AboutJay Cutts Expertise Preparation for LSAT, GRE, MCAT, GMAT. Personal statements, letters of recommendation, graduate application process, practice tests.
No Questions about Undergrad Admissions Please (unless you are planning to go to law, business, medical or grad school eventually).
Note that I change private questions to public so they are available to others. If you have something that is truly private, let me know.
Experience Over 18 years full time graduate entrance exam prep with over 1500 students nationally and internationally.
Education/Credentials BA, Linguistics with Honors and Distinction, University of Michigan
MA, Special Education with an Emphasis in Learning Disabilities and Giftedness, with Honors, University of New Mexico
I want to apply for a master degree in fine arts at the University of South Florida. Among the requisites, I have to present 3 Letters of recommendation for Graduate Study. First of all my background is in business and I have been working on my own for a while now, so I do not really have any person that can recommend me for a graduate school. What can I do to find letters of recommendation? Who should I ask? How can I find someone who can recommend me for a master degree if I am not related to anybody in the art field and I have been out of school for many years now? Thank you so much.
Alfonso
Answer Hi, Alfonso.
Of course you will have trouble finding anyone who can talk about your art skills just based on your business connections. I suggest that you find people who have had some observation of your art skills and interests even if they are not through your business.
You can also find people who can talk about your professional skills or academic skills. These are important to the school, too, even though they might not be directly related to art.
In other words, focus on whatever your personal, professional, academic and artistic skills and experiences are (you may need to sit down and do an inventory of these for yourself) and have the letter writers talk about these strengths.
You can also contact the department itself and explain that you are changing fields and ask if they have some suggestions as to what kind of letter writer would be helpful for them. They might have something to say.
If you have some further questions about this, please write back.
