to the the universities- never named when they are asked for- that are "above" the alleged (and never founded in reality) slights perpetrated.

I assume you mean a "not" in your top line.

Certainly one's unwillingness to contribute -- indeed, even one's discontent with the university -- does not bar one from going to Rutgers. After all, the vast majority of Rutgers' graduates never contribute as alumni. Are they not entitled to a Rutgers degree?

 

[NotInRHouse]

I did miss a no- no, the point was people who said they would cease donating as a result. Always being apathetic is one thing, but deliberately severing ties for these perceived slights is where I take issue.

 

[retired711]

NIRH, there are a lot of people who felt the Rice withdrawal reflected badly on RU's students and faculty. They may or may not be right, but they exist. There is no reason to try to exclude them from the broader community. After all, today's opponent is tomorrow's ally. And, btw, I suspect that at least some of those non-contributing alum are not so much apathetic as unhappy with their experience at the school. The latter is the explanation we get from a lot of graduating students, and it is a continual challenge to us.

 

[NotInRHouse]

Again- I'm only calling for the exclusion of those who said they themselves- not me saying it- want nothing to do with RU.

Feeling it reflected poorly is different from saying it reflected poorly, blaming the admin and then saying "I won't be involved with RU as a result."

I'm merely asking those who made a promise to hold to it.

 

[retired711]

Originally posted by NotInRHouse:
Again- I'm only calling for the exclusion of those who said they themselves- not me saying it- want nothing to do with RU.

Feeling it reflected poorly is different from saying it reflected poorly, blaming the admin and then saying "I won't be involved with RU as a result."

I'm merely asking those who made a promise to hold to it.

I still think you're wrong, but I'll let you have the last word.

 

[e5fdny]

Originally posted by camdenlawprof:

Originally posted by NotInRHouse:
Again- I'm only calling for the exclusion of those who said they themselves- not me saying it- want nothing to do with RU.

Feeling it reflected poorly is different from saying it reflected poorly, blaming the admin and then saying "I won't be involved with RU as a result."

I'm merely asking those who made a promise to hold to it.

I still think you're wrong, but I'll let you have the last word.

If he has the last word shouldn't he also have the last post too? LOL

 

[retired711]

Originally posted by e5fdny:

Originally posted by camdenlawprof:

Originally posted by NotInRHouse:
Again- I'm only calling for the exclusion of those who said they themselves- not me saying it- want nothing to do with RU.

Feeling it reflected poorly is different from saying it reflected poorly, blaming the admin and then saying "I won't be involved with RU as a result."

I'm merely asking those who made a promise to hold to it.

I still think you're wrong, but I'll let you have the last word.

If he has the last word shouldn't he also have the last post too? LOL

he can have it if he wants it! LOL

 

[NJBorn]

Even when I put this jerk on ignore I have to read his idiocy when he gets quoted. Dummy, what part didn't you understand? I will not donate anymore. Period. I got my tax refund and instead of going to RU like it did in the past, it went to my law school and church. No one cares, its my money. Did you go to Rutgers and did they stop having reading comp on the SATs?

camdenlawprof[/URL]
Thanks for the advice, I was hoping that a really strong writing sample would help, I already started doing some original research that I can put together into a paper and maybe even expand upon later. Summers are usually busy at my firm, but it is also a great chance to travel and see some of the places that shaped our history. Just got back from Charleston and loved hearing some new stories about an area I wasn't too familiar with.

[/URL]

 

[retired711]

Ru Born,

a well-written writing sample based on original research would be a real help to you. But be sure it's really good; otherwise it will sink you.

 

[jcg878]

Originally posted by camdenlawprof:

Originally posted by NJBorn:
I am getting to the point in my life where I am starting to think about doing something I like rather than something just to make money and I have been thinking of going to RU Newark and enroll in the joint MA-PHD program in history, but they want 3 recommendations. I graduated college 20 years ago and I dont think any professor would remember me if they were even still there. I was going to call over but does anyone know if these are able to be waived or I can use professional recommendations?

Also does anyone have any experience in the program?

Thanks

I would say that professional recommendations would be fine in your situation. The recommendations should stress your intelligence, stick-to-itiveness, your professional accomplishments (be as specific as possible), your ability to be a self-starter, and your ability to work on your own. Examples of each will be very helpful. Your explanation of why you want to go to graduate school, and what your professional objective is, would be very important.

NIRH, the fact that someone disagrees with you is not a reason to cast them into the outer darkness.

I agree that professional recommendations would be adequate, and IMO, preferred. A professor remembering anything useful about you from 20 years ago is really going to be a rare find.

One note of caution though - choose people who you think can write a strong letter of recommendation and will be good at doing it. The former consideration is something that someone like yourself probably won't have a hard time finding, but the latter may be harder. Letters of recommendation that I read from professionals are often terrible, not because they aren't heartfelt, but because they are 1) inexperienced in writing a letter of recommendation and 2) often ill-informed about what the applicant is actually applying for. So I would give some guidance to your letter-writers as to what you are looking for them to include.

 

[NJBorn]

Originally posted by camdenlawprof:
Ru Born,

a well-written writing sample based on original research would be a real help to you. But be sure it's really good; otherwise it will sink you.

