A question concerning recommendation letters for grad school?

Question

I am currently working towards my BA in Radio-TV and want to apply for an MA degree in Radio-TV at the same college I currently go to. I need 3 recommendation letters. My problem is that some of the professors that I had that taught courses within the Radio-TV major no longer teach at my university and I have no idea where they currently are. The other Professors I have had for Radio-TV courses most likely will not remember me if I were to approach them and ask them for a letter. I only have 1 professor in the Radio-TV major who has offered many times to write me a good letter (I've had him for 3 different classes). For other 2 recommendation letters, would it be ok if I get Professors from other fields to write me letters? Is that really going to hurt my chance at admission? By other fields, I mean classes I have taken in areas such as English, Womens Studies, Humanities and/or Sociology.
I have a 3.65 gpa and will have a great writing sample.

Tell me what you think. Thanks.

Professor X,
You said that it would look odd that the majority of my letters came from prof's outside the field, so I'd like to ask you your opinion on this issue-
I wrote essays on media-related issues in these non Radio-TV courses (in fields like English, Humanities, Sociology). Would this still look odd to admissions directors if I ask those professors to mention in their letters that I wrote essays on Radio-TV topics in their classes? My major, and the MA that I would like to pursue, are more theory-based anyway and would require me writing essays like the ones I have done in those non Radio-TV courses. Let me know what you think & thanks!

Thank you for responding!

Answer 1

It is always best for your letters to come from scholars in your field of intended study.

Just ask the administrative assistants in the Radio/TV department for the current contact information for the professors you had in the past. They'll have this information.

If for some bizarre reason, this does not work out, get the letters from professors in other fields.

I must say, however, that it will look very odd for the majority of your letters to come from scholars outside of your field of study, so do EVERYTHING you can to get the letters from your Radio/TV professors.

One final note: It is usual for students pursuing graduate study to apply widely, and to apply to schools other than the colleges they attended as undergraduates. This is because in order to attain mastery of a field of study, one wants to study with many different scholars in order to gain exposure to many different theories and methods. I urge you to research the many Master's programs in your field, and apply to five or six of them.

Best wishes!

EDIT:
In answer to your additional query, I stand by my original answer. If it so happens that you are completely unable to get the letters from your Radio/TV professors (which I doubt will happen), then the letters from your other professors should certainly mention what sort of work you did with them. Your professors will know to include that sort of information. Here's a the best website I've seen to help you get the kind of letters you want, and deserve:

http://www.yale.edu/iefp/fellowships/other/asking_rec_letters.html

Answer 2

With your GPA, i doubt youd have a problem getting in anywhere for Radio/TV.
As for professors, try to find where they are. Ask their collegues where they are. If you were close to that prof, im sur ethey would be more than willing to write you a letter. Take it from me though...DONT WASTE TIME! It can take FOREVER! My grad application took months to complete. If you must use profs from other fields of study, ask that prof to explain how you were as a student overall, and not just in the radio/tv classes (they wouldnt konw anyway). Grad schools want to konw more about you as a student in general..and not just how you performed in classes for your major. After all, thats what your GPA shows. Good luck!!!!

Answer 3

You sure can get professors from other fields. There is no problem with that. What the admissions people want to know is what kind of student you are overall. If you really want to find the professors that no longer teach there talk to the dean of that department and he should have their contact information.

Answer 4

Letters of recommendation that speak to your work ethic, integrity, character, etc. will be valuable regardless of what the subject matter was that was taught.

However, your Human Resources office at your college should be able to forward a letter to your former professors for you.

They won't be able to give you your professors' new addresses, but if you explain what you need, and why you need it, prepare stamped, unsealed envelopes so they can see what's being sent, it's fair to ask them to mail the request on for you.

Good luck!

Answer 5

in case you're making use of to purely some faculties, grant your profs with stamped, addressed envelopes provided that required. in case you have various faculties you're making use of to, you get the unique and grant copies to the universities. the universities will call them to make useful the reference in the event that they heavily evaluate you, besides. basically be useful to examine the standards for each college, as they could be distinctive. many colleges settle for purposes and references on line, so which you will get them by e mail, or test them right into a PDF. for my area, i will possibly in no way deliver a reference you haven't any longer examine first. i've got been on a screening committee the place undesirable references have been won, and the applicant had no concept.