Does anyone know of any graduate programs in the northeast that don't require recomendation letters?

Question

Posting this again as only illiterate people reponded the first time.

Every school I've looked requires them, with reason being 'to attest to the student's ability to do gradute work' or something to that extent. I've been out of school for a couple of years and am pretty sure my professors wouldn't remember me (I had a lot of adjuncts).

I'm not comfartable asking my employer because then they know I might be leaving, and I still would need the job to pay for it. In addition even if I went and got one from them schools require 2-3 letters.

So are there any that don't require LOR?

Hopefully, people will read it this time.

I really don't think they will remember me. Most of my classes the professor didn't even take attendance and had to call out the names to hand back papers/exams.

Even those that might remember me I don't/wouldn't feel justified asking for one, as I don't think I did anything in any class to justify asking for one (i.e. I didn't distinguish myself). I did graduate with a 3.5 and gained entry into multiple honor societies so I know I can handle the work.

Looks like I'm just going to have to settle for University of Phoenix Online.

Answer 1

I realize you have been out of school for a few years, but you MUST contact your former professors for letters of recommendation. Any graduate program that does not require letters is suspect.

Here's how to go about getting those letters. Go to your alma mater's website, and get the email addresses of your former professors. Send them an email of inquiry, telling them of your hopes to attend grad school. Be clear about your goals, and tell them why YOU think you are suited for graduate study. Specify the names of the courses you took with them, as well as the dates of these courses. Remind the professors of the titles of the papers you wrote in these courses, as well as the grades you received in these courses. You may also want to include a copy of your resume, so they can see what you've been doing since you graduated.

(If you kept copies of your college papers on disks somewhere, retrieve them, and let the professors know that you are able to forward them copies of these papers -- as email attachments, of course. If you kept hard copies with their comments, so much the better. Offer to send copies of these papers via snail mail.)

If your professors (especially those who were adjuncts) no longer work at your alma mater, contact the department office and ask if they have contact information for these folks. Odds are they will.

Believe me, I am often contacted by former students for letters of recommendation. And I always remember them (especially with a little "reminding.") After all, it's my job.

I wish you every success.

Addition to earlier answer:

Good god, don't settle for UPhoenix. Look, you had a good GPA, you were in honor societies, just send your former professors a current resume and a nice letter detailing your accomplishments both in college and afterwards. You CAN get these letters!

Answer 2

You're probably better off trying to figure out how to get LOR rather than avoiding them altogether. I'm not an expert, but my guess would be that any program that doesn't require ANY LOR is probably not that great of a program. And if you're going to spend the time and money to get a graduate degree, you should go to the best school possible. (Are there people you work with who aren't your superiors and who could write letters for you? It might be beneficial to have a letter from someone who works under you saying how fair you are, what a good manager you are, etc.)