Cannot Get Recommendations from Supervisors

Question

My previous supervisor left the company and follows up very infrequently. I have been trying to get him to complete the recommendation for months to no avail. My current supervisor barely knows me, as she is super new. Are recommendations from individuals who are senior to me, whom I have worked with closely, but who are not in my org chart a reasonable substitute?

In both cases, they were the internal principals on significant projects on which I was assigned, even though they were not my official supervisors, so they have meaningful exposure to my work and were able to offer critiques and/or make requests of me.

Thanks.

Also, my direct supervisors from previous roles are very unremarkable--they would be incapable of providing a strong recommendation no matter how much I coached them.

bb · Answer

Sorry to hear about the LOR hassle. That is a pain for many applicants. I have heard from a number of AdComs that the LOR's are not set in stone and that a number of AdCom are lenient about sometimes using not your direct supervisor. (Some are strict however so check the LOR instructions for each program).

The AdCom know that the choices applicants have are:
1. Crappy supervisor for whom they will have to write the LOR
2. Someone who is actually good but is not a direct supervisor.

Thankfully the LOR has a section for the person writing it that will ask "What is your relationship to the recommended individual) and it is usually 100 chars so they can describe their involvement with you and how your roles overlap.

Some Schools require only 1 LOR by the way.

Admissionado · Answer

mc93 :

bb, as usual, is right! I would not fret if your recommenders meet the exact title for a supervisor. It's very hard to ask someone for whom you work to ask for their support for you to leave. Some people are not even in a position to state their desire to pursue a graduate degree. At the end of the day you need to select people who you can trust to deliver on your behalf.

As indicated, your best bet is to make sure your recommenders are clear on how they know you. They don't have to necessarily emphasize they are not your proper supervisor; that part can be softened. You can also indicate in your optional essay why you selected these recommenders if you want to be very cautious.

You're in a fairly common position, so don't worry. This will all work out.

ARINGO · Answer

First of all, find out what are the instructions in case you can't provide a LOR from current supervisor. Some schools ask you to explain this in the optional essay.

As for selecting another recommender, the level of excitement that the recommender demonstrates, and the reasons for this excitement (supporting examples), are most important. Also, the longer and more intense the acquaintance is, the better. In general, schools are looking for recommenders who know the candidate very well, on the basis of an experience that is:
1) As long as possible. 
2) As intense as possible. 
3) Experience that is preferably work-related.

Cannot Get Recommendations from Supervisors

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