Content of entry level MSN Letters of Rec.

[jeIIyfish]

Hello all,

I have recently begin applying to several entry level MSN programs, and the most daunting part of this process has been getting up the nerve to ask professors for letters. I have emailed one professor as of yesterday, whom I worked with closely for about three years in my undergrad program. She just responded to my email(we're in different states at the moment) with an enthusiastic yes!

However, my undergrad field of study was art. Her letter ended like this:

"I must admit that I'm a bit out of my element when it comes to knowing what non-art grad programs might expect from a letter of rec.... I can easily praise your reliability, generosity, and creativity in my experience of working with you, but if it would help to make the letter more personal about your interest in nursing, I'd be happy to."

I'm not sure what to tell her they want to hear. Other than maybe emphasizing that these programs are immersive in a clinical setting and stress the ability to be self-motivated in time management, what else do they look for in these letters? This must come up sort of regularly when the unrelated bachelor's degrees are this unrelated, right?

The other letter I have lined up is from my CNA trainer and supervisor, so that one should be pretty specific as far as my competency in a clinical setting etc. The third person I will ask today is another art professor.

Too long, didn't read: my prof wants to know what to put in the letter.

[jj224]

Have your professor write that you are hard working, good with time management, and that you take the initiative to learn on your own.

[ISingTheBodyElectric]

What about professors who you took prereqs with? Anatomy, physiology, micro, etc? They would probably be able to better speak to your aptitude for nursing school.

[jeIIyfish]

Probably, but all of those classes have been very impersonal experiences. LSU has large numbers of students in those classes and the lectures you're just one in 300 theres no interaction. I thought it would be better to get a letter written by a professor with whom I have worked closely over several years than a gen-ed professor I had once and all they know about me is I made an a in their class.

[SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS]

Probably, but all of those classes have been very impersonal experiences. LSU has large numbers of students in those classes and the lectures you're just one in 300 theres no interaction. I thought it would be better to get a letter written by a professor with whom I have worked closely over several years than a gen-ed professor I had once and all they know about me is I made an a in their class.

I think this is accurate. Have her address character traits and work ethic, things that will transfer to a rigorous program since at the time you worked with her the focus was entirely different.