Grad school letter of recommendation quandry

[SarcasticDwarf]

I'm in a bit of a situation here with grad school apps for a program in Library Science. The first is due the 15th (yeah, I am sooo far behind) and requires three letters of recommendation, two of which must be academic. I have those two. The third is a problem.

Due to the nature of my undergraduate program, I have only once had two classes with the same prof (and she is giving me one). My academic advisor (who I have had a class with) will be able to for the other two applications that are not due for a while, but not this one. The other one is from my department chair.

So, for the third one I can think of two options. The first is to ask a professor that I got along great with, but last had a class with two years ago. I think there is a significant chance of him saying no based on not having a class with me for a few years.

The second is that I currently have an internship with the IT department of the local school district. I know I could get the tech that I work with most often to write one. I also believe he could write one reasonably well. The only issue is that he is "just a tech."

Thoughts?

 

[Whisper]

I'd suggest asking the professor first. If he's uncomfortable with it, he'll let you know. You could also mention the situation, your concerns, and that you have a "back-up" recommendation writer available, but that you'd prefer to have one from someone in academia if at all possible.

Profs are usually fairly honest about this type of thing; an unsubstantiated (i.e. BS) rec letter looks just as bad on them as it does on you.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Makes sense. Anyone else have thoughts?

My LoR will somewhat suck anyway since my undergrad major is completely unrelated to my graduate field of study, so nobody is really able to talk about that.

 

[chrisms]

Is there any kind of supervisor for your internship? Anyone else of higher standing than your co-worker who is "just a tech"? There has to be someone in your life of higher standing than him/her.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: chrisms
Is there any kind of supervisor for your internship? Anyone else of higher standing than your co-worker who is "just a tech"? There has to be someone in your life of higher standing than him/her.

There is the IT director. I have had almost no contact with him (I have maybe said about 20 words to him). I know he knows who I am and what I have done, but I don't think he would write one (especially considering the politics at that level).

Now my internship IS through a campus organization (campus-community liason office). There is a person there that interviewed me. I suppose he *might* write one. I will try to get in contact with him in the morning.