I guess I should be really careful then. Its tough coming up with things that havent been written about much and then placing them in context. I also have a tendency to write like an attorney when submitting something formal, I'll have to make sure its perfect and not just good enough to get by.

 

[NJBorn]

Originally posted by jcg878:

Originally posted by camdenlawprof:

Originally posted by NJBorn:
I am getting to the point in my life where I am starting to think about doing something I like rather than something just to make money and I have been thinking of going to RU Newark and enroll in the joint MA-PHD program in history, but they want 3 recommendations. I graduated college 20 years ago and I dont think any professor would remember me if they were even still there. I was going to call over but does anyone know if these are able to be waived or I can use professional recommendations?

Also does anyone have any experience in the program?

Thanks

I would say that professional recommendations would be fine in your situation. The recommendations should stress your intelligence, stick-to-itiveness, your professional accomplishments (be as specific as possible), your ability to be a self-starter, and your ability to work on your own. Examples of each will be very helpful. Your explanation of why you want to go to graduate school, and what your professional objective is, would be very important.

NIRH, the fact that someone disagrees with you is not a reason to cast them into the outer darkness.

I agree that professional recommendations would be adequate, and IMO, preferred. A professor remembering anything useful about you from 20 years ago is really going to be a rare find.

One note of caution though - choose people who you think can write a strong letter of recommendation and will be good at doing it. The former consideration is something that someone like yourself probably won't have a hard time finding, but the latter may be harder. Letters of recommendation that I read from professionals are often terrible, not because they aren't heartfelt, but because they are 1) inexperienced in writing a letter of recommendation and 2) often ill-informed about what the applicant is actually applying for. So I would give some guidance to your letter-writers as to what you are looking for them to include.

I appreciate the good advice. I have one business contact who is also an English professor, so he is probably my 1st request, I figured a judge and then another client. I'll make sure to let them know it is specifically for admittance into a PHD program.

Something tells me I wont see my wife often while doing this.

 

[jcg878]

Originally posted by NJBorn:

Originally posted by jcg878:

Originally posted by camdenlawprof:

Originally posted by NJBorn:
I am getting to the point in my life where I am starting to think about doing something I like rather than something just to make money and I have been thinking of going to RU Newark and enroll in the joint MA-PHD program in history, but they want 3 recommendations. I graduated college 20 years ago and I dont think any professor would remember me if they were even still there. I was going to call over but does anyone know if these are able to be waived or I can use professional recommendations?

Also does anyone have any experience in the program?

Thanks

I would say that professional recommendations would be fine in your situation. The recommendations should stress your intelligence, stick-to-itiveness, your professional accomplishments (be as specific as possible), your ability to be a self-starter, and your ability to work on your own. Examples of each will be very helpful. Your explanation of why you want to go to graduate school, and what your professional objective is, would be very important.

NIRH, the fact that someone disagrees with you is not a reason to cast them into the outer darkness.

I agree that professional recommendations would be adequate, and IMO, preferred. A professor remembering anything useful about you from 20 years ago is really going to be a rare find.

One note of caution though - choose people who you think can write a strong letter of recommendation and will be good at doing it. The former consideration is something that someone like yourself probably won't have a hard time finding, but the latter may be harder. Letters of recommendation that I read from professionals are often terrible, not because they aren't heartfelt, but because they are 1) inexperienced in writing a letter of recommendation and 2) often ill-informed about what the applicant is actually applying for. So I would give some guidance to your letter-writers as to what you are looking for them to include.

I appreciate the good advice. I have one business contact who is also an English professor, so he is probably my 1st request, I figured a judge and then another client. I'll make sure to let them know it is specifically for admittance into a PHD program.

Something tells me I wont see my wife often while doing this.

I figured you'd at least do this already. What I meant was that I think you should give some guidance about the kinds of qualities they should be writing about/why they think you will be good in a PhD program. Tell them what that program entails. As an example that probably doesn't help much, I read a lot of letters from physicians recommending pharmacists for a post-doctoral program that I administer where the physicians often 1) don't understand what the program is and/or 2) write about tasks of the applicant that any pharmacist should do anyway (e.g. "she helped us pick doses"). That is not helpful to me. I'd much rather read about the characteristics inherent to the applicant that could predict success in our program. I'd imagine that your contacts writing about your drive, dedication, intelligence, etc. would be more useful to the admissions committee than a client writing "he was a great lawyer. He won my case for me" or something like that.

(obviously I know little about the world of law)

 

[lawmatt78]

Guys,

Could you stop bickering? Geez.

Speaking of JC...where is Hudson these days?

 

[retired711]

Originally posted by lawmatt78:
Guys,

Could you stop bickering? Geez.

+1,000,000

 

[e5fdny]

Originally posted by lawmatt78:
Guys,

Could you stop bickering? Geez.

Speaking of JC...where is Hudson these days?

I believe he is on holiday.

 

[RUMike410]

Originally posted by e5fdny:

Originally posted by lawmatt78:
Guys,

Could you stop bickering? Geez.

Speaking of JC...where is Hudson these days?

I believe he is on holiday.

In Afgan or Iraq?