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[AyyLMAO2020]

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[LoveBeingHuman:)]

A lot of students manage to get decent LOR’s despite large class sizes. You can too.

 

[PopeKnope23]

Go to office hours, ask questions, and show that not only can you get good grades, but that you actually care about their class. There's a big difference between people who show up and get A's and people who make a connection with the professor and get A's. Make it a goal at the beginning of every semester to make the prof learn your name--do that by showing up to office hours and formally introducing yourself before asking a question on hw or whatever. That in itself is a great start in classes of 100 or more! Good luck!

 

[PopeKnope23]

Hmm... I can try that but these professors go through hundreds of students a semester, so I have doubts that they would remember who I am just from office hours. I could maybe try my freshman chem prof since I got an A+ in his class, or would that be too long ago? What about letters from classes that aren't the giant weeder courses (i.e. Orgo, Bio, Physics)? At my school we have these biology electives that you're required to take as part of the biology major, and the classes tend to be smaller. I already have my research PI and non-science letters sorted out, but I didn't expect a science LOR to be the hardest to find!

I see what you're saying. Your science letter definitely doesn't have to be from a large gen chem class, for example. Are you currently enrolled in one of those smaller bio classes? That would be a great way to get to know a prof from class participation and more detailed assignments. Science letters can come from any science class, so if you don't feel comfortable asking for a LOR from your gen chem prof freshman year, you can find others from your upper level courses!

I'm in the same boat. I'm just barely comfortable asking 2 science professors for letters (ochem and physics), but I got non-sci ones easily!

 

[PopeKnope23]

I'm not currently enrolled, but I will be taking them next year. I think my prof from freshman year (actually orgo not gen chem haha) would say nice things since I participated a lot in class, I'm just worried that the letter will be looked down on for being so old.

It will not be looked down on for being old! Your college career spans 3-4 years before applying to med school, so of course you may have some that are from a year or two ago. As long as the letter is literally written within a year of your applying, you should be okay.