Grad school after years away

[Granny_Weatherwax]

I'm thinking about a second master's or a PhD.  Just thinking. Nothing too serious at this point.

It's been 14 years since I graduated with my MA.  All of my instructors have since retired or moved away.  I did not maintain contact with any of them.

 

The new programs I am looking into all require multiple letters of reference from professors/instructors.  There is no way to get any from my undergraduate instructors.

 

What would you do?  Take a semester at a local university and get three new letters that way?  Contact the university of interest and see if they will accept letters from my current employer (a community college)?  

 

What do people do when there is a delay between degrees?

[EmilyGF]

Contact the university of interest (but make sure you read up on the person you contact beforehand so it doesn't sound like a form letter but like a letter of true interest...).

 

Frankly, if you've been out of a program for 14 years, I'm not sure what they'd learn from those letters. A letter reflecting your current work would be much more pertinent, IMO.

[sgo95]

DH went to graduate school twice after delays.  The first time, he spend a year taking classes at a university as a non-degree student and got recommendations that way.  The second time, he had worked closely with professors who consulted with DH's workplace and was able to get letters from them.  IMO, if your contacts at the community college can speak to your ability to succeed in graduate school, I don't see why that wouldn't be acceptable.  

[Sahamamama]

I'm thinking about a second master's or a PhD.  Just thinking. Nothing too serious at this point.

It's been 14 years since I graduated with my MA.  All of my instructors have since retired or moved away.  I did not maintain contact with any of them.

 

The new programs I am looking into all require multiple letters of reference from professors/instructors.  There is no way to get any from my undergraduate instructors.

 

What would you do?  Take a semester at a local university and get three new letters that way?  Contact the university of interest and see if they will accept letters from my current employer (a community college)?  

 

What do people do when there is a delay between degrees?

 

I would inquire as to whether the programs require these letters for those who already have a graduate degree. Call them and explain that you earned an MA in _______ x number of years ago, and would like to know if letters from your current circle would be more fitting. Be prepared to tell them what specific references you are able to provide.

 

I also earned an MA about 16 years ago, but I think that if I wanted to contact any of the (still living) professors, I could do so through my alma mater. You could call your old school and see if they will forward your contact information. Worth a shot? Probably not. Would any of them remember us? ;) Personally, I wouldn't expect a reference from someone that many years out. What's the value of it, anyway?

[Crimson Wife]

I would look for a graduate certificate in a related area and start with that.

 

One reason I'm doing a 2nd bachelor's rather than an extended master's (the courses are the same for the 1st year of the EM program) is to get updated letters of recommendation.

[G5052]

Yes, ask about your particular situation.

 

I know several professors who have gone back after over a decade or more, and they were able to use professional references from the college they were working for.